Of all the preserves we’ve covered as part of 12 for 12, the Dwarf Pine Plains might just be the most Pine Barrens-y of them all. If you want to take a hike through the Pine Barrens – with all that such a thing entails – then you ought to go to Dwarf Pine Plains. That said, this isn’t a preserve for everyone. We focus a lot on accessibility in this series because we feel it’s important for every Long Islander to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of our shared home. Dwarf Pine Plains is not an accessible preserve. It is a true hiking preserve. Get your good shoes on, roll your socks over your pants – don’t even think about wearing shorts – and make sure to bring bug spray.
The preserve’s entrance is located just beside a Suffolk County Water Authority building situated just on County Road 31, south of Sunrise Highway (exit 63S). Parking is ample, and the sign marking the preserve’s entrance is clear from the road. From the parking lot, you just slip past the wooden fence, and you’re on the trail. After a short, straight path, you reach the start of the loop. In total, the trail is about 0.6 miles long, and can easily be done in 20 minutes at a brisk pace. The trail is exceptionally well-marked, meaning getting lost is basically impossible. And that’s very important given the preserve’s make-or-break aspect.
Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve’s trail is thoroughly overgrown. Foliage is dense and varied, with trees, shrubs and grasses dominating. That means that, even by the standards of the Pine Barrens, ticks are abundant here, especially in the summer. Preparedness is key, and thankfully I was prepared enough that I was able to remove the handful of ticks that were attached to me. But if you’re uncomfortable with even the thought of getting a tick on you, then this is not the preserve for you.
With that out of the way, it’s important to emphasize that the Dwarf Pine Plains are truly lovely, a gem within the greater Pine Barrens ecosystem. As the name implies, the area is dominated by Dwarf Pines, and these trees are both stouter and less dense than your typical Pine Barrens forest (such as at Quogue Wildlife Refuge, for example). The soil is exceedingly dry, often sandy, and brush is abundant. While there are similar stretches of this sort of habitat (again, Quogue is an example), nowhere is it more concentrated than at the Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve. That this habitat is accessible to the public is remarkable, as it’s a living, breathing example of the diversity found within the Pine Barrens.
Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve is not for the faint of heart. While it’s a pleasantly short hike, the overgrown foliage means that you need to be even more prepared for ticks and other bugs than normal. However, if you’re willing to brave it, this preserve is full of remarkable scenery and is a perfect showcase for one of the more obscure facets of the greater Pine Barrens ecosystem. Being one of just three dwarf pine plains ecosystems in the world, it’s well worth visiting at least once in the life of any naturalist.
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
