This month, we headed out to Hubbard County Park, the place “Where the Pine Barrens Meets the Sea.” If that rings a bell, then you must be an avid viewer of our TV show! Hubbard County Park is the location featured in the episode just mentioned, which will be returning to Cablevision’s Public Access channel, starting in June. If you tune into the episode and think to yourself, “Gee, I’d love to go there,” then this review is for you!
Hubbard County Park is tucked away at the northwest corner of Hampton Bays, just a few minutes from either that downtown, or Riverhead’s. The entrance to the park is quite well concealed, but if you follow the directions on the park’s official website (https://suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Parks/Our-Parks/Hubbard-County-Park) you should be able to find it without too much hassle. Parking is minimal, but there’s enough space on the roadside to fit most vehicles. A gate blocks entry for anything but foot traffic, and though you could maneuver a bicycle through here, this is not the place for biking. Nor is it suited for anyone on crutches or in a wheelchair. Hubbard is one of the wilder parks we’ve visited in this series, and that lack of curation unfortunately means a lack of accessibility. This is a place meant only for proper, real-deal hiking.
The thing you’ll notice when first stepping past the gate, however, is that what you’re walking on looks quite a lot like a road, or even an extended driveway. It’s not paved, but it’s wide. This makes for a stress-free strolling experience, as the wide dirt trail is as tick-free as possible. Dense forest on either side hosts numerous squirrels, chipmunks, and birds, with the highlight of this trip being the Great Crested Flycatcher, a striking migratory bird with a distinct, frog-like call.
Eventually, the long, straight driveway-like trail will lead you to an actual driveway. A large house stands in the center of the preserve, and this is a private residence so please don’t trespass. The house, I understand, is home to someone who works as a sort of caretaker for the park, but it is in no way a visitor center. I’ll take this moment to note that there are no restroom facilities at Hubbard, so do all your business before you make the trip out here.
Just past the private residence is a sign marking the continuation of the trail. You’ll notice here that the trail is covered in thick, ankle-high grass and, yes, this means exactly what you think it means. Ticks are aplenty from here on out, so be sure to pull your socks up high, and apply some extra spray if you’ve carried it with you. Staying in the middle of the trail will help, as will constant mobility, but with how dense and grassy the trail is you’re almost guaranteed to get at least one on you at this time of the year.
If you brave the ticks, though, your reward is a truly remarkable ecological phenomenon. The farther along you walk, the more the forest thins. Tall grass sets in, and the soil becomes more moist, almost muddy. And, finally, you come emerge at the water’s edge. Flanders Bay is vast and positively gorgeous, with an Osprey nest right at the start, and a trail that can lead you further out. This was where I turned back, however, I was not as equipped for the excess of mud as I thought I was. With all the rain that had fallen in the week prior, this part of the park was likely muddier than usual. Still, if your hope is to go as far out as you can, it’s a good idea to put on some good boots.
Hubbard County Park is one of the wildest parks on Long Island. It’s an ecologist’s dream, as you can see the transition from forest, to marsh, to bay, and all the flora and fauna that come with it. The trail is a straight shot from one end to the other, with only a single fork in the road early on, making it nearly impossible to get lost. So long as you’re prepared to deal with a handful of ticks, you’re in for scenic views, some delightful critters, and a nice bit of exercise, too!
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
