Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Cow Meadow Preserve
(Freeport Village)

A little known natural area, ideal for nature and wildlife observation, is tucked away on a peninsula at the south end of Freeport. Cow Meadow County Preserve offers two short trails through maritime thicket with excellent views of saltmarsh and estuary creeks.

From the quarter-mile long nature trail, you may see a pair of ospreys, which often nest on a platform visible from an observation tower. Near the east pond, you can get close views of amazingly tame snowy and great egrets, glossy ibis and night herons. A wide array of other saltmarsh waders and shorebirds can also be seen. If you look carefully, you can spy fiddler crabs scurrying across the mud along the tidal channels.

The thicket is dominated by Asiatic bittersweet, silverberry, crabapple, beach rose, sumac (the edible kind) and hawthorn. Reed grass (Phragmites) and saltmarsh grass (Spartina) cover the tidal marshes.

Also available at the preserve are two large picnic areas, a large meeting room for classes, restrooms, a marina and fishing dock. During spring to early fall, hours are 9 am to 11 pm. For information, call (516) 571-8685.

How to Get There: Make sure to bring binoculars! From Meadowbrook Parkway, take exit M9W onto Merrick Road west. At the first traffic light (about 100 feet), turn left onto Mill Road. When you get to the end of Mill Road, turn left onto South Main Street. Go 1.2 mile to the preserve. Drive to the farthest (southernmost) parking lot.

To get to the first trail, walk east from the parking lot to a nearby small freshwater pond. The path goes around the pond and also extends to the edge of Freeport Creek. Then return to the parking lot and turn left (south) to where the nature trail (labeled with a sign) begins. It is a simple loop trail. The observation tower is a great place to linger with binoculars.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Cow Meadow Preserve (Freeport Village) A little known natural area, ideal for nature and wildlife observation, is tucked away on a peninsula at the south end of Freeport. Cow Meadow County Preserve offers two short trails through maritime thicket with excellent views of saltmarsh and estuary creeks. From the quarter-mile long nature trail, you may see a pair of ospreys, which often nest on a platform visible from an observation tower. Near the east pond, you can get close views of amazingly tame snowy and great egrets, glossy ibis and night herons. A wide array of other saltmarsh waders and shorebirds can also be seen. If you look carefully, you can spy fiddler crabs scurrying across the mud along the tidal channels. The thicket is dominated by Asiatic bittersweet, silverberry, crabapple, beach rose, sumac (the edible kind) and hawthorn. Reed grass (Phragmites) and saltmarsh grass (Spartina) cover the tidal marshes. Also available at the preserve are two large picnic areas, a large meeting room for classes, restrooms, a marina and fishing dock. During spring to early fall, hours are 9 am to 11 pm. For information, call (516) 571-8685. How to Get There: Make sure to bring binoculars! From Meadowbrook Parkway, take exit M9W onto Merrick Road west. At the first traffic light (about 100 feet), turn left onto Mill Road. When you get to the end of Mill Road, turn left onto South Main Street. Go 1.2 mile to the preserve. Drive to the farthest (southernmost) parking lot. To get to the first trail, walk east from the parking lot to a nearby small freshwater pond. The path goes around the pond and also extends to the edge of Freeport Creek. Then return to the parking lot and turn left (south) to where the nature trail (labeled with a sign) begins. It is a simple loop trail. The observation tower is a great place to linger with binoculars.