Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Thorne Preserve
(Bay Shore)

Adjoining Gardiner Park on its east is an 87-acre preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy. The Long Island Chapter of the Conservancy manages 40 nature preserves on Long Island, while the South Fork Chapter adds 31 more just on Long Island’s easternmost peninsula. It demonstrates the role that non-profit land trusts play in protecting our most fragile natural areas and their biodiversity. Along with nearly 100 county preserves, and other preserves owned by Audubon Society and smaller groups, Long Island can boast what is probably the greatest concentration of nature preserves in the United States!

Thorne Preserve embraces a sandy shore, edged with salt marsh, brackish ponds and swamp. Together with oak and pine woods, thickets and meadows, the preserve has quite a diverse habitat. Drainage ditches and a boat canal divide the preserve into two sections. Water and shorebirds, including threatened osprey, are easily seen in warmer months. During spring and fall migration, many kinds of woodland birds pass through this area.

The preserve was once the estate of millionaire banker and philanthropist Landon K. Thorne. In 1972, his widow donated the property to the Conservancy.

The Conservancy prefers you obtain permission prior to visiting. This is a requirement for groups! Contact them at (631) 367-3225, 250 Lawrence Hill Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724.

How To Get There: Take Southern State Parkway to exit 40 south. Go south on Robert Moses Parkway and get off at Exit C2. Head east on Montauk Highway (Route 27A). You will pass Gardiner Park on your right. Continue on Montauk Highway, and drive another ¾ mile or so. Look on your right for Admirals Way and the entrance gate into the Admiralty Condo complex. Check in at the security gatehouse. Tell the guard you are visiting the Nature Conservancy trail. After the gatehouse, turn left onto Admirals Drive East. In 0.4 miles, turn right onto Harbor Lane. Park opposite the kiosk for residence #114-117. Walk into the left of the driveway for #114. Follow the oak leaf sign and arrow on the driveway light post. In another 30 feet, look on your left for the trail entrance gate (close it after you’re through). Walk across the lawn to the trail.

The 0.4-mile East Trail takes you through oak and pitch pine woodlands and old fields. It then crosses a tidal wetland before arriving at Great South Bay. This stretch of continuous natural shore is 1.7 miles long!

A separate entrance reaches the West Trail of the preserve. From where you parked your car for the East Trail, head back out Mariners Lane. Turn left on Commodore Drive, and then turn left on Captains Way. The West Trail begins at the end of this road. It also passes through wetlands and ends at the shore of Great South Bay. This trail offers the advantage of being able to walk along the shore to Gardiner Park. (A canal blocks access from the East Trail). Once at the beach, turn right and walk 600 feet to where Gardiner Park begins. You can walk along the beach to the next bay channel.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Thorne Preserve (Bay Shore) Adjoining Gardiner Park on its east is an 87-acre preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy. The Long Island Chapter of the Conservancy manages 40 nature preserves on Long Island, while the South Fork Chapter adds 31 more just on Long Island’s easternmost peninsula. It demonstrates the role that non-profit land trusts play in protecting our most fragile natural areas and their biodiversity. Along with nearly 100 county preserves, and other preserves owned by Audubon Society and smaller groups, Long Island can boast what is probably the greatest concentration of nature preserves in the United States! Thorne Preserve embraces a sandy shore, edged with salt marsh, brackish ponds and swamp. Together with oak and pine woods, thickets and meadows, the preserve has quite a diverse habitat. Drainage ditches and a boat canal divide the preserve into two sections. Water and shorebirds, including threatened osprey, are easily seen in warmer months. During spring and fall migration, many kinds of woodland birds pass through this area. The preserve was once the estate of millionaire banker and philanthropist Landon K. Thorne. In 1972, his widow donated the property to the Conservancy. The Conservancy prefers you obtain permission prior to visiting. This is a requirement for groups! Contact them at (631) 367-3225, 250 Lawrence Hill Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724. How To Get There: Take Southern State Parkway to exit 40 south. Go south on Robert Moses Parkway and get off at Exit C2. Head east on Montauk Highway (Route 27A). You will pass Gardiner Park on your right. Continue on Montauk Highway, and drive another ¾ mile or so. Look on your right for Admirals Way and the entrance gate into the Admiralty Condo complex. Check in at the security gatehouse. Tell the guard you are visiting the Nature Conservancy trail. After the gatehouse, turn left onto Admirals Drive East. In 0.4 miles, turn right onto Harbor Lane. Park opposite the kiosk for residence #114-117. Walk into the left of the driveway for #114. Follow the oak leaf sign and arrow on the driveway light post. In another 30 feet, look on your left for the trail entrance gate (close it after you’re through). Walk across the lawn to the trail. The 0.4-mile East Trail takes you through oak and pitch pine woodlands and old fields. It then crosses a tidal wetland before arriving at Great South Bay. This stretch of continuous natural shore is 1.7 miles long! A separate entrance reaches the West Trail of the preserve. From where you parked your car for the East Trail, head back out Mariners Lane. Turn left on Commodore Drive, and then turn left on Captains Way. The West Trail begins at the end of this road. It also passes through wetlands and ends at the shore of Great South Bay. This trail offers the advantage of being able to walk along the shore to Gardiner Park. (A canal blocks access from the East Trail). Once at the beach, turn right and walk 600 feet to where Gardiner Park begins. You can walk along the beach to the next bay channel.