Hallock State Park Preserve

Hallock State Park Preserve is a 225-acre shorefront preserve on Long Island’s North Fork, stretching from Sound Avenue north to nearly one mile of undeveloped shoreline along Long Island Sound. The preserve protects a mix of maritime forest, bluffs, dunes, wetlands, open land, and beach while providing opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, nature walks, and quiet coastal recreation.

Located in the Riverhead area near the boundary with Southold, Hallock has a very different character from Long Island’s larger recreational state parks. There are no amusement-style facilities, large playing fields, or developed swimming complex. Instead, the park is centered on conservation, trails, environmental education, and access to a relatively natural stretch of the North Shore.

Trails to Long Island Sound

A network of trails leads visitors through the preserve toward the Long Island Sound shoreline. New York State Parks provides a marked Yellow Trail beginning near the upper parking area, along with additional paths that cross fields, wooded sections, and coastal terrain.

The trip from the inland portion of the park to the Sound provides a good look at the changing landscape of the North Fork. Trails pass through vegetation and open habitat before approaching the high coastal bluffs and beach below. State-led nature walks at the preserve commonly cover about one to one-and-a-half miles depending on the route.

Beach, Bluffs and Unusual Geology

Hallock State Park Preserve includes nearly one mile of relatively pristine Long Island Sound beachfront. The shoreline is backed in places by steep bluffs, creating dramatic coastal scenery that is quite different from the broad Atlantic beaches found farther south on Long Island.

The preserve also contains unusual geological formations known as hoodoos near the bluffs. These naturally eroded columns and formations are uncommon on Long Island and are among the features specifically identified for protection in the park’s long-term management plan.

Wildlife and Natural Habitat

Hallock protects several different ecological communities, including maritime forest, shoreline habitat, dunes, wetlands, and a rare coastal plain pond. The variety of habitats makes the preserve particularly useful for birdwatching and nature observation throughout the year.

Native wildflowers and pollinator habitat can also be found around the preserve, and New York State Parks periodically offers guided programs focused on butterflies, wildflowers, birds, plants, shoreline geology, and other natural features.

A Landscape With a Long History

The land within Hallock State Park Preserve has had several uses over time, including agriculture, sand mining, and a summer camp. State planning documents also identify a War of 1812 battle site within the property, giving the preserve a cultural and historical component in addition to its natural resources.

The surrounding area remains closely associated with the agricultural landscape of the North Fork. When the state acquired the park property, it also obtained a conservation easement covering approximately 300 acres immediately south of the preserve to help maintain the agricultural character of the surrounding land.

Visiting Hallock State Park Preserve

Hallock State Park Preserve is located at 6062 Sound Avenue in Riverhead. The park is open year-round, although operating hours vary seasonally. New York State Parks currently lists an $8 vehicle entrance fee during designated collection periods, with the Empire Pass and Golden Park Program accepted.

Horseback riding is also permitted under the state’s permit program, with both annual and daily bridle-path permits available. Pets are not permitted in the preserve. Because hours, fees, trail conditions, programs, and access policies can change, visitors should check current New York State Parks information before traveling.

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Hallock State Park Preserve

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Key Facts & Details

Feature	Details
Location	6062 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11947
Region	North Fork, Suffolk County
Park Size	225 acres
Shoreline	Nearly one mile along Long Island Sound
Park Type	State park preserve and coastal natural area
Popular Activities	Hiking, nature walks, birdwatching, shoreline exploration, and horseback riding with permit
Trails	Marked trails including the Yellow Trail and additional routes through the preserve
Natural Features	Long Island Sound beach, coastal bluffs, dunes, wetlands, maritime forest, and rare coastal plain pond
Unusual Feature	Hoodoo geological formations near the coastal bluffs
Historic Features	Former agricultural and sand-mining land, summer camp history, and a documented War of 1812 site
Parking Fee	$8 per vehicle during designated fee-collection periods
Pets	Not permitted
Phone	(631) 315-5475
Official Website	New York State Parks

Hallock State Park Preserve offers one of the North Fork’s more natural ways to reach Long Island Sound. Its wooded trails, open fields, high bluffs, unusual geology, protected habitats, and nearly mile-long shoreline make the preserve particularly worthwhile for visitors interested in hiking, birdwatching, coastal scenery, and the quieter side of Long Island’s state park system.