Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Dwarf Pine Plains
(Oakville)

Walking through a pygmy forest is an alien experience. Twisted pine “trees” grow only five or six feet tall. You can peer over their tops to scan a large area covered by what looks like a shaggy carpet of evergreens. The Dwarf Pine Plains of Westhampton are one of three publicly accessible examples of pygmy forest within the South Shore Estuary Reserve’s watershed.

The Pine Barrens of Long Island were once viewed as a “wasteland,” erroneously believed to be “devoid” or barren of life. We now know that the Pine Barrens are full of wildlife, and harbor species that are rare and unlisted! This is because it provides habitat for unusual species, which are adapted to surviving under the most severe circumstances. Somehow, theses species manage to survive even thrive, in the sterile sandy soil, intense summer drought and periodic fires.

Many years ago, the Pine Barren region was plundered by the turpentine and timber industry, and destroyed for housing and highway development. That is why this community is now threatened on Long Island, with only 875 acres left. In fact, part of this county preserve was once used by the military as a bombing range. What the developers and town officials ignored in earlier decades was that the Pine Barrens protect and sustain the precious ground water that supplies a large portion of Suffolk County’s drinking water. The true “barrens” are really the parking lots, roads, lawns and buildings of the urban sprawl that replaces natural habitat.

The Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve is one of three south shore conservation properties acquired by the government to protect the surviving pinelands. Here, visitors and educational groups can marvel at this strange landscape of elfin pines, pitch pine, bear oak and other shrubby oak species that form this community. Beautiful beach heather looks like a grayish evergreen carpet that grows in patches on bare sand. Other shrubs are bearberry, blueberry, huckleberry and sweet fern. Another unusual Pine Barrens species is the endangered Barrens buck moth that is found almost nowhere else. If you see its caterpillars, don’t touch them because they have poisonous spines! Also known to occasionally nest in the Dwarf Pine Plains are the prairie warbler and northern harrier (a hawk).

For trail information, contact the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference at (631) 360-0753, 23 Deer Path Road, Central Islip, NY 11722-3404.

How to Get There: Take Sunrise Highway (Route 27) to exit 63 south, near the Gabreski Airport south of Riverhead. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Old Riverhead Road (Route 31). Travel about 25 to 50 feet before pulling off on the right into an unpaved clearing just beyond the shoulder. Locate an unmarked trail at the south end of the parking area.

The unmarked trail closely parallels Route 31. In a quarter-mile, you come to a small commercial building. Turn right. At the back end of the property is a wide, straight trail that quickly takes you northwest into the Pine Plains.

In a half-mile, you come close to Sunrise Highway. Notice the clearing just south of the road. It was accidentally cleared by bulldozers during the highway’s construction. In the 25 years since then, it still remains barren, showing how delicate this stressed community is.

Follow along the south edge of the clearing (opposite from the road). Look for a clear path on your left and turn onto it. Taller pines join with the dwarf pines here. Turn left at the first trail intersection. Stay on the main trail. The airport water tower to the southeast helps you keep oriented.

Soon the trail skirts a low hill. Look for a smaller path on your right that leads up the hill. A delightful vista awaits you at the top. Go down the hill on the side path. When you reach an old roadbed, turn right. Notice the road is made of old coal clinkers and pieces of asphalt. It was part of the World War II bombing range.

In a half-mile, you arrive at an earthen barrier to keep cars out. On the other side is Route 31. Turn left and walk along the road. At the commercial buildings, turn left into their lot and rejoin the sand trail to your right. In a quarter-mile, you are at your car.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Dwarf Pine Plains (Oakville) Walking through a pygmy forest is an alien experience. Twisted pine “trees” grow only five or six feet tall. You can peer over their tops to scan a large area covered by what looks like a shaggy carpet of evergreens. The Dwarf Pine Plains of Westhampton are one of three publicly accessible examples of pygmy forest within the South Shore Estuary Reserve’s watershed. The Pine Barrens of Long Island were once viewed as a “wasteland,” erroneously believed to be “devoid” or barren of life. We now know that the Pine Barrens are full of wildlife, and harbor species that are rare and unlisted! This is because it provides habitat for unusual species, which are adapted to surviving under the most severe circumstances. Somehow, theses species manage to survive even thrive, in the sterile sandy soil, intense summer drought and periodic fires. Many years ago, the Pine Barren region was plundered by the turpentine and timber industry, and destroyed for housing and highway development. That is why this community is now threatened on Long Island, with only 875 acres left. In fact, part of this county preserve was once used by the military as a bombing range. What the developers and town officials ignored in earlier decades was that the Pine Barrens protect and sustain the precious ground water that supplies a large portion of Suffolk County’s drinking water. The true “barrens” are really the parking lots, roads, lawns and buildings of the urban sprawl that replaces natural habitat. The Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve is one of three south shore conservation properties acquired by the government to protect the surviving pinelands. Here, visitors and educational groups can marvel at this strange landscape of elfin pines, pitch pine, bear oak and other shrubby oak species that form this community. Beautiful beach heather looks like a grayish evergreen carpet that grows in patches on bare sand. Other shrubs are bearberry, blueberry, huckleberry and sweet fern. Another unusual Pine Barrens species is the endangered Barrens buck moth that is found almost nowhere else. If you see its caterpillars, don’t touch them because they have poisonous spines! Also known to occasionally nest in the Dwarf Pine Plains are the prairie warbler and northern harrier (a hawk). For trail information, contact the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference at (631) 360-0753, 23 Deer Path Road, Central Islip, NY 11722-3404. How to Get There: Take Sunrise Highway (Route 27) to exit 63 south, near the Gabreski Airport south of Riverhead. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Old Riverhead Road (Route 31). Travel about 25 to 50 feet before pulling off on the right into an unpaved clearing just beyond the shoulder. Locate an unmarked trail at the south end of the parking area. The unmarked trail closely parallels Route 31. In a quarter-mile, you come to a small commercial building. Turn right. At the back end of the property is a wide, straight trail that quickly takes you northwest into the Pine Plains. In a half-mile, you come close to Sunrise Highway. Notice the clearing just south of the road. It was accidentally cleared by bulldozers during the highway’s construction. In the 25 years since then, it still remains barren, showing how delicate this stressed community is. Follow along the south edge of the clearing (opposite from the road). Look for a clear path on your left and turn onto it. Taller pines join with the dwarf pines here. Turn left at the first trail intersection. Stay on the main trail. The airport water tower to the southeast helps you keep oriented. Soon the trail skirts a low hill. Look for a smaller path on your right that leads up the hill. A delightful vista awaits you at the top. Go down the hill on the side path. When you reach an old roadbed, turn right. Notice the road is made of old coal clinkers and pieces of asphalt. It was part of the World War II bombing range. In a half-mile, you arrive at an earthen barrier to keep cars out. On the other side is Route 31. Turn left and walk along the road. At the commercial buildings, turn left into their lot and rejoin the sand trail to your right. In a quarter-mile, you are at your car.