12 for 12! This month, we’re visiting Shelter Island, nestled in the Peconic Estuary, and its environmental jewel, Mashomack Preserve! This preserve, owned and managed by our friends at The Nature Conservancy, has over ten miles of trails which cut through several different habitats. It provides incredible views, a challenging yet rewarding workout, and one of the best guest facilities of any park in the region!

Before we get into the merits of the preserve itself, we need to discuss the elephant in the room: Mashomack Preserve is located on Shelter Island. This means that if you don’t live on Shelter Island, you’ll need to pay $20 or more to get a ferry across. By default, Mashomack Preserve has the largest financial barrier to entry of any preserve we’ve discussed, and of any preserve we will discuss. Unless you’re planning to spend a full day at the preserve, it would behoove you to do some research on other activities on offer on Shelter Island before you make the trip. There are places to eat, a public library (currently undergoing renovation), various historical sites, and a nice bookstore, to name a few. Spend some time planning so you can get the most out of your ferry ticket!

Once you’ve crossed the channel and are on dry land again, it doesn’t take long to reach Mashomack, assuming, anyway, that you came via the south ferry. If you’re coming from the north fork, then you’ll have to drive down to the southern end of Route 114. The parking lot is large enough to host about two dozen cars and has a handicapped-accessible zone, as well as a pair of EV chargers. Mashomack’s information center (which, unfortunately, was closed during my visit) is extensive, featuring interactive learning stations for kids, as well as a nice sitting area with a large window looking over a bird feeder that’s equipped with a microphone, so you can listen in as nuthatches and chickadees dine and dash. Most important of all, are the bathrooms (which were, thankfully, open during my visit), as these are spacious, clean, equipped with changing tables, and use waterless composting toilets! Every inch of the facility is designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and the fact that it’s easily the nicest facility of any preserve we’ve visited is a testament to the efficacy of an environmental philosophy. Just across from the guest facility is a small boardwalk trail, which provides some nice views and a nearly effortless walk. Even if you’re on Shelter Island for something else, it’s worth stopping at Mashomack for a few minutes to take advantage of these highly accessible activities.

Onto the trails themselves. If you consult the map shown above, on this visit, I started on the Joan C. Coles Trail (Brown), continued to its end, then took the left loop of the Red Trail around until the start of the Green Trail. I followed that to the Yellow Trail, did that entire loop, then went back along the Green Trail, completed the outer loop of the Red Trail, returning to the Coles Trail and then the parking lot. In total, this was over three miles of hiking, and while the trails were wide and flat (usually consisting either of dirt or wood chips), there were a lot of elevation changes, especially on the Yellow Trail and at the time of writing (the day after the hike), my hamstrings are still a bit sore! While the hike is not challenging in terms of the quality of the path (on the day I went it was nearly ten below freezing, and so there were substantial patches of ice at various points, but I can’t hold that against the preserve), it is a bit of a challenge in terms of one’s own physical ability. To compensate for this, there are numerous benches placed across the trail, and there were several more benches in front of a shed beside the parking lot, ready to be deployed. If you’re looking for some decent exercise, Mashomack will certainly provide it, but if you pace yourself, you can also make the journey a bit less strenuous.

With a preserve as vast as Mashomack, you’ll be able to find numerous habitats on your walk. While much of the terrain is either forest or wetland (neither of which were especially active with animal life in this frigid season), there are also several meadows, the largest of which is encompassed by the Yellow Trail. Pushing ahead to this meadow elevated the hike from a very solid, albeit somewhat standard, experience to one of, if not the, best hikes of the 12 for 12 series. As you step out of the forest and see before you the vast, rolling grasslands, your breath is immediately taken away. It’s an almost otherworldly experience, as the meadow is tucked away within the forest and so you feel as though you’ve stumbled across this forgotten grove, lost to time. Of course, there are helpful informative signs and trail markers aplenty (Mashomack has some of the best marked trails of any preserve), but this hardly distracts from the immense natural beauty. If you can brave the cold, you’ll find numerous winter visitors flocking to the meadow such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler and Golden-crowned Kinglet, as well as other elusive species like the Hermit Thrush and our very own State Bird, the Eastern Bluebird! As an avid birder always angling to see as many species as possible, Mashomack more than delivered. The fact that I only explored a small portion of the preserve is almost unbelievable to me, as the portion I experienced could provide the same level of joy on a dozen hikes. As with so many things, the best preserves leave you wanting more. That Mashomack can do that while having more is an incredible achievement.

While there’s no question that Mashomack Preserve presents some serious barriers to entry – both financially and, potentially, physically – it is more than worth the effort of visiting. Between the diverse habitat, the stunning vistas, and the extensive wildlife, Mashomack Preserve is a jewel well worth beholding. It’s a testament to the hard work of the Nature Conservancy, and a gift to all Long Islanders.

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

12 for 12! We’re starting off the New Year right with a visit to the DEC’s Ridge Conservation Area. This area is prime Pine Barrens land, and it sits just beside some of our “Best of the Rest” properties.  In addition, it provides a really great overview of the diverse array of habitats that can be found in the Pine Barrens. The Ridge Conservation Area also has a great trail for exercising and bird watching – some of the best activities to ring in 2025!

Before we discuss the park itself, I want to highlight a special program: the First Day Hikes. Every year, on January 1^st (and sometimes a few subsequent days), the New York State Parks and the DEC host guided hikes at various preserves around the state. For this 12 for 12, I went on a First Day Hike at the Ridge Conservation Area. In addition to being led by a knowledgeable park ranger, who discussed everything from the history of the conservation area to the ongoing work combatting the Southern Pine Beetle, the First Day hike also included a handful of freebies (including a nice pair of gloves, and some bandanas), as well as a raffle for a hiking gift card (though, in years past, the prize was an Empire Pass). If you don’t mind heading down the trails with a few dozen people, then there’s a lot to love about First Day Hikes, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t start planning for January 1, 2026!

When it comes to the Ridge Conservation Area itself, there’s a lot to love, regardless of whether you’re hiking in a group or by yourself. The trails are decently wide, and largely free of roots and rocks, meaning you’re not likely to trip. There are substantial changes in elevation over the course of the trail, which makes a hike at even a modest pace a really fulfilling workout. And, if you’re unable to handle the longer 2.5 mile loop, there are branching paths that can shorten your hike to little more than a mile. There are a wide range of habitats to explore, from grasslands in the midst of succession, to small ponds with boardwalks allowing you an unrestricted view of a large pond, to dense pine forests. It’s an ecological tour de force for the Pine Barrens and for Long Island at large, and that alone makes it worth the visit.

One of the things you’ll notice if you visit the Ridge Conservation Area is that its forests have been ravaged by the Southern Pine Beetle (SPB). It’s undoubtedly a depressing sight (made all the more so when on a guided hike since the guide will undoubtedly point out all the ways in which trees can suffer and die) but ultimately a necessary one. If one is to remain focused and motivated in the work to combat the climate change that brought the SPBs here, the rampant development that is devastating so much of Long Island, and all of the other ills that work to destroy the planet we all share, then one must see first-hand the toll these things are taking. For as harrowing a sight as a forest of dead and dying trees can be, there is a beauty to be found in it. Life persists, even if it’s in different forms. Brown Creepers, perfectly camouflaged, skitter up and down the bare trunks. Hairy Woodpeckers find nesting cavities in the hardwood. And fungi of all kinds break down the trees, the essence of which energizes a different form of life, which itself can be the foundation of a whole new ecosystem.

The Ridge Conservation Area is a great place to visit. Whether you’re an ecologist looking for some unusual organisms, a conservationist looking for a source of righteous fury, or someone looking for a pleasant place to exercise, this preserve can provide you with what you’re looking for. And, odds are, it will provide you with plenty you weren’t looking for, too.

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

For the final installment of 2024’s 12 for 12 posts, we’re going to a somewhat unknown preserve. The Wading River Marsh Preserve lies just beside the Shoreham marsh, the grandest of the Best of the Rest properties. As such, it’s a perfect distillation of what makes that portion of the Shoreham property so special. Even as winter neared (and has, at the time of posting, now arrived), and leaf litter cluttered the ground, I found some profound beauty at this preserve, despite its small size. To think that hundreds of acres just like these could be preserved in the very near future is extraordinarily exciting.

It’s important to note that the Wading River Marsh Preserve is not very accessible by car. The entire preserve is sandwiched between private residences, and while that’s largely unnoticed as you walk the trails, parking is a different beast entirely. At best, there’s room for two cars in front of this preserve, which lies just off Sound Road. While the park’s relative obscurity means that the odds are pretty good for a prospective visitor to get a spot, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that you may need to park down the road at a public parking lot and walk to it. But if you do need to take those extra steps, know that it’s very much worth it for an authentic Pine Barrens experience.

Despite being squished within a residential area, Wading River Marsh Preserve is one of the most authentically natural parks we’ve discussed in this series. This has some drawbacks – the eastern trail, in particular, is covered in roots, meaning you have to carefully watch your step – but the benefits far outweigh any inconvenience. The best parks are those that allow you to feel as though you’re stepping into another time and place, a place removed from the ills of industrial modernity, and Wading River Marsh Preserve surely succeeds on this front.

The eastern loop is, as I’ve said, a more difficult walk than the western loop, thanks to the many roots that cover the trail. But for this difficulty you’re rewarded with a remarkable view of the eponymous marsh which is truly grand in its scope. Though you can see some signs of human construction in the distance, their attempt at encroachment feels miniscule compared to the vast swaths of marsh grass. Toward the end of this trail, I saw plenty of resident and migratory birds, including Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Swamp Sparrows.

While the eastern loop is a very fine trail, and the scenic view at the end is well worth the walk down it, the western loop proved to be even greater. For one thing, the trail is far less rooted than its counterpart. While leaf litter obscured a fair bit of the path at points, that’s a consequence of the season and is not something I’m going to hold against any park. There’s also a decently extensive (relative to the length of the trail) boardwalk through some of the marsh that allows you to feel like you’ve truly gone into it, providing a close-up look at the grass and the water flowing beneath your feet. Near the end of the loop, there’s another nice view out onto the marsh, as well as more of the forest in the distance, and on this visit, I had the privilege of seeing a pair of Bald Eagles sitting in those trees. They were, sadly, too far away to get a decent picture, but their beauty and majesty wasn’t diminished a single iota, even over that great distance.

The Wading River Marsh Preserve is not a park for everybody. It’s difficult to get to, and difficult to walk. But if you’re physically able, this is a place to go that hits that sweet spot between being a manageable distance while also feeling like a true escape into the natural world. Stepping down from the sign marking the entrance to the sign marking the crossroads, from which you choose to go either west or east, you begin to feel transported, and that feeling only intensifies as you proceed. Trees tower over you, casting shadows even now, when their leaves have fallen. Then, the world opens up and you experience the grandeur that can be found on Long Island, if only you go out and look. It’s those moments that make hiking the Long Island Pine Barrens so worthwhile, and it’s the mark of a truly great experience.

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

12 for 12! This month, we’re heading over to Great River to visit the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. This finely curated state park provides a relaxing, yet educational experience with some truly beautiful sights. But just what is an arboretum? And how does this park stack up against others of its kind? To find out, keep reading!

The word “arboretum” simply refers to a botanical garden dedicated to trees, and that definition alone should provide a good sense of what a visitor to Bayard will see at the park. Paved and gravel paths provide innumerable options for walking through the carefully maintained grounds. While all state parks possess a capable crew of employees to care for them, you’re much more likely to see employees at work throughout the Bayard property than at any other state park. Bayard is not the sort of park to visit if you want a genuine natural experience. Different species of trees appear with predictable regularity and can be identified with helpful placards placed on or below them. Much of the grass has been mowed, so even in the warmest months there is little to fear from ticks. Benches are plentiful, meaning it is only too easy to take a load off and relax either among the trees, or alongside the Connetquot River.

An important consideration to note regarding Bayard Cutting Arboretum is that there is an $8 fee on weekends. Parking is ample, though, and you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a spot if you squeeze in a visit on a weekday (as I did for this review). The core of the park is centered around an estate once owned by Olivia James, who gave up the land to create the arboretum. Guided tours are available for this property, and if you’re interested you should reach out to the park itself. A relatively recent addition to the park is a new miniature visitor center, located just beside the parking lot. Besides some very nice, private bathrooms, this building contains a “museum” of various tree species found on the property, and has many items that can be purchased, the proceeds of which go to support the park. There’s a wide array of books, from simple tree guides to New York Review of Books Classics, as well as various foodstuffs, including eggs which come from the park’s very own hatchery! And feel free to ask the employees stationed there for any more information about the park.

The Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park is something of an anomaly among the New York State Parks system. It’s the only arboretum, for one, meaning it provides an experience you literally cannot find anywhere else. And in providing that experience, it offers a new way into exploring Long Island’s environment. Every visit to a park (whether it’s a National, State, County or Town property) is educational in some way, but Bayard gives that aspect of the state parks a very welcome oomph. It’s the perfect place to go if you want to study and appreciate the diverse potential of trees on Long Island, or if you just want to kick back and relax without having to worry about ticks. The paved and gravelly paths are also great if you want to get some exercise in. In short, despite its specialized nature relative to the other NY State Parks, Bayard Cutting Arboretum manages to maintain a broad appeal, and that’s the mark of a truly great park.

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

12 for 12! This week, we’re heading all the way to the western side of Suffolk County to visit Belmont Lake State Park. Situated in the Town of Babylon, this park is a prime locale for recreation of all kinds. From walking, to running, to biking, to fishing and more, there’s ample opportunity to get a good workout, or to just take it easy for the day.

If there’s one word that could describe Belmont State Park, it’s “excess.” But in this case, that’s far from a bad thing. Whether it’s the gigantic parking lot, the wide dirt trails that can soothe the fears of even the most tick-averse, to numerous benches strewn about the park, there is an excess of everything you would hope to see at a park, and that means the whole experience of visiting Belmont is exceptionally accommodating.

From the point of view of a hiker, Belmont is a very solid place to visit. Many of the trails are wide and with a dirt base, but there are also narrower, grassy trails for those of you brave enough to take them. While maps are few and far between at this park, that’s not too big of an issue since the whole thing is situated around the eponymous lake. Keeping the lake in mind makes it easy enough to follow a loop around the park, which takes anywhere from an hour to two, depending on your pace. Perhaps the most novel aspect of these trails, though, is the presence of exercise stations at regular intervals across the main trail’s entire length. And that brings us back to the core “theme” of the park, if parks can be said to have themes: recreation. The wide, relatively smooth trails mean you can walk, run or bike with relative ease. You can fish in the lake, you can walk your dog (so long as it’s always leashed), and there’s enough wide-open space to play any number of sports.

Aesthetically, Belmont is a typical Long Island forest, and the lake is a typical lake. While this means it doesn’t grant the stunning view of Peconic Bay like Elizabeth A. Morton, or the rich grasslands of even a smaller park like Blue Point Preserve, it does mean that it perfectly captures that desire so many of us hold deep down to just get lost in the woods. Visiting in October, with the Fall foliage in full effect, the woods were bathed in rays of gold. It’s the perfect time and place to walk slowly, to soak in the world around you. The squirrels rummaging through the leaf litter, searching for good places to stash their winter store. The wind gently caressing the treetops so that they sing their soft little tune. The obnoxious honking of dozens and dozens of geese resting on the lake. So many magical moments can happen in the great outdoors, if only you make the choice to go find them.

Belmont Lake State Park is a “bread-and-butter“ park. It’s got trees, it’s got water, and all the flora and fauna you might expect given those two things. The park explicitly encourages healthy practices, but whether you want to exercise or relax (or something in between) it will accommodate you. From fishing, to biking, to a picnic with loved ones, there’s ample reason to visit this park. And, best of all, if you visit prior to April 1, there’s no entry fee! So, there’s no excuse not to give this park a try.

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

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

12 for 12! This month, we visited the Blue Point Nature Preserve, a Town of Brookhaven park located in – you guessed it! – Blue Point. The Blue Point Preserve can best be described as a “back to basics” park. It’s not an overly complex location, but at the same time it’s easily accessible to everybody. The paths aren’t too long, the scenery is pleasant, and the wildlife (particularly the birds) are delightfully diverse. With its relatively central south shore location just a bit off of Montauk Highway, there’s no reason not to stop by and check out this hidden gem!

First among equals when to comes to Blue Point Preserve’s positive qualities is its accessibility. The parking lot is large enough to accommodate a dozen vehicles, and there’s a curb-cut at the front of the park. The trails are wide, flat and paved in their entirety, meaning they can be safely traversed with a stroller, wheelchair, or crutches. A small pavilion at the front of the park hosts half a dozen picnic tables, and there’s a little free library if you’re looking for some new reading material to enjoy on one of the several benches strategically placed around the park. Do be warned, though, there are NO bathroom facilities at this location, so make sure your business is done before you visit. Because of the nature of Blue Point Preserve’s trails, the park is a popular exercise spot, as it can be easily run or biked around. At a decent walking pace, the trails can be seen in their entirety over about half an hour to an hour, but there’s enough to see that you’ll want to take your time!

When it comes to the environment, Blue Point Preserve is primarily a grassland, with some forest around the perimeter. This is not the place to go to completely escape civilization, as you can see a school and power lines from the park. Within its boundaries, though, the preserve is a delightful habitat. The perfect place to go if you want to quickly experience one of Long Island’s most beautiful ecosystems. Birds are ample here, ranging from common species like Northern Mockingbirds and Song Sparrows, to more elusive ones like the Willow Flycatcher. At this time of year, numerous swallows live in boxes set up around the park and are constantly flitting about overhead.

Blue Point Preserve is the perfect park to go to when you’ve got that hankering for the outdoors, but don’t want to commit a whole day to hiking. Much akin to Patriots Preserve, Blue Point sets itself apart thanks to its habitat. It’s a microcosm of the fabulous Long Island grasslands, such as those at EPCAL, and can be enjoyed in short bursts or over a longer stretch of meandering. Whether you want some exercise, want to eat your lunch in a beautiful, serene environment, or want to get back to nature for half an hour after a long day at the office, Blue Point Preserve is well worth the trip!

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

12 for 12! This month, we’re looking for a true diamond in the rough as we head to Patriots Preserve Park. Situated in Shirley, not too far from Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, this rehabilitated golf course began its new life as a Town of Brookhaven park back in October of 2023, easily making it the newest park we’ve covered on 12 for 12!

The first thing that needs to be addressed when talking about Patriots Preserve is the simple question of: how the heck do you get there? The park’s page on liparks.com provides only coordinates, but those will work perfectly well if you put them in your GPS. Don’t be offput by the fact that the park is situated right in a residential complex, it is completely open to the public and 100% free to enjoy. The parking lot is spacious, with dozens of spaces, and it looked as though the lot is to be expanded at some point in the future, though that’s just speculation.

Once you’re out of your car, you’ll be drawn towards a welcoming front gate, and from there you have your pick of the trails. There are two loops, one spanning more than a mile, and another spanning a bit under a mile, but these connect at various points, so feel free to make your own loop. The single greatest aspect of Patriots Preserve is the fact that the paths are thoroughly paved and fantastically wide. Grass just alongside the paths also tends to be well-maintained, meaning the risk of ticks (even in the height of the season, as we are now), is as low as can be. And, since the whole park is relatively flat, it’s the perfect place to go for those who use wheelchairs or crutches, or who have young stroller-bound children.

Let’s talk about the park itself. Something I often emphasize in 12 for 12 is habitat diversity, and Patriot Preserve nails it on that front. There’s a nice lake at the center of the park, with a nice boardwalk running across it, allowing for great views. While I was there, I saw a tern, ducks, and plenty of turtles. Then, there’s a great mix of extensive grassland and forest, with thick forest surrounding the park in the distance, and various small copses sprinkled throughout. I saw a warbler, crows, mockingbirds, and various other species. There’s the perfect mix of varied habitat and moderately-sized trails. It’s a dense experience, rather than a protracted one. While gigantic parks can be great if you have a whole day set aside for the outdoors, sometimes you just want to spend an hour walking around, then move on with your day. Patriots Preserve is the perfect park for that.

In addition to having great natural environs, Patriots Preserve has some decent guest facilities. There’s a large shaded area with picnic tables, as well as a large playground for the kids. Having lunch here with your family is a great way to get everyone a bit active, and change things up from the normal dining room table experience. Of note, though, when I went, the bathrooms were locked. It was a Sunday, then, so that could be the reason, but the website for the park notes that the bathrooms had not been completed as of the park’s opening. So, make sure you do all your business beforehand, otherwise you might have to suffice with a port-a-potty.

Patriots Preserve Park is a park whose renown will only grow with time. Even in this early stage, where some work still needs to be done, the whole park is pervaded by the feeling that those who set it up intended for it to be a quality experience. And in that regard, it absolutely delivers. Between a diverse array of habitats, some beautiful scenery, and wide, stress-free, accessible trails, this is a must-visit park for just about anyone.

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

12 for 12! This month, we headed to East Islip to visit Heckscher State Park. From picturesque beaches to expansive forests, this park is a smorgasbord of everything Long Island has to offer!

It’s perhaps easiest to describe Heckscher by comparing it to the other state park we’ve covered this year: Connetquot. Connetquot State Park is a hiker’s park. The trails stretch on forever and take you deep into the wilds of Long Island. Heckscher is, then, an everyone’s park. There are trails through the woods, of course, but many of these are paved. In fact, the number of paved paths and sidewalks in Heckscher is so extensive, you could spend hours walking along them, and still never cover them all. Heckscher also has ample facilities that make it a prime destination for summer fun, even if you don’t enjoy hiking. There are picnic areas with dozens of tables, basketball courts and disc golf baskets and, thankfully, several restroom facilities strategically situated around the park.

Most of the land immediately surrounding the parking lots is carefully maintained, but that doesn’t mean it’s bereft of Long Island’s natural beauty. If you’re up for a trickier walk, the extensive shoreline provides stunning views of the Great South Bay, and is thoroughly populated by Great Egrets, Forster’s Terns, Laughing Gulls and Willets. A well-marked bike path runs in a massive circle around the marsh that occupies the central area of the park, and benches pop up regularly alongside it if you decide to walk this path.

It’s worth noting that Heckscher State Park has an $8 parking fee (as is the norm for state parks after Memorial Day). There are also annual and lifetime passes that you can buy, but whether or not that’s a worthwhile purchase depends on your own individual circumstances.

All the aforementioned qualities that separate Heckscher from other parks lead to a very unique quality that strongly affects how visiting the park makes you feel. Generally, going to a park means you’re going out into nature, and thus away from other people. Sure, you may see some other hikers on a trail, but your interaction with them will consist of a quick nod or “how are ya?” and then you’ll be on your way. Because of all of the humancentric activities that Heckscher accommodates, you’re not going to be able to get away from it all at this park. Pretty much any way you walk, you’ll see a dozen or more people tossing frisbees, or setting up a barbecue, or sunning themselves on the sand. Heckscher fosters a communal experience, not a solitary one. So, if you’re looking for a quiet, meditative experience, then Heckscher is not the park for you. Of course, if you are looking for a place to bring a large group – be it your family, or a work function, or what have you – then Heckscher is the best park for that. A huge driving force behind 12 for 12 is showcasing the fact that there’s a staggering diversity in Long Island’s parks, and what park is the best to visit depends entirely on what you want to get out of it. Heckscher is a park that a lot of people can get a lot out of, and for different reasons.

When all is said and done, Heckscher State Park is a jack of all trades. There’s plenty of wildlife, and a diversity of habitats for nature lovers, but also ample facilities for people who just want to get outdoors and get moving. Whether you’re just looking for a safe place to run or bike, or a place to have a picnic with your grandkids, Heckscher can give you what you want.

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society

12 for 12! This month, it’s the one and only Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge! Situated right in the Pine Barrens and consisting of much of the Carmans River and its all-important watershed, this park surpasses nearly all others in terms of its ecological significance. Just because a park is valuable for what it preserves, though, doesn’t mean it’s an enjoyable park to visit. So, how does Wertheim compare to some of Long Island’s other locales?

Since only a few months ago we reviewed the Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge, it’s only natural to compare that park to Wertheim. When it comes to ease of access, Wertheim trounces its fellow preserve. Not only is it situated in Shirley, rather than all the way out on the East End, but its parking lot is much more spacious, it has an immense visitor center (complete with immaculately clean restroom facilities), and it’s completely free to enter! As if all that wasn’t enough, right behind the visitor center is a wheelchair-accessible observation platform, meaning that anyone and everyone can take in the beautiful views of the Carmans River.

When it comes to taking a hike, Wertheim has two trails: the White Oak Trail and the Black Tupelo Trail. The last time I visited Wertheim, I walked the White Oak Trail, and I recalled it being a bit too thin for my liking, and a bit confusing to navigate. If you look at a map of the preserve online (or take a map from among the many informational aids available a at few information kiosks at the front of the park), you’ll see that the White Oak Trail is a loop with a chord running across its middle, whereas the Black Tupelo is a straight line with a loop at its end. I decided to try out Black Tupelo Trail on this visit, and I’m very glad that I did. Not only is the trail a straight line through the park – which means you’ll spend less time worrying about where you’re walking and much more time marveling at what you’re looking at – but it’s such a wide trail that you would have to actively try to get ticks on you. If you walk along the center, you’ve got anywhere from two to four feet of trail on either side of you at all times. For those of you who are especially paranoid about ticks (as I am) this will come as an immense relief. The trail itself is basically a dirt-gravel mix for most of its run, though the loop at the end is covered in short grass (ticks here!), and there are brief points where roots cover the ground, and the elevation shifts rapidly. Overall, though, I’d argue that the Black Tupelo is one of the most accessible trails we’ve covered this year in 12 for 12: it’s about on par, perhaps a bit superior, to Morton, and behind only the main, paved trail at Caleb Smith.

Wandering through Wertheim in the middle of the day is a perfect experience for any birder. This is peak warbler migration season, and on my walk, I managed to catch sight of three different species of these adorable birds: Yellows, Common Yellowthroats, and American Redstarts. I also heard, though failed to see, Blue-winged Warblers and Northern Parulas. Few families of bird on Long Island present as great a challenge as the warblers, and yet these birds also provide the greatest reward, with their beautiful plumage and lovely little songs. I also saw many other birds that, in my experience, are more obscure: Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Eastern Towhees, and a Brown Thrasher.

As you may be able to gather from the diversity of birds I just named, there’s a surprising amount of diversity in the habitats you’ll travel through, considering that the whole park consists of the Carmans River watershed. There’s proper Pine Barrens, but also deciduous forest, grasslands, and marshland. At the end of the Tupelo Trail is Indian Point, a nice, secluded outlook onto the Carmans River. Of course, the one huge downside to the park following the flow of the river is that it can get exceedingly buggy. Mosquito repellant is your friend at Wertheim!

Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is perhaps the perfect example of a “crowd pleaser” park. It can appeal to a wide range of sensibilities and is accessible to a wide range of abilities. Wildlife abounds, and the park’s simplistic layout streamlines the process of hiking, meaning more of your time and energy will be dedicated to marveling at the beauty of Long Island. All of that, coupled with the fact that it’s free to enter and located in a relatively central part of Suffolk County, means that it’s a great park to recommend to everyone.

By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society