Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Smith Lake and Tanglewood Preserve
(Rockville Centre)

Two rarely visited scenic spots are Smith Lake and Tanglewood Preserve, located just south of Hempstead Lake State Park. Smith Lake is surrounded by Rev. Morgan Days Park. A pleasant foot trail circuits part way around the lake, offering opportunities to see wildlife and experience nature.

How to Get There: Take Sunrise Highway into Rockville Center. A few blocks east of Ocean Avenue, take North Centre Street north. After passing under the railroad line, take the first left onto Morgan Days Road. Make a left on Banks Avenue and within 50 feet, an immediate right onto Nassau Street. Drive one block to its end and turn right onto the drive into a parking lot. Park at the far end of the lot.

At the end of the parking lot, a foot trail enters the woods to your left. It follows a high bank along Smith Lake, with several nice viewpoints. After passing behind athletic fields, it re-enters woods and finally ends at a viewpoint over the north end of the lake. Return the way you came.

After visiting Smith Lake, you can visit another pretty vest-pocket park, only a short drive away. Little-known Tanglewood Preserve offers a scenic pond with a short trail system and a graceful footbridge.

How to Get There: From Smith Lake, drive back out to Nassau Street and turn right on the one-way Banks Street. Cross under the railroad line. Make a right on Sunrise Highway and take it to Ocean Avenue. Make a right onto Ocean Avenue and take it to Penninsula Blvd., make a right. Take Penninsula Blvd. to Maine Avenue. Make a left on Maine and take it three blocks to Tanglewood Street. Make a right and then turn left into Tanglewood Preserve. Look for the library and a historic building next to the preserve.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Smith Lake and Tanglewood Preserve (Rockville Centre) Two rarely visited scenic spots are Smith Lake and Tanglewood Preserve, located just south of Hempstead Lake State Park. Smith Lake is surrounded by Rev. Morgan Days Park. A pleasant foot trail circuits part way around the lake, offering opportunities to see wildlife and experience nature. How to Get There: Take Sunrise Highway into Rockville Center. A few blocks east of Ocean Avenue, take North Centre Street north. After passing under the railroad line, take the first left onto Morgan Days Road. Make a left on Banks Avenue and within 50 feet, an immediate right onto Nassau Street. Drive one block to its end and turn right onto the drive into a parking lot. Park at the far end of the lot. At the end of the parking lot, a foot trail enters the woods to your left. It follows a high bank along Smith Lake, with several nice viewpoints. After passing behind athletic fields, it re-enters woods and finally ends at a viewpoint over the north end of the lake. Return the way you came. After visiting Smith Lake, you can visit another pretty vest-pocket park, only a short drive away. Little-known Tanglewood Preserve offers a scenic pond with a short trail system and a graceful footbridge. How to Get There: From Smith Lake, drive back out to Nassau Street and turn right on the one-way Banks Street. Cross under the railroad line. Make a right on Sunrise Highway and take it to Ocean Avenue. Make a right onto Ocean Avenue and take it to Penninsula Blvd., make a right. Take Penninsula Blvd. to Maine Avenue. Make a left on Maine and take it three blocks to Tanglewood Street. Make a right and then turn left into Tanglewood Preserve. Look for the library and a historic building next to the preserve.