Hiking Trails - Long Island Guide

A wooded hiking trail climbs gently through Long Island’s natural landscape, with rustic steps leading beneath a canopy of trees. Trails like these offer visitors a quieter way to explore the island’s parks, preserves, forests, and coastal habitats. File photo: POV_artist, licensed.

Long Island has far more hiking than visitors often expect. Its trails range from short walks through coastal preserves and historic parkland to long-distance routes across the Pine Barrens, wooded hills, wetlands, bluffs, and barrier-island landscapes. This page and interactive map bring together established trailheads and hiking destinations across Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Shelter Island.

Use the map to explore trail systems by county and trail type, then open the official information for the current rules, parking, trail maps, seasonal hunting notices, and facility details. The markers identify established visitor access points or trailheads. They do not represent a precise line for every trail, because route conditions and official trail alignments can change.

Long-Distance Trails

For hikers looking for a larger challenge or a multi-stop route, Long Island’s regional trails provide the best starting point. The Paumanok Path is the island’s signature long-distance hiking route, extending roughly 125 miles from Rocky Point toward Montauk Point. The Long Island Greenbelt Trail creates a north-to-south route through central Suffolk County, while the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt connects North Shore and central Nassau trail systems. These routes are best approached in sections, with official maps, adequate water, and a plan for transportation between trailheads.

North Shore Woods, Bluffs and Waterfront Trails

The North Shore is especially good for hikers who want shaded woods, hills, historic landscapes, and views of Long Island Sound. Cold Spring Harbor State Park and Trail View State Park are useful access points for regional hiking. Sunken Meadow State Park, Nissequogue River State Park, and Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve add waterfront scenery and more relaxed walking options. In Nassau, Trail View, Bethpage, Stillwell Woods, Muttontown, Sands Point, and Massapequa Preserve give hikers a broad choice of woodland and preserve trails.

Central Suffolk Parks and Pine Barrens Hikes

Central Suffolk County offers some of the island’s most varied hiking terrain. Blydenburgh County Park is a popular choice for a substantial loop around Stump Pond, while Caleb Smith State Park Preserve provides quieter marked trails near the Nissequogue River. Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Southaven County Park, Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest, Cathedral Pines, Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, and other mapped locations make it possible to build outings around woods, freshwater habitat, sandy Pine Barrens paths, and wildlife observation.

East End and Coastal Hiking

Eastern Long Island offers some of the most distinctive scenery on the map. Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island combines woodland, salt-marsh, and shoreline trails. Hither Hills State Park and the nearby Walking Dunes area offer sandy coastal hiking near Montauk, while Camp Hero State Park and Montauk Point State Park pair dramatic ocean views with World War II and maritime history. North Fork and East End destinations such as Wildwood, Hallock, Cedar Point, Sears Bellows, and Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge provide quieter alternatives.

Choosing a Trail

Choose a long-distance trail if you want mileage and a larger sense of the island’s geography. Choose a state or county park for marked routes, parking, and more predictable visitor facilities. Preserves and refuges are better for a quieter nature walk, birdwatching, or a shorter outing. Coastal hikes are especially rewarding for scenery, but exposed conditions, beach access rules, and seasonal changes can matter. Before leaving, confirm the official trail information, bring water and sun protection, stay on marked paths, and check for hunting restrictions, closures, or weather-related changes.

Key Facts and Details

Map Coverage	Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Shelter Island
Mapped Locations	56 established trailheads and hiking destinations, including long-distance trails, state parks, county parks, preserves, refuges, coastal hikes, and multi-use paths
Featured Long Routes	Paumanok Path, Long Island Greenbelt Trail, Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail, and Walt Whitman Trail
Map Markers	Established trailheads or visitor access points, rather than estimated route lines
Best For	Day hikes, nature walks, coastal scenery, Pine Barrens exploration, family walks, and planning a trip around an individual park or preserve
Before You Go	Check the linked official information for trail conditions, parking, access rules, dogs, hunting notices, seasonal facilities, and current maps
Related Guide	Where Can I Hike on Long Island?

Long Island hiking is at its best when the destination matches the kind of day you want. A short preserve walk, a waterfront loop, a Pine Barrens hike, and a section of the Paumanok Path can all feel completely different. Start with the map, choose a trailhead that fits your time and experience level, and use the official trail information before heading out.