L.I. Greenbelt Trail Conference

P.O. Box 5636

Hauppauge, NY 11788

Phone 631-360-0753       Fax 631-360-8127  
E-mail ligreenbelt@juno.com

December 2008 Hikes

To find the Greenbelt Office in Blydenburgh Park: from Route 25-25A in Smithtown, go south on Brooksite Dr.; at next light (New Mill Rd.), turn right and travel to the end of the road, making the last possible left.  At the end of Mill Road travel past a Blydenburgh County Park sign, through open metal cyclone gates.  Pass a sign indicating that the park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  Continue past a sign indicating “Parking Area” with arrow and “Authorized Vehicles Only Beyond This Point”.  Don’t follow the arrow.  Pass by a wooden half-gate with the sign “Authorized Vehicles Only”.  Turn left up the long winding (very dark at night) driveway marked with a sign saying “Blydenburgh Weld House, Visitor Reception Center, Museum Shop, L.I. Greenbelt Trail”.  From Route 347, find Brooksite Dr. between the 347-454 junction and Rt. 111; head north on Brooksite to New Mill Rd.; go left onto Mill Road. Follow the paved path at the west end of the lot to the Blydenburgh-Weld House.

IMPORTANT:

The first line of each listing includes TIME, DISTANCE, PACE, and TERRAIN, in that
order. "Info" means no reservation is necessary; call only if you need more information. "CALL" means you must call the leader to reserve a space on the hike.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK: 

Certain risks are inherent in any hike or other L.I. Greenbelt Trail Conference, Inc. (the “Greenbelt”) activity. Each Greenbelt member, guest, or non-member participant agrees to accept personal responsibility for his or her safety and the safety of minors accompanying such persons. The Greenbelt cannot ensure the safety of any participant on hikes or activities. In participating in Greenbelt activities, each such person agrees to hold harmless and free from blame the activity leaders and the Greenbelt, its officers, directors, and members, for any accident, injury, or illness which might be sustained from participating in hikes or other Greenbelt activities.

NOTE: Some Greenbelt hikes are intended for our members only. Other organizations or media outlets wishing to list our events should NOT use our mailed hike list in Footnotes for information; instead, please use this website or call our Office, 631-360-0753, and request our Media List.

Saturdays – BLYDENBURGH HOUSE AND HISTORIC TOUR EVERY SATURDAY:
     1:00 PM – 1 hour - easy – flat – Info: Office, 631-360-0753.

Learn the history of the 1821 Blydenburgh-Weld House and the nearby mill complex, and enjoy the paths along beautiful Stump Pond; tours run every Saturday; meet at the Greenbelt Office (directions at top of schedule).  

Fri. Dec. 5 – TRAILS CENTER SPECIAL:

            9:00 AM – 4 miles – easy to moderate – flat – Info: Vinnie, 631-209-0030.

Start the weekend early with a walk from the Trails Information Center in Manorville (1/4 mile north of L.I.E. Exit 70) to Wading River-Manor Rd. and back; bring water; rain cancels.

Sat. Dec. 6 – ROCKY POINT WALK:

            10:00 AM – 8 miles – moderate – mostly flat - Info: Karen, 631-929-6590, before 8 PM.

Take a hike in the pine barrens of the D.E.C.’s 5,100-acre Rocky Point Preserve; bring snack and liquid; rain cancels; meet at D.E.C. lot on south side of NY 25A, opposite Waldbaum’s, Rocky Point.

Sat., Dec. 6 - Laurel Valley to Northwest Woods:
            10AM-2PM or later. 11 miles along the Paumanok Path.
Meet 1.5 miles north of Steven Hands Path located at the new parking area and kiosk (on the east side of Rte 114), East Hampton.  For info call Ken Kindler, 563-4354 or ken@litlc.org

Sat. Dec. 6 – CAUMSETT CAPER:

            10:00 AM – 4 miles – easy – varied – Info: Joe, 516-334-0076.
Visit this beautiful state park on Long Island Sound; bring water, rain cancels; from Main St. (NY 25A) in Huntington, go north on West Neck Rd. several miles to park; meet at parking lot.

Sun. Dec. 7 – MUTTONTOWN PRESERVE FAMILY FUN:

9:15 AM – 4.5 miles – moderate – varied – Info: Shari, 516-721-0223.

Explore this Nassau County treasure and its history;  pace will be moderate, with stops along the way to learn about the ruins and some of the preserve’s natural features; appropriate for families; bring water and snack; boots suggested; from intersection of NY 106 and NY 25A, go 1 block west on 25A to Muttontown Lane, south into preserve parking lot; meet at main building. E: sharimit@yahoo.com.

Sun. Dec. 7 – WILDWOOD WANDERINGS:

            10:00 AM – 4 miles – moderate – varied – Info: Charlotte, 631-929-1035.

A singles walk in a varied state park on Long Island Sound; not for beginners, rain or heavy snow cancels; bring water; from north end of  Wm. Floyd Pky., go east on NY 25A to left onto Sound Ave.; left on Hulse Landing Rd., left again to park entrance on right; meet in parking lot. parking lot.

Thurs. Dec. 11 – TACKAPAUSHA TRILOGY:

            10:00 AM – about 5 miles – moderate – flat – Info: George, 516-249-5041.

Meet at the Tackapausha Preserve in Seaford on Washington Ave., just north of Merrick Rd. for a north/south walk of the three sections of trail to Jerusalem Ave. and back; (note: this will require foot crossing of major roads such as Sunrise Highway); visit the museum at your option at the conclusion of the hike; bring water; rain cancels.

Fri. Dec. 12 – PINE BARRENS NIGHT HIKE: 

            7:30PM – 4 miles – moderate – flat – Info: Bill, 631-514-9487.

Meet at the Trails Information Center, 1/4 mile north of LIE Exit 70 for a walk on our trail network; rain cancels; bring a small flashlight.

Sat. Dec. 13 – CALEB SMITH STATE HIKE:

          10:30 AM – 4 miles – easy – varied – Info: Terrie, 631-885-4543.

Enjoy the late morning sunshine of December in Caleb Smith State Park Preserve; we will explore its many different habitats, including freshwater wetlands, ponds, streams, fields and upland woods; bring water/snack/lunch; joint with NHOC; rain cancels; from Sunken Meadow Parkway Exit SM 3, go east on NY 25 3miles to park entrance on left, or take NY 25 west from Smithtown hamlet; fee, or free with Empire Pass.

Sun. Dec. 14 – ANNUAL HOLIDAY HIKE AND OPEN HOUSE:

            11:30 AM – 2 miles – easy – varied – Info: Office, 631-360-0753.

Meet at our Office (directions at top of schedule) for a short walk in historic Blydenburgh and Caleb Smith parks, and then join us for our annual Open House from 1:00 to 4:00 PM; fun, friendship and refreshments; don’t miss it!

Fri. Dec. 19 – TRAILS CENTER SPECIAL:

            9:00 AM – 4 miles – easy to moderate – flat – Info: Vinnie, 631-209-0030.

Start the weekend early with a walk from the Trails Information Center in Manorville (1/4 mile north of L.I.E. Exit 70) to Wading River-Manor Rd. and back; bring water; rain cancels.

Sat. Dec. 20 – COOKIES AND CAROLS:

           2:30 PM – 4 miles – easy – flat – Info: Tom or Sherri, 631-567-9484.

Our traditional walk from Great River to Connetquot Park and back, with a stop in The Pines for caroling as darkness descends; meet at Great River LIRR station (NY 27, then south on Connetquot Ave. to station); bring a flashlight, warm shoes, something to sit on, cookies to share, and something warming to drink; rain cancels. E: 2caseys@optonline.net.

Sun. Dec. 21 – SANTA CLAUS HIKE:

          9:45AM – 5.7miles – moderate – flat – Info: Bill, 631-514-9487.

Hike around Stump Pond with Santa; meet at our Office (see directions at top of schedule); bring water, candy canes provided; rain or icy conditions cancels.

Sun. Dec. 21 – WINTER SOLSTICE HIKE:

         2:00 PM – 4 miles – easy – flat – Info: Office, 631-360-0753

An annual tradition; bid farewell to autumn and welcome to winter on this hike at the south end of the L.I. Trail; meet at east end of Field 8, Heckscher St. Pk. (end of So. St. Pky.; use east end of Field 7, just west, if 8 is closed). Leader: Nancy. E: ligreenbelt@juno.com.  

Thurs. Dec. 25– CHANUKAH HO-HO-HO HIKE:

        10:00 AM – 10 miles – fast – flat – Info: Shari, 516-721-0223.
Work off more potato latkes than playing dreidle all day!  Hike from the Manorville Trail Center, past the many ponds, to the yellow trail junction, and back again; bring water & snack; meet at the Trails Information Center, ¼ mile north of LIE Exit 70.  E: sharimit@yahoo.com .  Happy holidays to all hikers!

DECEMBER 27, Saturday BIG WOODS TO LAUREL VALLEY

        10A.M.  10 miles - Paumanok Path visits some of the most beautiful natural places in eastern Southampton.  We will hike from Big Woods in North Sea to Laurel Valley in Noyac.  Bring water and food.  Meet on Deerfield Rd and Deerwood Path Rd at the Laurel Valley Trailhead.  Take Noyac Rd. bear left onto Deerfield Rd. for .6 miles to Deerwood Path that leads into Northside Hills, trailhead is on the opposite side of the road.  Leader:  Ken Kindler 563-4354 or ken@litlc.org

Sun. Dec. 28 –BELMONT LAKE WALK:

        10:45 AM – 5-6 miles – moderate – flat – Info: Terrie, 631-885-4543.

A moderate-paced hike round the lake and exploration of a flat hiking trail to Babylon; bring water and snack/lunch; joint with NHOC; rain/ice/snow cancels;  Directions: from Exit 38,  Southern State Pky., follow signs into Belmont Lake State Park; meet on west side of cashiers booth near comfort stations.

Wed. Dec. 31 – NEW YEAR'S EVE WALK:

         4:15 PM – 3 miles – easy – flat – Info: Andy, 631-696-8089.

 There's no better way to end the year than with a leisurely stroll at the south end of the L.I. Trail; bring flashlight; meet at Field 7, Heckscher St. Pk. (end of So. St. Pky.); heavy rain or ice cancels.

Thurs. Jan. 1 – NEW YEAR'S DAY WALK:

            11:00 AM – 5-6 miles – moderate – flat – Info: Bill, 631-514-9487.

Take a later walk on the Pine Trail to Grassy and Sandy Ponds; meet at the Pine Trail lot, NY25 6/10^th-mile east of Wm Floyd Pky.; bring snack and water (or hot cocoa); rain or icy conditions cancels.

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