Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Bayard Cutting Arboretum
(Great River)

“An oasis of beauty and quiet for the pleasure, rest and refreshment of those who delight in outdoor beauty…” This is the stated purpose of Bayard Cutting Arboretum, one of Long Island’s famous gardens. Therefore, you might expect that the entire property would all be artificially landscaped, carefully trimmed and planted.

However, it also has outstanding natural areas. It is an ideal place to compare what is tended by humans, and tended by Nature. In addition, many of the garden’s planted trees are native and labeled, so that educational groups and other visitors can easily learn how to identify them.

Only about a third of the 690-acre property is horticultural garden. The rest is natural woodland of pitch pine and oak, as well as two ponds. Looping trails that are directly connected to the garden walkways traverses two of the natural areas. The “Wildflower Walk” (1.3 miles, including associated loop trails) is at the south end of the park. It passes through oak woodlands and around ponds. The “Bird Watchers Walk” starts in the formal gardens. But most of its 1.6-mile loop is along the river shoreline and meadow or through native woods and wetlands.

Unconnected to this is a 1.9-mile section of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail. This traverses a part of the park that is adjacent to the formal gardens, but on the other side of Montauk Highway. This trail is described separately.

The park was once the estate of William Bayard Cutting, located on the banks of the Connetquot River as it enters Great South Bay. His wife and daughter gave it in trust to New York State. The Long Island State Parks Commission now operates the gardens.

The arboretum is famous in several ways. It was designed by the world-renowned park designer, Frederick Law Olmsted in 1887, in association with the also renowned director of Boston’s Arnold Arboretum, Charles Sprague Sargent. Some of their plantings, including champion-sized trees, are still standing. The garden also contains one of the most extensive collections of conifers (pine trees and their relatives) in the Northeast. Contributing to the great beauty of this park are extensive plantings of flowering azalea, rhododendron, holly, lilac, dogwood, and many garden and native flowers. Autumn foliage adds bright color to the gardens as the growing season ends. Furthermore, the rambling old Cutting Mansion is an historical and architectural highlight. Food and tea is a nice way to accent your visit.

Contact the garden at (631) 581-1002, P.O. Box 466, Oakdale, NY 11769. The non-profit Horticultural Society of Bayard Cutting Arboretum also offers education programs. Contact them at (631) 581-1002, P.O. Box 466, Oakdale, NY 11769 to reserve a guided tour. Group leaders must report to the director’s office in the administration building. The garden grounds are open 10 am to sunset every day except Monday.

How to Get There: Take Southern State Parkway to exit 45E (Montauk Highway). Head east on Montauk Highway (Route 27A). In ¾ mile, turn right into the arboretum entrance. From the parking lot, walk to the mansion to pick up a trail map and enjoy the mansion’s architecture and the museum. Ask for directions to where the Wildflower Walk begins.

We suggest using the trail map to combine the Wildflower Walk and Rhododendron Walk, which are well marked and connected. Explore un-blazed side trails, since they always loop back to the blazed trail.

When you cross back to the garden side of the small ponds, you can continue your walk if you wish. Head right, toward the river. This puts you onto the Swamp Cypress Walk. Just after passing within sight of the mansion, you turn right onto the Bird Watcher’s Walk. Follow the shore of the river and pass the historic Carriage House. After you leave the garden plantings, you pass along a meadow and then cross an inlet right next to the Long Island Railroad embankment. From here, you loop through what the map labels “native wood and bog.”

When the Wildflower Walk loops you back to the inlet, don’t turn, but continue straight ahead. After passing the meadow, you connect with the Pinetum Walk. Make sure to explore its many side paths. The trail ultimately returns you to the parking lot.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Bayard Cutting Arboretum (Great River) “An oasis of beauty and quiet for the pleasure, rest and refreshment of those who delight in outdoor beauty…” This is the stated purpose of Bayard Cutting Arboretum, one of Long Island’s famous gardens. Therefore, you might expect that the entire property would all be artificially landscaped, carefully trimmed and planted. However, it also has outstanding natural areas. It is an ideal place to compare what is tended by humans, and tended by Nature. In addition, many of the garden’s planted trees are native and labeled, so that educational groups and other visitors can easily learn how to identify them. Only about a third of the 690-acre property is horticultural garden. The rest is natural woodland of pitch pine and oak, as well as two ponds. Looping trails that are directly connected to the garden walkways traverses two of the natural areas. The “Wildflower Walk” (1.3 miles, including associated loop trails) is at the south end of the park. It passes through oak woodlands and around ponds. The “Bird Watchers Walk” starts in the formal gardens. But most of its 1.6-mile loop is along the river shoreline and meadow or through native woods and wetlands. Unconnected to this is a 1.9-mile section of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail. This traverses a part of the park that is adjacent to the formal gardens, but on the other side of Montauk Highway. This trail is described separately. The park was once the estate of William Bayard Cutting, located on the banks of the Connetquot River as it enters Great South Bay. His wife and daughter gave it in trust to New York State. The Long Island State Parks Commission now operates the gardens. The arboretum is famous in several ways. It was designed by the world-renowned park designer, Frederick Law Olmsted in 1887, in association with the also renowned director of Boston’s Arnold Arboretum, Charles Sprague Sargent. Some of their plantings, including champion-sized trees, are still standing. The garden also contains one of the most extensive collections of conifers (pine trees and their relatives) in the Northeast. Contributing to the great beauty of this park are extensive plantings of flowering azalea, rhododendron, holly, lilac, dogwood, and many garden and native flowers. Autumn foliage adds bright color to the gardens as the growing season ends. Furthermore, the rambling old Cutting Mansion is an historical and architectural highlight. Food and tea is a nice way to accent your visit. Contact the garden at (631) 581-1002, P.O. Box 466, Oakdale, NY 11769. The non-profit Horticultural Society of Bayard Cutting Arboretum also offers education programs. Contact them at (631) 581-1002, P.O. Box 466, Oakdale, NY 11769 to reserve a guided tour. Group leaders must report to the director’s office in the administration building. The garden grounds are open 10 am to sunset every day except Monday. How to Get There: Take Southern State Parkway to exit 45E (Montauk Highway). Head east on Montauk Highway (Route 27A). In ¾ mile, turn right into the arboretum entrance. From the parking lot, walk to the mansion to pick up a trail map and enjoy the mansion’s architecture and the museum. Ask for directions to where the Wildflower Walk begins. We suggest using the trail map to combine the Wildflower Walk and Rhododendron Walk, which are well marked and connected. Explore un-blazed side trails, since they always loop back to the blazed trail. When you cross back to the garden side of the small ponds, you can continue your walk if you wish. Head right, toward the river. This puts you onto the Swamp Cypress Walk. Just after passing within sight of the mansion, you turn right onto the Bird Watcher’s Walk. Follow the shore of the river and pass the historic Carriage House. After you leave the garden plantings, you pass along a meadow and then cross an inlet right next to the Long Island Railroad embankment. From here, you loop through what the map labels “native wood and bog.” When the Wildflower Walk loops you back to the inlet, don’t turn, but continue straight ahead. After passing the meadow, you connect with the Pinetum Walk. Make sure to explore its many side paths. The trail ultimately returns you to the parking lot.