LIGTC 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.

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).

Standard Time returns at 2:00 AM Nov. 2. Set your clocks back one hour.

Say goodbye to daylight savings time with a walk in this county park on the South Shore; beginners welcome; meet at the Flight 800 Memorial parking lot, north side of Montauk Hwy, east of Belleview Avenue, just west of Kaler’s Pond, East Moriches; rain cancels.

We will hike at moderate pace to the Greenbelt trails, making a circle through the park, returning to Field 1. Bring water/ snack/lunch; joint with NHOC; rain cancels; take Southern State Pky. east to the end at Heckscher Park; follow park loop road to Field 1 (Office), meet at s.w. corner of field.

9:30 AM – 6 to 7 miles – moderate – varied – Info: George, 516-249-5041.

Exercise your right to vote, then exercise your body with a walk on the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt; meet on the north side of Jericho Turnpike (NY 25) at parking area just west of Woodbury Rd. for a loop north to Stillwell Woods and back; bring water; rain cancels.

Walk the Nassau-Suffolk Trail from Boundary Avenue to Merrick Road, mostly through Massapequa Preserve; bring water; foul weather cancels; park on Ocean Avenue, just north of Merrick Rd., in Massapequa. E: 2caseys@optonline.net.

10:00 AM – 6 miles – moderate – flat – Info: Tom or Sherri, 631-567-9494.

Autumn is prime time for a hike through diverse Lakeland and pristine Connetquot Parks; bring water; rain cancels; meet at Westbrook sports fields; from So. St. Pky. Exit 45E, go east on Montauk Hwy. (C.R. 80); just past Bayard Cutting Arboretum, go uphill over the LIRR and turn left at Wheeler Rd. to parking. E: 2caseys@optonline.net.

Don’t forget a camera to capture the fall foliage along the lakes, streams and woodlands of this beautiful, 423-acre preserve; joint hike with Friends of Massapequa Preserve; children 10 or older welcome; rain cancels; from NY 27, take Park Blvd. north under Massapequa Park LIRR station, then immediate left onto Front. St.; go 4 blocks west to Lake Shore Dr., then right to Brady Park, ½ block ahead; meet at picnic tables.

Hike from NY 347 in Smithtown, up past Miller Pond, around Stump Pond, and back down to 347; part linear, part loop, this hike will be fast with mostly flat terrain and a few hills; bring water and snack; meet on West Avenue in Smithtown; from NY 347 and Terry Rd. (C.R. 16), go north on Terry one block to first left (South Ave.); follow to end and park on street. E: sharimit@yahoo.com.

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.

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.

10:00 AM – 1-1/2 to 2 hours – moderate – flat – Info: Charlotte, 631-929-1035.

Wander this beautiful state park preserve; rain cancels; bring water and $ for optional lunch out after walk; meet at main entrance to Connetqout Park (north side of NY 27, west of Oakdale-Bohemia Rd.; from the west, take Exit 47A, follow signs to u-turn for park; fee, or free with Empire Passport).

1:00 PM – 5.7 miles – moderate – varied – Info: Nancy B., 631-462-6159; cell: 631-682-0035.
Take a late autumn walk around the always beautiful pond in Blydenburgh Park; bring drinks and snacks; severe weather cancels; meet at our Office(see directions at top of schedule)

Step back in time and experience what it was like to cook during colonial days with a wood burning stove and “kitchen gadgets” of the day! Tour the Blydenburgh-Weld House while you are here! Meet at our Office(see directions at top of schedule).

9:30 AM – 7 miles – moderate to fast – mostly flat – Info: Andy, 631-696-8089.

We hope to still some remaining colorful leaves on this beautiful late fall hike in the western pine barrens; very diverse scenery including Grassy, Sandy and Jones Ponds; bring lunch and liquid; heavy rain cancels; meet at the Trails Information Center, 1/4 mile north of L.I.E. Exit 70.

1:00 PM – up to 4-5 miles – moderate – flat – Info: Karen, 631-929-6590, before 8 PM.

See beautiful ponds in the Peconic Headwaters region; those interested in a shorter walk can bail out early; bring water; rain cancels; meet at preserve gate on Old River Rd., Calverton; from the Trails Information Center in Manorville (1/4 mile north of L.I.E. Exit 70), go north to T-intersection; turn right, cross tracks, and go right again at next T; take left fork onto David Terry St. (Wading-River Manor Rd.), and continue past River Rd. to Old River Rd.; turn right to preserve.

Join us for a walk on the “Red Dot” side of West Hills County Park; while most walk the wonderful Walt Whitman Trail, let’s dare to be different for once and take a loop on the Red Dot Trail at the north end of the park; bring water; rain cancels; take Round Swamp Rd. north from the L.I.E. to High Hold Drive; make a right onto High Hold, proceed up the hill to parking on the left side of road.

Please join us as we celebrate three decades of hard work and good fun. See details in the center of the newsletter.

Sat. November 22, 2008, 10:00 a.m. “Green Cooperative Volunteer Day” David A. Sarnoff Preserve

The section of the Paumanok Path that runs through the State D.E.C. David Sarnoff Preserve is in danger of being reclaimed by blueberry and bear oak. A cooperative effort from the entire trails community is necessary if we hope to keep this 2.5 mile section of our magnificent regional initiative open and contiguous. In the prior description of this event, it was mentioned that “the State D.E.C. will only allow volunteers to use hand tools to maintain their trails in the preserve.” This has changed. The fact that all of this region’s trail groups have recently solicited assistance in this trail work event has driven home to the State D.E.C. that there is a wide support for our trails and the land managers (no longer having the resources themselves) wish to encourage this type of partnership in the future. As a result of a recent discussion with State DEC, we were given permission to use power tools on this trail work outing. Individuals and groups have sporadically worked to cut back these trails, but if it were not for the newly painted blazes, we would not be able to follow the path here. The plan is for people with hand tools to move ahead of those using the power tools to reestablish the route, clear the trail tread, and decrease the overgrowth, so the power tools are not overwhelmed. If you have clippers and hedge trimmers, please bring them. Please, bring water and a snack.

There is an ever growing challenge of restoring many miles of trails not only in this preserve, but throughout Long Island. There is no way that we can solve this problem through a single work outing, no matter how successful we are in bringing about a large coalition effort, but we will be able to show the land managers and other public and appointed officials that the trails are important to us, and not only are we committed to caring for them, but we would also like to bring about a more effective plan for making them sustainable.

To get to the David Sarnoff Preserve State Department of Environmental Conservation parking area in Riverhead: The dirt parking area is on the west side of C.R. 104 midway between where the road intersects with C.R. 105 to the north and C.R. 31 to the south. From the Riverhead circle, take C.R. 104 south approximately 2 miles. From Sunrise Highway heading east, take Exit 63 (C.R. 31 North) to C.R. 104 North. Travel a short distance and the parking lot will be on the left side of the road.

Visit this great preserve in East Norwich; bring water; rain cancels; meet at Nature Center in Preserve; go north on NY106, make a left turn at NY 25A, another left after one-tenth mile to Muttontown Lane; Preserve entrance is straight ahead.

This moderate-paced hike around the 120-acre pond is in the middle of Blydenburgh Park is not for beginners; bring snack/lunch and water; joint with NHOC; rain cancels; meet at south entrance of Blydenburgh Park, north side of NY 347 opposite county office complex in Hauppauge.

Hike a beautiful trail looping around to a beach on Moriches Bay with views of a marsh; rain cancels; bug spray is a good idea; meet at Terrell River parking area on south side of C.R. 80; take NY 27 to Exit 59, south on Wading River Rd, right on Railroad Ave., then left on Main Street; park is on the right on Main St. (C.R. 80).

HIKING LONG ISLAND Copyright © 1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004 Hike-LI.com All rights reserved.		Ken Kindler Open Space & Trails Advocate Post Office Box 1466 Sayville NY 11782 Ken@Hike-LI.com
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