McAllister County Park

Location: Port Jefferson, NY

Size: 113 acres

Date of hike: May 28, 2018 

McAllister County Park is a seafront property with majestic dunes and a gorgeous cove that borders the Long Island Sound.  Sure, I've become accustomed to seeing dunes and coves across Long Island, but there's something special about the way they join forces at McAllister.  For those wondering, I came across the park while zooming in on various patches of green on Google Maps in search of a beachy hiking spot in Suffolk County.  Thankfully, my map shenanigans led me to McAllister.

Before exploring, I did a little research on the history and habitats of McAllister County Park.  It seems the land was deeded to Suffolk County by a man named James McAllister in 1971, with the county subsequently dedicating the scenic seafront property for "parks purposes," according to the Suffolk County Parks Department's website.  It also borders Pirate's Cove, which is a small cove with several large dunes on its north side that were created when the body of water was dredged during the early 20th century by Seaboard Dredging Company.  "Pirate's Cove has become very popular with local boaters who anchor near the shoreline," the website stated.  Apparently, the cove's original name was Seaboard Hole, which was changed in an effort to help appeal to tourists, according to Wikipedia.  "The place itself doesn't have anything to do with pirates, but the cove seems like it would make a great hideout or a place to take refuge from the stormy seas," added a 2011 article on Patch.  Lastly, the parcel's highest point is listed at 177 feet, according to MountainZone.com.

To reach the park's entrance, I drove north along the winding Cliff Road through the Village of Belle Terre and went left on Anchorage Road.  Regarding the community of Belle Terre, a fun fact is that the peninsula on which it is situated is also known as "Mt. Misery," so you might see or hear people using that name as well in reference to McAllister County Park.  Anyway, a bumpy patch of dirt big enough to fit six cars can be found at the end of Anchorage Road.  When I got there, all six parking spaces were taken, so I patiently waited for a few minutes until someone returned to their car.  Yes, I was tempted to park along the side of the road, but I was scared off by the numerous "no parking" signs.  I wouldn't totally enjoy my hike with a possible parking ticket in the back of my brain.  Plus, the county's website warns McAllister visitors: "Be sure to park in the marked parking area, or you will be ticketed."

Luckily, McAllister was worth the wait.  As soon as I reached the beach, I was blown away by the various views: jumbo rocks dotting the shell-covered shore, beautiful boats anchored in the calm water, and majestic swans floating along like they owned the place.  But for me, the highlight had to be the huge dunes in between Pirate's Cove and the Long Island Sound.  I immediately marched along the cove's edge and scrambled up the dunes, where I was met with one of the best views I've seen on Long Island.  If you venture into the trees at the tippy top of the dunes, you'll find a tight trail with occasional openings overlooking the lovely cove.  But the real treat was the park's peninsula that divides the sound and Port Jefferson Harbor.

The peninsula had several surprises.  First, I encountered a cluster of hundreds of tiny crabs tiptoeing across the sand, almost making it seem as if the ground was moving.  The second surprise was an odd conglomeration of stones and shells that were stuck together like some work of modern art.  The third surprise was the proximity of the ferries traveling between Port Jefferson and Bridgeport, Conn.  I was only a stone's throw away as one entered the harbor.  I should also note that some of the beach is roped off to protect piping plover nesting areas.

My music of choice was British progressive metal band Valis Ablaze.  I've really connected with their new album, Boundless, in recent weeks since reading a review in Prog magazine.  I'll never forget standing atop the tallest dune as the band's powerful riffs assaulted my ears.  In fact, I couldn't help but play air guitar as if I was starring in my own personal music video.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend McAllister County Park to all local hikers.  Yes, it's a little out of the way and parking is a hassle.  But once you get there, you'll treasure this treasure.

Map: McAllister County Park (Google Maps image)
Parking: 40°58'01.1"N 73°04'38.1"W
Video: McAllister County Park (360-degree view) 

Click here for more photos