Sometimes, you don’t have the time to go out for a nice, long hike in one of Long Island’s gargantuan parks. Whether it be Connetquot or Heckscher State Park, or even Elizabeth A Morton National Wildlife Refuge, many of our Island’s preserves require a lengthy commitment in order to enjoy them to their fullest. Whether that time is taken up by the hike, by the commute, or by the preparation as you bundle yourself up to ward off ticks, a trip to a park often requires setting aside a whole day. But what if you don’t have that kind of time? What if you’ve got a 9 to 5, or you’re heading back to school, or you’re getting ready for a big, annual gala (hint, hint!)? Well, that’s when you take a trip over to Swan River Preserve.
Over the course of 2024’s run of 12 for 12, we’ve focused a lot on accessibility and convenience. These things are important because most people are not experienced naturalists. To send someone who just wants to dip their proverbial toes into the wide sea of Long Island’s extensive system of protected land to one of the larger, more daunting parks would be irresponsible. Swan River Preserve is bar none the greatest entry-level park we’ve covered in this series, and perhaps the greatest on Long Island. This Town of Brookhaven preserve is located right on Montauk Highway, just outside Patchogue Village. If you’re heading to or from the village for a business meeting at one of its restaurants, or simply passing through, you’ve almost certainly caught a glimpse of this park. Don’t be fooled by its remarkably small size, though, for it’s host to a much more diverse ecosystem than you’d expect.
Swan River Preserve contains two completely paved trails that take, in total, about ten to fifteen minutes to lap, depending on your walking speed. There is an inner loop and an extension, forming an outer loop. Benches are plentiful, and there are a handful of picnic tables right beside the parking lot, which itself can host a dozen or so cars. It’s a perfect place to have lunch if you’ve gotten some take-out. But if you do this, please dispose of your trash responsibly in one of the several trash cans placed about the property.
The river which gives the preserve its name is actually split in two, with one branch running around the perimeter, and the other flowing more slowly through the center. A pond is formed in the center of the park, through which there is a small outflow. After the two branches of the river merge, there is an off-ramp which is the perfect place to launch a kayak or a canoe, if you want to take a trip down the more expansive river.
Despite the park’s small size, its location right in the middle of Swan River means it’s a hotspot for a wide array of wildlife. Depending on the time of year, you might see muskrats, snapping turtles, egrets, herons, osprey, kingfishers, warblers of various sorts, and even bald eagles! What Swan River Preserve lacks in size it more than makes up for in density. Although the experience of lingering in the midst of nature, whiling away the hours beside the birds and trees is borderline transcendent, the agonizing practicalities of being a human with responsibilities often means that we have to deprive ourselves of that experience. Swan River Preserve is thus a soothing balm, an intense dose of all the stuff you want, and a way to fit some time in the great outdoors into even the busiest of schedules.
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
