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Sarnoff
Explorations
Important notice: John Virgilio will be leading
the Sarnoff Hikes
On the
first and third Saturdays of each month, John Virgilio will
lead exciting walks that begin and end at the CR 104 parking
area. He lives within walking distance of the Preserve,
knows it very well, and cares deeply about this vast expanse
of archetypical Pine Barrens. John is an expert trail guide
and he knows how to make a hike safe and enjoyable. He has
done more than any other person to keep these trails open
and well marked so we can enjoy the unique beauty of the
Sarnoff Preserve. If you never walked these trails before,
you owe yourself this unique experience. If you love these
trails, then you should show your support for them, by
meeting John at the DEC parking area at 10 A.M. on every 1st
and 3rd Saturday.
Meet at the
Sarnoff Preserves D.E.C. parking area on the west side of
County Road 104. Bring snacks and liquids for these walks
through the heart of the Pine Barrens. Contact John Virgilio,
631-574-8844 or
virg4@optonline.net.Rain/snow cancels, bring snacks and
liquids. Advanced hikers; 6+ miles.
The NYS DEC
has done a wonderful job in creating a network of trails and
ample parking to access them at the David A. Sarnoff Pine
Barrens Preserve. This is an excellent place to access the
trails that run through the Pine Barrens. The 2,749-acre
Sarnoff Preserve in Riverhead straddles County Road 104,
north of Sunrise Highway. Hampton Hills and Manorville
Hills County Parks extend to the west of the preserve, the
Flanders section to the east, and to the south lies a large
tract of recently preserved dwarf pines, totaling over
17,000 acres of contiguous natural open space. From the
parking area, a hiker can walk two yellow access trails; a
blue DEC and a red DEC loop trail, or the Paumanok Path. The
David Sarnoff Preserve, DEC parking area in Riverhead has a
newly leveled dirt lot on the west side of C.R. 104 midway
between the intersections of 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, take
Exit 63 (C.R. 31 North) to C.R. 104 North. Short distance to
entrance on the left side of the road. |
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The Long Island Greenbelt
Trail Conference lists several walks in the Sarnoff Preserve in the ’08 winter
issue of their newsletter, Footnotes. John’s hikes missed the printing deadline
so they aren’t listed in the newsletter. There is a seemingly endless choice
of routes through this vast expanse of protected land in the Pine Barrens Core
Preservation Area. You will wish to visit all the varied habitats, ranging from
dry stands of pine to moist deciduous woodlands with streams, ponds, lakes, and
marshland.
The Long
Island Greenbelt Trail Conference (631) 360-0753 is in the process of printing
an updated version of the map produced by Larry Paul, of the Central and Eastern
Pine Barrens. Lee McAllister’s book, Hiking Long Island is another excellent
resource for exploring this preserve.
An
access permit is required for activities on NYSDEC managed lands
on Long Island. If you wish to walk through these Pine Barrens on your own, the
permit is free and valid for three years (call 631-444-0273). |
