Nestled away in Hampton Bays, just south of Hubbard County Park, is a vast Pine Barrens preserve with extensive trails, ample wildlife, and scenic views. Sears-Bellows County Park isn’t the flashiest of preserves, but in addition to the qualities just described, it has enough in the way of facilities to make it a great park for casual fun and serious hiking.
I visited Sears-Bellows on December 18th, only a few days after the first serious snowstorm of the season. Though it had been a few days, and the temperature had risen sufficiently, snow still covered most of the ground. Thanks to the preserve’s wide and decently well-marked trails, though, the snow cover didn’t hinder my navigation of the trails. The whole park runs from east to west, with Bellows Pond at the start of the park, and Sears Pond marking a good place to turn around. The trails keep going after Sears Pond, and the preserve actually is part of the Paumonok Path, but for a regular day of hiking, going between the two ponds which lend the preserve its name is perfectly satisfactory.
In terms of habitat, Sears-Bellows County Park is emblematic of the eastern portion of the Pine Barrens. Dense forest with frequent pond edges (as there’s more than just the two ponds dotting the preserve), make this an ideal birding spot. On my visit, I was treated to some of my favorite winter songbirds, such as the Red-breasted Nuthatch and the Fox Sparrow. These migratory birds are cousins of more common residents, such as the White-breasted Nuthatch and the Song Sparrow, respectively, and make for some nice variety during the colder months. I also was lucky enough to spot a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a bird which is emblematic of the ecological health of the region, as Sharp-shinned Hawks prey upon other birds, meaning their presence is indicative of thriving bird populations. As part of our “The Best of the Rest” initiative, the Pine Barrens Society has identified about one hundred acres immediately adjacent to Sears-Bellows, which we think ought to be preserved. Increasing the amount of preserved land in the region will allow it to remain ecologically healthy moving forward, and we’re thankful that the Town of Southampton has begun eyeing some two-thirds of the parcels we’ve identified. Besides ecological health, preserving this land will also ensure the health of the underlying aquifer, thus providing cleaner, more affordable drinking water for the region.
While it was hard to tell due to the still-thick snow cover, Sears-Bellows County Park possesses extensive parking space. Only a few feet away from the lot is a bathroom facility, though this was closed on my visit (likely due to the snow). In the warmer months, you can rent a kayak for use on the surface of Bellows Pond, which is just beside the lot. There is also a nice playground facility, making this a great place to visit for family fun. However, if you’re looking for a casual hike, this is not necessarily the place. The trails are lengthy and, as far as I could determine, there was not a single bench to rest on, except beside Bellows Pond. Sears-Bellows is great for casual outdoor fun, and for serious hiking, but not for a more relaxed walk through the woods. If you start hiking the trails, know your limits and be comfortable with turning around and going back early if you feel you’ve reached them.
Overall, Sears-Bellows County Park is a great eastern Pine Barrens preserve. Its extensive trails are perfect for the naturalists among you, and during the warmer months especially it’s a great place to get your family outside. It fits in perfectly with the wider system of preserves in Suffolk County and, like so many other preserves, manages to provide a variety of experiences to suit a variety of needs.
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
