This month, we’re revisiting Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. This central Brookhaven preserve contains much of the Carmans River southern watershed and features a pair of trails which surround that crucial fresh waterway. Visiting the park as the weather turns frigid is a great reminder that the beauty of the Pine Barrens is not limited to the warmer months, and Wertheim, in particular, demonstrates the potency of the National Wildlife Refuge system in providing quality educational and recreational experiences that anyone can access.
One of the great benefits of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is that it is completely free to access. There is ample parking, especially in these colder months when fewer people are out in nature. The visitor center is well-maintained, staffed by helpful volunteers, full of educational resources, and equipped with high quality bathroom facilities. Again, recall that this preserve is free to access, making these benefits more impressive.
Last time we visited Wertheim, we headed south along the Black Tupelo Trail. This is the trail leading to the left when you’re facing the front door of the visitor center. It runs straight along the river and features a loop at the end, so it is literally impossible to get lost, unless you leave the trail (which we never recommend doing). This time, we headed to the right, where the White Oak Trail takes you across the river, then south again along its western shore. The White Oak Trail is a bit more complex than the Black Tupelo, featuring two loops (the “Long” and “Short loops). While this variability keeps the trail feeling fresh, it can be a bit confusing if you’re new to the preserve and don’t study the maps at the start. Otherwise, this is a great trail, with a wide, gravel path for much of its length, and frequent outlooks onto the river and its surrounding wetland. It’s generally flat, so if you proceed at a measured pace, it’s not going to be a strenuous workout, but the wideness of the trail makes it ideal for running. The western part of the trail, the part that is more distant from the river, is more prone to leaf litter and the trail narrows a bit, so if you’re moving fast and worried about slipping then you should turn around instead of completing the loop.
Something we often try to emphasize is that the Pine Barrens is full of life year-round, despite the cold. On this hours-long hike through Wertheim, I spotted a wide variety of critters, including Eastern Bluebirds, Belted Kingfishers, nuthatches, chickadees, squirrels aplenty and even a pair of young White-tailed Deer. The river, too, hosted some wonderful waterfowl species, including a lone Common Merganser which, despite the name, is one of Long Island’s more elusive migratory duck species. With over two dozen species seen across just a few hours, there was little difference in the quantity compared to summertime visits to Wertheim. Of course, there are different species present in different seasons, but that variability only enhances the appeal of a fall or winter walk through the Pine Barrens.
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is one of the shiniest gems of the Pine Barrens. Between its accommodating facilities, its extensive trails, and its prime location along one of Long Island’s key ecological fixtures, it is the perfect place to visit year-round, and a true testament to the value of the National Wildlife Refuge system. Whether you’ve been a hundred times, or have never been, it’s always worth visiting.
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
