Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Heckscher State Park
(Great River)

With 3 miles of frontage and beach on Great South Bay, Heckscher State Park is best known for its developed recreation facilities. But it is also an excellent site for nature recreation and study, hiking, and also park-run guided nature walks, campfire programs and wildlife presentations.

Most of the park’s annual 1.2 million visitors use the park for swimming, boating, field sports, picnicking, fishing and camping. There is also summer theatre and orchestras. But on the margins of the developed area is a wide band of natural area. Inside is a 2.75-mile long section of a long-distance hiking trail, and an additional 5 miles of an internal network of paved and dirt trails for walking and biking.

About a third of the huge park (1,679 acres) is wooded, mostly with maritime oak and pine. A sizable area is marsh. The beach and dune communities are rather undisturbed and natural. You can see beach plum and sea oats, as well as bayberry, fragrant dog rose, pitch pine … and of course poison ivy.

Deer, red fox, cottontail rabbits and muskrat are often seen here. Mink is rarely seen but definitely here. The park is also a stopover for flocks of migrating monarch butterflies in October. Summer is a good time to see skimmer, tern and gull nesting colonies. Wading birds and nesting osprey, a threatened species, inhabit the marshes. Notably, the park has a large population of great horned owls that sometimes nest in easily seen spots. In winter, look for short-eared owls and rough-legged hawks.

Heckscher State Park was once the 19th century estate of George C. Taylor. It was complete with horse stable, stocked game birds, peacock, and even a herd of elk. After his death, a struggle over the future of the vast property took place. It ended in 1929 when the state purchased it, partly with a donation from August Heckscher.

To reserve a group outing, call (631) 669-1000, ext. 223. For general information: (631) 581-2100, East Islip, NY 11730. The park is open everyday from 8 am to sunset.

How to Get There: Follow Southern State Parkway to its eastern most end where it becomes Heckscher Parkway and ends at Heckscher State Park. Start your visit off by driving to Parking Field 7 and 8 to appreciate the vista. From the beach, look to the right where you see the Robert Moses Causeway and the Robert Moses Tower. In between the two spans is a skyline of buildings, which is Long Beach City, 27 miles away. Across Great South Bay is Fire Island and its water tower. To your left is Watch Hill, part of Fire Island National Seashore.

The 1.3 mile paved walkway/bikeway runs from the park entrance to the bathhouse on the bay. An unrelated 3.75-mile network of unpaved walking (and biking) trails on the west side of the park is unpublicized. Curiously, it is rarely used, even though it is very enjoyable for its setting of marshes, meadows and low woodlands. To use these trails, drive to the parking field next to the Small Boat Launch Ramp. At the back end of the lot are two dirt roads. Take the one closest to the water.

When you come to a fork, the right-hand one is the shorter route. If you take the right fork, turn right at the first fork to return to your car. If you take the left fork, it takes the longer route through the backlands of the park. In 1.3 miles, you come to another wood road. Turn right. Veer right at the next trail junction, then turn left at the next one and you return to your car.

You don’t have to walk a long distance to enjoy the 34-mile Long Island Greenbelt Trail. We suggest a 5-mile loop. Drop your car off at Parking Field 8 (during the cold months, you must use Field 7). Park at the southeast corner of the parking lot (far left corner when facing the bay). Look for the sign “Pedestrian Path, No Motor Vehicles.”

This is a sand trail. In 200 feet, you see large posts with white blazes. You travel through handsome maritime prairie with patches of bayberry, scrub pine and beautiful beach heather. The northward trail parallels Nicoll Bay for a mile before turning west. In a half mile, it passes through the camping area. You have the option here to continue on the Greenbelt Trail as far as you like. But if you wish to make the loop, turn left toward the campground exit drive. After you leave the campground, you come to the park drive. Cross to the opposite lane and turn right. Make the first left off the road. The trail takes you to the refreshment stand, picnic area and park police. Walk past Parking Field 1, and shortly after; turn left on the paved walkway. In 0.6 mile, cross the park drive again and arrive at the bathhouse and beach. Turn left at the beach. The second parking lot is Parking Field 8.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Heckscher State Park (Great River) With 3 miles of frontage and beach on Great South Bay, Heckscher State Park is best known for its developed recreation facilities. But it is also an excellent site for nature recreation and study, hiking, and also park-run guided nature walks, campfire programs and wildlife presentations. Most of the park’s annual 1.2 million visitors use the park for swimming, boating, field sports, picnicking, fishing and camping. There is also summer theatre and orchestras. But on the margins of the developed area is a wide band of natural area. Inside is a 2.75-mile long section of a long-distance hiking trail, and an additional 5 miles of an internal network of paved and dirt trails for walking and biking. About a third of the huge park (1,679 acres) is wooded, mostly with maritime oak and pine. A sizable area is marsh. The beach and dune communities are rather undisturbed and natural. You can see beach plum and sea oats, as well as bayberry, fragrant dog rose, pitch pine … and of course poison ivy. Deer, red fox, cottontail rabbits and muskrat are often seen here. Mink is rarely seen but definitely here. The park is also a stopover for flocks of migrating monarch butterflies in October. Summer is a good time to see skimmer, tern and gull nesting colonies. Wading birds and nesting osprey, a threatened species, inhabit the marshes. Notably, the park has a large population of great horned owls that sometimes nest in easily seen spots. In winter, look for short-eared owls and rough-legged hawks. Heckscher State Park was once the 19th century estate of George C. Taylor. It was complete with horse stable, stocked game birds, peacock, and even a herd of elk. After his death, a struggle over the future of the vast property took place. It ended in 1929 when the state purchased it, partly with a donation from August Heckscher. To reserve a group outing, call (631) 669-1000, ext. 223. For general information: (631) 581-2100, East Islip, NY 11730. The park is open everyday from 8 am to sunset. How to Get There: Follow Southern State Parkway to its eastern most end where it becomes Heckscher Parkway and ends at Heckscher State Park. Start your visit off by driving to Parking Field 7 and 8 to appreciate the vista. From the beach, look to the right where you see the Robert Moses Causeway and the Robert Moses Tower. In between the two spans is a skyline of buildings, which is Long Beach City, 27 miles away. Across Great South Bay is Fire Island and its water tower. To your left is Watch Hill, part of Fire Island National Seashore. The 1.3 mile paved walkway/bikeway runs from the park entrance to the bathhouse on the bay. An unrelated 3.75-mile network of unpaved walking (and biking) trails on the west side of the park is unpublicized. Curiously, it is rarely used, even though it is very enjoyable for its setting of marshes, meadows and low woodlands. To use these trails, drive to the parking field next to the Small Boat Launch Ramp. At the back end of the lot are two dirt roads. Take the one closest to the water. When you come to a fork, the right-hand one is the shorter route. If you take the right fork, turn right at the first fork to return to your car. If you take the left fork, it takes the longer route through the backlands of the park. In 1.3 miles, you come to another wood road. Turn right. Veer right at the next trail junction, then turn left at the next one and you return to your car. You don’t have to walk a long distance to enjoy the 34-mile Long Island Greenbelt Trail. We suggest a 5-mile loop. Drop your car off at Parking Field 8 (during the cold months, you must use Field 7). Park at the southeast corner of the parking lot (far left corner when facing the bay). Look for the sign “Pedestrian Path, No Motor Vehicles.” This is a sand trail. In 200 feet, you see large posts with white blazes. You travel through handsome maritime prairie with patches of bayberry, scrub pine and beautiful beach heather. The northward trail parallels Nicoll Bay for a mile before turning west. In a half mile, it passes through the camping area. You have the option here to continue on the Greenbelt Trail as far as you like. But if you wish to make the loop, turn left toward the campground exit drive. After you leave the campground, you come to the park drive. Cross to the opposite lane and turn right. Make the first left off the road. The trail takes you to the refreshment stand, picnic area and park police. Walk past Parking Field 1, and shortly after; turn left on the paved walkway. In 0.6 mile, cross the park drive again and arrive at the bathhouse and beach. Turn left at the beach. The second parking lot is Parking Field 8.