This month, we’re returning to Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve, the featured locale of last year’s gala, and a perfect place to end the summer. Nestled comfortably in the Central Pine Barrens, Cranberry Bog has an interesting place in Long Island’s natural history. A former center for the Island’s cranberry industry, it now stands tall as a true Pine Barrens sanctuary, with a variety of habitat types perfect for any naturalist.
One of Cranberry Bog’s most laudatory aspects is the quality of its trail. The single loop around the preserve is typically wide, and covered in either dirt or sand, making it a stress-free hike, even in the summer. Two small bridges provide perfect places to stop and admire the surrounding woods and water, and a handful of benches around the park are well-maintained, with the space beneath them clear of any thick grass. On this particular hike, however, I noticed a few fallen trees which cut across the trail. While I had no issue getting over these, people with any sort of flexibility or mobility issues may have some trouble.
An important thing to note about this preserve is that the address which comes up when entering the park’s name into your GPS is not the actual location of the public preserve. Please consult the official Suffolk County page for the park to get the appropriate address. Also note that there is only space for a handful of cars so, please, park carefully and responsibly, with consideration for your fellow nature lovers.
Whenever the Pine Barrens meets a body of water – in this case Sweezey Pond and the Little River, a tributary of the Peconic – there is almost guaranteed to be some exciting animal sightings, and this visit was no different. Despite it being mid-day, I caught a brief glimpse of a warbler, and several woodpeckers. Most exciting of all, though, was being able to observe a Northern Watersnake, one of the thirteen species of snake native to Long Island. A little stream runs underneath a short bridge about halfway down the loop, and it was here that I found the snake. Only about a foot long, it lay amazingly still in the middle of the stream, and so I spent over fifteen minutes admiring the animal, and taking as many photos as I could. Surrounded by pure Pine Barrens, enveloped only in birdsong and the gentle flowing of the water, I felt no rush to move on. It was as though I had all the time in the world to stand and admire this elusive species. That feeling is the magic of the Pine Barrens, and in an age which overemphasizes the need to rush, to be productive, to do-do-do-do-do, that feeling provides an escape needed more desperately than ever.
Cranberry Bog County Nature Preserve is a picturesque Pine Barrens preserve that is a must for any Long Island naturalist. Its trail is one of the highest quality in all of Suffolk County, making it an ideal place to visit year-round. For those of you still not convinced, please consider checking out the “Life in the Pine Barrens” episode of our TV show, which heavily features Cranberry Bog. You can find the episode archives on our YouTube channel, but remember that nothing can compare to experiencing this wonderful place for yourself!
