Mike's "Top 10" Hiking Lists
Hello, everyone! At the request of various readers, I've assembled the following "Top 10" lists to help hikers decide which parks and preserves to visit on (and within driving distance of) Long Island. These lists will be updated periodically as I find new favorite hiking spots.
My top 10 favorite hiking spots on Long Island
1) Long Island Greenbelt Trail (East Islip to Kings Park, NY)
2) Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail (Massapequa to Cold Spring Harbor, NY)
3) Manorville Hills County Park (Manorville, NY)
4) Mashomack Preserve (Shelter Island, NY)
5) Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve (Lloyd Harbor, NY)
6) Nissequogue River State Park (Kings Park, NY)
7) Camp Hero State Park (Montauk, NY)
8) Wildwood State Park (Wading River, NY)
9) Connetquot River State Park Preserve (Oakdale, NY)
10) Avalon Park & Preserve (Stony Brook, NY)
Honorable mentions:
Long Island Pine Barrens Trail (Rocky Point to Hampton Bays, NY)
Blydenburgh County Park (Smithtown, NY)
Southaven County Park (Yaphank, NY)
My top 10 favorite "hidden gems" on Long Island
1) Mount Misery Nature Preserve (Melville, NY)
2) Terrell River County Park (Center Moriches, NY)
3) Rassapeague County Park (Nissequogue, NY)
4) Henry Ingraham Nature Preserve (Northport, NY)
5) David Overton Trail (Coram, NY)
6) Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve (Riverhead, NY)
7) Calverton Ponds Preserve (Calverton, NY)
8) Arthur Kunz County Park (Smithtown, NY)
9) Butler-Huntington Woods (St. James, NY)
10) Chandler Preserve (Mount Sinai, NY)
Honorable mentions:
Frank Melville Memorial Park (Setauket, NY)
David Weld Sanctuary (Nissequogue, NY)
Uplands Farm Sanctuary (Cold Spring Harbor, NY)
My top 10 favorite hiking spots within three hours of Long Island
1) Stairway to Heaven Trail (Vernon, NJ)
2) The Labyrinth at Mohonk Mountain House (New Paltz, NY)
3) Minnewaska State Park Preserve (Cragsmoor, NY)
4) Bear Mountain (Bear Mountain, NY)
5) Mount Tammany (Knowlton Township, NJ)
6) Breakneck Ridge (Cold Spring, NY)
7) Pyramid Mountain (Montville, NJ)
8) Anthony's Nose (Cortlandt Manor, NY)
9) Ragged Mountain (Berlin, CT)
10) Palisades Interstate Park (Alpine, NJ)
Honorable mentions:
Bushkill Falls (Bushkill, PA)
High Point State Park (Sussex, NJ)
Pelham Bay Park (The Bronx, NY)
(Updated: July 2021)
Thank you! Love all the info!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, my family and I have enjoyed so many more spots in our own backyard, that we were totally unaware of before stumbling on your blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Mike. Thanks for sharing! Have you come across any other hikes that are challenging like Cold Spring Harbor? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Mike! Thanks for the list, I'll have to check some of them out! I have to add an honorable mention of my own though...David A Sarnoff. With it's kettle holes, terrain and various scenery, I put it in my top 10! Best hike starts at lake Ave and avoid the easterly part of the loop, go straight at the triangular cement pad and then hang a left to loop back up. Or continue straight to the fork and take your pick!
ReplyDelete