Breathtaking Long Island Hiking Trails Only Locals Know About!

Long Island, with its beautiful beaches and award-winning wineries, is also a paradise for nature lovers. Here, we're uncovering some of the most breathtaking and lesser-known hiking trails of Long Island, truly known and loved by locals.

Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve

Located on the southwestern part of Staten Island, this hidden gem is known for its unique ponds created by the mining of clay. The preserve offers multiple trails with various difficulty levels and stunning natural views.

Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest

Rocky Point, located in Suffolk County, is the largest state forest on Long Island. The forest's vast array of trails takes you through pitch pine woods, where you can enjoy peace, quiet, and occasionally spot some wildlife.

Welwyn Preserve

This relatively unknown preserve in Glen Cove offers woodland trails and a beautiful beach with stunning views of the Long Island Sound. The ruins of an old mansion also lie within the preserve, adding a touch of history to your hike.

Makamah Nature Preserve

Makamah Nature Preserve in Fort Salonga is a local favorite. The preserve offers a 3-mile trail through a variety of landscapes, including forests, wetlands, and bluffs overlooking the Long Island Sound.

Trail View State Park

Stretching over 400 acres from Cold Spring Harbor to Bethpage, this long, linear park offers over 7.4 miles of hiking trails. The park provides stunning views of the Long Island Sound, making it perfect for a scenic hike.

These breathtaking hiking trails offer a different perspective of Long Island, far from the usual tourist crowds. They remind us that sometimes, the most unforgettable experiences are those that take us off the beaten path.