Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail

The only long-distance hiking trail in Nassau County is the 19.2-mile long Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail. Nearly 6 miles of this trail runs through the South Shore Estuary watershed, most of that in Massapequa Preserve. It is part of the much larger Long Island Greenbelt Trail system, which has other sections in Suffolk County.

One does not have to walk long distances on the trail to sample or learn about its natural history and ecology. Visitors and educational groups can take a variety of shorter loops, described ahead.

The first thing you should do is to contact the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference to obtain an accurate trail map and guide: 631-360-0753, 23 Deer Path Road, Central Islip, NY 11722-3404. Consider joining them to get a quarterly newsletter, details on guided hikes, and updates on trail changes.

How to Get There: To drive to the trail’s south end, take Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway to its south terminus. Take Merrick Road east for 1.25 mile and turn left on Ocean Avenue. Park immediately and enter the park on your right. You encounter the white-blazed Greenbelt Trail along the lake. Make sure to stop and check out the kiosk at the trail entrance for important trail information and maps.

Turn left on the trail, which is easily identified by its white blazes. It starts off at the south end as the paved bike path, but quickly veers right as a dirt trail. You will pass along Massapequa Lake. After a log bridge, notice how the forest changes and scattered tall pitch pines appear. This is the westernmost extension of the Pine Barrens along the South Shore. (Where the foot trail re-joins the bikeway ahead, you can turn left on the bikeway to make a short loop back to the car.)

Continuing further north on the trail, you reach Sunrise Highway at the one-mile mark. The trail continues on the north side of Sunrise Highway, however you should turn right on Sunrise Highway so you cross safely at a traffic light. Then head back west towards the trail continuation. Cross under the Long Island Railroad, then veer left and parallel the west shore of Massapequa Reservoir. A half-mile from Sunrise Highway, the trail veers left off the bikeway and soon crosses Clark Blvd.

For the next 2.4 miles, it remains a forest path and runs along the east corridor of the park (the bikeway runs up the west side). From here, you pass two more ponds, so watch for bird life. You also cross four side paths. Always make sure to follow the white blazes at these intersections. (At each of these side paths, you can decide if you want to turn back. If you do, turn right (or east) on the side trail so that in a few minutes walk, you cross the brook. When you come to the paved bikeway, turn right (south) and return back to your car.)

If you continue further north, you cross Linden Street and arrive at Southern State Parkway. The trail re-joins the bikeway and parallels Bethpage Parkway for the next two miles to Hempstead Turnpike. It continues further north, out of the South Shore Estuary watershed, to Bethpage State Park and ultimately to Stillwell Woods County Park just south of Cold Spring Harbor on the north shore.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail The only long-distance hiking trail in Nassau County is the 19.2-mile long Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail. Nearly 6 miles of this trail runs through the South Shore Estuary watershed, most of that in Massapequa Preserve. It is part of the much larger Long Island Greenbelt Trail system, which has other sections in Suffolk County. One does not have to walk long distances on the trail to sample or learn about its natural history and ecology. Visitors and educational groups can take a variety of shorter loops, described ahead. The first thing you should do is to contact the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference to obtain an accurate trail map and guide: 631-360-0753, 23 Deer Path Road, Central Islip, NY 11722-3404. Consider joining them to get a quarterly newsletter, details on guided hikes, and updates on trail changes. How to Get There: To drive to the trail’s south end, take Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway to its south terminus. Take Merrick Road east for 1.25 mile and turn left on Ocean Avenue. Park immediately and enter the park on your right. You encounter the white-blazed Greenbelt Trail along the lake. Make sure to stop and check out the kiosk at the trail entrance for important trail information and maps. Turn left on the trail, which is easily identified by its white blazes. It starts off at the south end as the paved bike path, but quickly veers right as a dirt trail. You will pass along Massapequa Lake. After a log bridge, notice how the forest changes and scattered tall pitch pines appear. This is the westernmost extension of the Pine Barrens along the South Shore. (Where the foot trail re-joins the bikeway ahead, you can turn left on the bikeway to make a short loop back to the car.) Continuing further north on the trail, you reach Sunrise Highway at the one-mile mark. The trail continues on the north side of Sunrise Highway, however you should turn right on Sunrise Highway so you cross safely at a traffic light. Then head back west towards the trail continuation. Cross under the Long Island Railroad, then veer left and parallel the west shore of Massapequa Reservoir. A half-mile from Sunrise Highway, the trail veers left off the bikeway and soon crosses Clark Blvd. For the next 2.4 miles, it remains a forest path and runs along the east corridor of the park (the bikeway runs up the west side). From here, you pass two more ponds, so watch for bird life. You also cross four side paths. Always make sure to follow the white blazes at these intersections. (At each of these side paths, you can decide if you want to turn back. If you do, turn right (or east) on the side trail so that in a few minutes walk, you cross the brook. When you come to the paved bikeway, turn right (south) and return back to your car.) If you continue further north, you cross Linden Street and arrive at Southern State Parkway. The trail re-joins the bikeway and parallels Bethpage Parkway for the next two miles to Hempstead Turnpike. It continues further north, out of the South Shore Estuary watershed, to Bethpage State Park and ultimately to Stillwell Woods County Park just south of Cold Spring Harbor on the north shore.