Support provided by Northwell’s Mather Hospital, which delivers the five-star difference in exceptional care and is ranked by Medicare in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance and patient experience.
If you get a hankering to take a hike, we’ve got the best places in and around Port Jeff.
Don’t forget to bring your four-legged friend as many of these trails are dog-friendly. Just beware of ticks!
It’s not just for hikers, many trails are shared by runners and bikers. As an added bonus, if you or your kids are into letterboxing we provided links to some maps in each trail if available. Safe hiking!
Below are five #GreatHikes we came up with.
Setauket-Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail
A three-mile trail paved trail (one way) that offers a tranquil hike, run, or bike ride with a few challenging hills.
Take the pooch along but don’t forget the leash. The paved pathway is great for dog walks and provides a good hike that avoids areas where you’re likely to pick up ticks.
You have to cross a few roads to get to the end but they are safely marked with traffic signals to warn drivers of approaching pedestrians.
Access from the DOT parking lot off of Route 112, across from Hallock Road and next to the 7-Eleven.
Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai
A beautiful one-plus mile trail through nature preserve at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai.
The trail allows for a tranquil stroll through mother nature. It opens up on the west end to the beach. Great views. Runners can use this as an extension of a beach run. Watch for ticks.
Avalon Park in Stony Brook
This beautiful and well-maintained eight-acre site offers a perfect place for serene hikes and bike rides.
There is a boardwalk to begin your trek next to an expansive pond, stones steps that wind past sculptures and smaller ponds (sometimes filled with ducks).
Then step off to well-worn trails through the woods and passed flower fields. Dogs welcome as long as they’re leashed.
Also, take your camera. There are plenty of photo ops. Find the Avalon Park letterboxing map here.
Rocky Point Pine Barrens Preserve
With over 12 miles of trails, you are sure to get lost on this trail in Rocky Point.
According to PineBarren.org, there are Red and Blue trails that provide a 10.2-mile loop.
Gain access along the Route 25A bypass heading east at one of the three areas. There are 6,000 acres of pine barrens and open land in the preserve.
The trails are also popular with mountain bikers.
According to the New York State DEC, this site was once operated by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) as a global communications center.
With the advent of satellite communications, the center became obsolete. Be prepared and watch out for ticks.
Click here for the RCA Radio Central letterboxing map.
Laurel Ridge Setauket Woods Nature Preserve
Well-known by mountain bikers, this is a 15-mile twisting trail.
Maps show five different loops with names like BJs Way, West Side Loop, and Wild Laurel. The Black Loop is the most challenging. The Blue Loop covers the most ground.
Great for hikes, trail running and mountain biking.
The trail is maintained through a combined effort of the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, and C.L.I.M.B. (Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclists).
Dogs are allowed on leash.
Commentators have said that the east trail is a good beginner-to-moderate bike trail and the west trail is for experts.
