North Fork Trail Scenic Byway
The North Fork Trail is a 36-mile New York State Scenic Byway extending across the eastern North Fork of Long Island. Despite its name, it is not a hiking trail. It is a scenic driving route that follows two principal roadways through the agricultural, historic, and maritime landscapes of the Town of Southold in Suffolk County.
The byway begins at the Riverhead–Southold town boundary near Laurel and ultimately reaches the end of New York State Route 25 at the Orient Point Ferry Terminal. Along the way, travelers encounter vineyards, farm fields, historic hamlet centers, wetlands, beaches, roadside markets, waterfront communities, and views of the waters surrounding Long Island’s eastern end.
The Official North Fork Trail Route
The North Fork Trail has two principal branches through much of the Town of Southold. The southern branch follows Route 25, commonly known as Main Road, from the Riverhead–Southold boundary through Laurel, Mattituck, Cutchogue, Peconic, and Southold. It continues through Greenport, East Marion, and Orient before ending at Orient Point.
The northern branch begins along Sound Avenue at the same town boundary and continues eastward until joining County Route 48. It follows County Route 48 toward Greenport, where it reconnects with Route 25 north of the village. This branch generally passes through more open agricultural country, while Route 25 travels through more of the North Fork’s traditional community centers.
The exact configuration is established under Section 349-dd of the New York Highway Law. The designation makes the North Fork Trail an official component of the New York State Scenic Byways System rather than an informal name for a popular drive.
Main Road and the Historic Hamlet Centers
Route 25 offers the better choice for travelers interested in the North Fork’s historic hamlets and traditional Main Street settings. The roadway passes old churches, libraries, community greens, farm stands, small businesses, restaurants, and buildings associated with the region’s agricultural and maritime history.
Mattituck and Cutchogue place visitors near some of the North Fork’s best-known vineyards, farms, and tasting rooms. Farther east, Peconic and Southold offer a quieter combination of rural scenery and historic community character. Greenport provides the route’s most active downtown and waterfront district, with shops, restaurants, marinas, parks, and views across Greenport Harbor.
Sound Avenue and County Route 48
The Sound Avenue and County Route 48 branch presents a different view of the North Fork. It generally avoids the center of several hamlets and instead passes broad farm fields, vineyards, nurseries, preserved land, and stretches of relatively open countryside. The route provides access to businesses and attractions along the northern side of the peninsula while remaining close to the shoreline of Long Island Sound.
Visitors can use Route 25 for one direction of the trip and Sound Avenue and County Route 48 for the other, creating a scenic circuit through much of the Town of Southold. The roads reconnect north of Greenport, after which Route 25 becomes the byway’s principal route toward East Marion, Orient and Orient Point.
Farms, Vineyards, and Open Landscapes
Agriculture is one of the defining features of the North Fork Trail. The surrounding region contains vineyards, produce farms, orchards, nurseries, farm stands, and seasonal markets. Fields and working farms remain visible from both branches of the byway, creating a landscape that differs sharply from the more densely developed sections of western and central Long Island.
The North Fork is also the center of Long Island Wine Country. Numerous wineries and vineyard tasting rooms are located directly along the scenic byway or within a short drive of it. Travelers planning to visit multiple wineries should select a designated driver or arrange professional transportation before beginning the trip.
Greenport to Orient Point
East of Greenport, the North Fork becomes narrower, quieter, and increasingly maritime. Route 25 passes through East Marion and Orient, where farms, wetlands, historic homes, beaches, and preserved open spaces shape the surrounding scenery. Nearby Orient Beach State Park offers access to a rare maritime forest, bayfront recreation, nature trails, fishing, kayaking, and birdwatching.
The byway concludes at the Orient Point Ferry Terminal, where the Cross Sound Ferry connects Long Island with New London, Connecticut. The terminal overlooks Plum Gut and the waters near Plum Island, Gardiners Bay, Block Island Sound, and the eastern entrance to Long Island Sound. Although some promotional descriptions refer broadly to an Atlantic Ocean view, the immediate waters at Orient Point are part of this more complex meeting of bays, sounds, channels, and offshore islands.
Planning a Scenic Drive
The North Fork Trail can be driven throughout the year, but the character of the route changes with the seasons. Spring brings newly planted fields and flowering landscapes, summer is the busiest period for beaches and waterfront destinations, and fall attracts visitors for harvest activities, farm markets, vineyards, and changing foliage. Winter is much quieter and can provide clearer views of the region’s farmland and coastal scenery, although some seasonal businesses may be closed.
Driving the route without stopping can be completed relatively quickly, but the North Fork Trail is best experienced as a half-day or full-day trip. Traffic can become heavy during summer weekends and the fall harvest season, particularly near popular farms, wineries, and Greenport. Travelers should allow additional time, confirm individual business hours, and avoid stopping along road shoulders where parking is not permitted.
North Fork Trail Scenic Byway: Route 25 and Sound Avenue–County Route 48
Key Facts & Details
| Official Name | North Fork Trail Scenic Byway |
| Type | New York State-designated scenic driving route |
| Official Length | Approximately 36 miles |
| Location | Town of Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island |
| Western Beginning | Riverhead–Southold town boundary near Laurel |
| Eastern End | End of Route 25 at Orient Point Ferry Terminal |
| Primary Road | New York State Route 25, also known as Main Road |
| Northern Branch | Sound Avenue and County Route 48 |
| Principal Communities | Laurel, Mattituck,, Peconic, Southold, Greenport, East Marion, and Orient |
| Official Themes | Scenic, historic, and recreational |
| Known For | Farms, vineyards, historic hamlets, wetlands, beaches, and maritime scenery |
| Best Time to Visit | Year-round; summer and fall are busiest |
| Official Information | New York State Department of Transportation |
The North Fork Trail brings together many of the qualities that distinguish Long Island’s eastern end, from working farms and vineyard landscapes to historic communities, wetlands, beaches, harbors, and ferry connections. Whether travelers follow Main Road through the hamlet centers, explore the more rural Sound Avenue branch, or continue all the way to Orient Point, the byway offers one of the most complete scenic introductions to the agricultural and maritime character of the North Fork.
