Where can I go hiking?

Long Island is home to hundreds of miles of hiking trails, ranging from short family-friendly nature walks to challenging woodland routes and scenic coastal paths. Whether you’re looking for forest trails, waterfront views, wildlife, or peaceful preserves, you’ll find excellent hiking destinations throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County. Use the Long Island hiking trails map to see these destinations and trailheads across the island.

In Short

Some of the best places to hike on Long Island include the Long Island Pine Barrens, Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, Hither Hills State Park, Mashomack Preserve, Massapequa Preserve, and the Paumanok Path. You can also use the interactive hiking trails map to compare locations before planning a hike.

Explore the Hiking Trails Map

The Long Island hiking trails map brings together established trailheads and hiking destinations across Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Shelter Island. Use it to see where trails are located, identify nearby places to hike, and open individual map markers for access information and available trail details.

Where Can I Go Hiking?

Long Island offers hiking opportunities for every experience level. Trails wind through pine forests, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, barrier beaches, coastal bluffs, historic estates, and wildlife refuges. Whether you’re looking for a short stroll, a half-day hike, or a full day on the trail, you’ll find outstanding places to explore across the island.

Best Hiking Destinations

Destination	Location	Best For	Difficulty
Long Island Pine Barrens	Central Suffolk County	Forest hiking, long-distance trails, wildlife	Moderate
Paumanok Path	Across Long Island	Long-distance hiking trail spanning much of the island	Moderate to Challenging
Long Island Greenbelt Trail	North Shore to South Shore	Long-distance hiking through forests, parks, and preserves	Moderate
Connetquot River State Park Preserve	Oakdale	Wetlands, streams, wildlife viewing	Easy to Moderate
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve	Lloyd Harbor	Woodlands, bluffs, and shoreline views	Easy
Cold Spring Harbor State Park	Cold Spring Harbor	Steep hills, elevation changes, woodland hiking	Moderate
Trail View State Park	Woodbury	Forest trails and Greenbelt access	Easy to Moderate
Blydenburgh County Park	Smithtown	Lake loop, forests, and wildlife	Moderate
Massapequa Preserve	Massapequa	Easy walking, families, birdwatching	Easy
Avalon Nature Preserve	Stony Brook	Short nature walks and woodland scenery	Easy
Hither Hills State Park	Montauk	Coastal hiking and ocean views	Moderate
Fire Island National Seashore	Fire Island	Dunes, beaches, maritime forests, and boardwalks	Easy
Sunken Meadow State Park	Kings Park	Bluff trails and Long Island Sound views	Easy
Hallock State Park Preserve	Riverhead	North Fork woodland and shoreline trails	Easy
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge	Shirley	Wildlife observation and easy nature walks	Easy
West Hills County Park	Huntington	Woodland trails and rolling terrain	Easy to Moderate
Jayne’s Hill	West Hills	Highest natural point on Long Island	Easy
Mashomack Preserve	Shelter Island	Forests, tidal creeks, and salt marshes	Easy

Best Hikes by Experience

For forest hiking, explore the Long Island Pine Barrens, where miles of trails pass through one of the largest protected pine forests in the Northeast. The preserve is especially popular for wildlife viewing, photography, and longer hikes.

For coastal scenery, visit Hither Hills State Park, Fire Island National Seashore, or Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, where trails overlook the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, dunes, beaches, and coastal bluffs.

For easy walks, Massapequa Preserve features mostly level trails that are popular with walkers, runners, families, and cyclists. Many visitors also enjoy the preserve for birdwatching and photography.

For wildlife and nature, Connetquot River State Park Preserve and Mashomack Preserve offer peaceful trails through forests, wetlands, and tidal habitats where visitors frequently observe birds, deer, turtles, and other native wildlife.

More Than Just Hiking

Many hiking destinations also offer other outdoor activities. Depending on the park, visitors can enjoy birdwatching, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, camping, photography, and picnicking. Many preserves also feature educational programs and nature centers.

When to Go Hiking

Long Island’s hiking trails can be enjoyed throughout the year. Spring brings wildflowers and migrating birds, summer offers shaded woodland trails, fall is known for colorful foliage, and winter provides quiet trails with excellent opportunities for wildlife observation and photography.

Tick Safety

Ticks are common throughout many wooded areas, parks, and nature preserves on Long Island, particularly during the warmer months. They can transmit illnesses such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and other tick-borne diseases. In recent years, the lone star tick has also become increasingly common on Long Island and has been linked to alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat in some people. When hiking, stay on marked trails whenever possible, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, use an EPA-registered insect repellent, and check yourself, children, and pets carefully for ticks after spending time outdoors. Prompt removal of an attached tick can help reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Quick Facts

Looking For…	Recommended Destination
Forest Hiking	Long Island Pine Barrens
Wildlife Viewing	Connetquot River State Park Preserve
Easy Family Hikes	Massapequa Preserve
Coastal Hiking	Hither Hills State Park, Fire Island National Seashore, and Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
Longest Hiking Route	Paumanok Path
Nature Preserve	Mashomack Preserve
Find Locations on a Map	Long Island hiking trails map
More Places to Explore	Long Island Parks

Whether you’re looking for a short nature walk, a scenic coastal trail, or a full day of hiking through forests and preserves, Long Island offers outstanding opportunities to explore the outdoors. Many hiking destinations also feature opportunities for birdwatching, fishing, kayaking, and other outdoor recreation. Use the hiking trails map to continue exploring trail locations, and visit our guide to Long Island Parks for even more places to explore.