Top 10 Hiking Trails in Long Island: our selection

A 3,473-acre state preserve with 50 miles of hiking, bridle, cross-country ski and nature trails.

2 hr Easy

Who is it for?For walkers who want a preserve with no bikes, picnics or pets.

Good to knowClosed Mondays except holidays; per-vehicle fee in season; dogs not allowed.

A 600-acre state park of hardwood forest ending at a bluff above Long Island Sound.

Easy

Who is it for?For walkers who like hardwood forest and want beach access too.

Good to knowNo pets all year; per-vehicle entrance fee in season; camping on site.

A 543-acre state nature preserve, one of four on Long Island, with trails and a nature center.

1 hr 30 min Easy

Who is it for?For walkers who want an outing with a nature center and a nature museum.

Good to knowClosed Mondays except holidays; no dogs or bikes; per-vehicle fee in season.

A 1,356-acre county park along the Carmans River, in pine-oak forest.

3 hr 15 min Easy

Who is it for?For walkers who want a big wooded park, with fishing and boating too.

Good to knowDogs on a leash (county rule); the park page gives no trail lengths.

A 99-acre state park in Montauk: trails, bluffs and over 2,400 feet of ocean beach.

1 hr 15 min Easy

Who is it for?For walkers who want a bluff trail, a beach and bird-watching platforms.

Good to knowFree parking; open every day, all year; two stairways lead down to the beach.

A 1,600-acre state park on the south shore, with four miles of paved multi-use trails.

45 min Easy

Who is it for?For walkers, joggers and cyclists who prefer a paved trail to a dirt one.

Good to knowPer-vehicle entrance fee in season; open daily, sunrise to sunset.

A 463-acre state park: a path around the lake and a 4.2-mile Carlls Creek trail to the Great South Bay.

1 hr 15 min Easy

Who is it for?For walkers and cyclists who want multi-use trails around a lake.

Good to knowOn-site dog run; dogs not allowed in picnic areas or playgrounds.