montauk parks

Several groups offer guided walks throughout the year. Information about our parks and guided hikes of Montauk's trails are conducted by the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society www.hike-li.com and the Nature Conservancy.

Amsterdam Beach Preserve

This 200-acre park was a joint purchase by NY State, Suffolk County, and the Town of East Hampton. A passive use park, the land stretches from Ranch Road at Indian Field on the east to the Montauk Association houses (seven cottages deigned by the firm of McKim, Mead and White in the 1880's) to the west. It is bordered on the north by Montauk Highway and extends southward to the Atlantic Ocean and the ocean beach. It is situated near other protected lands, such as Shadmoor, Montauk Point, and Camp Hero State Parks. Fifty-four acres of tidal and freshwater wetlands are interspersed throughout maritime shrublands. This natural topography is called "Montauk Moorlands", and provides critical habitat to several rare and endangered species such as the northern harrier, the spotted turtle and the Cooper's hawk, and hosts several species of spring migrating birds and other shore birds.

Camp Hero State Park

This 755-acre State Park formerly housed U.S. Army and U.S. Airforce bases. Several buildings, bunkers, batteries, and an old radar building (a National Historic Site) remain, although they remain off limits to the public. Roads cross the park, along with an extensive system of trails for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding, a beach used by surfers and surfcasters, a picnic area with grills and an old maritime forest. Enter the park at the main entrance (East Gate) a half mile west of the Montauk Point Lighthouse, and park at one of two small parking fields; fee is $8. Open daily year round from sunrise to sunset. For more information about guided nature walks, historical tours, and environmental programs, call the park office. (668-3781)

Culloden

This park is named after the HMS Culloden, a British 74-gun warship sailing with the Channel Fleet during the American Revolutionary War. On January 23, 1781, as she was on her way to Newport, Rhode Island to intercept French ships attempting to run a British blocade, she ran into servere weather and ran aground at what is now called Culloden Point. This wreck, just offshore, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is popular with scuba divers. The natural wooded area leading up to the shoreline of Culloden is also public. Access is on Flamingo Avenue, at a parking lot just north of Will Point Road. The natural wooded area and shoreline has seen little change from the days when the Montaukett Indians lived here in a world of hidden ponds, specimen trees, wetlands, and a beautiful shoreline.

Hither Hills State Park

Located four miles west of the Village of Montauk on the Old Montauk Highway, with a two and a half mile beach along the Atlantic Ocean and 1,755 acres of parkland. Hither Hills has 168 campsites along with hiking and nature trails. Activities include ocean swimming, saltwater fishing, weekly square dancing, movies, guided nature hikes, and children's programs. Non-campers welcome, but must pay a $10 daily parking fee. Open year round from sunrise to sunset. (668-2554). Camping from April 29 through November 18. Call 1-800-456-CAMP to reserve a campsite, 8 am–8 pm daily, 9 am–3 pm weekends, or reserve online at ReserveAmerica.com. Reservations accepted up to nine months in advance. Reserve early as these sites book quickly for the summer season. Charges for NY State residents — $28/day weekdays, $32/day weekends; nonresidents $56 weekday and $64 a day for weekends.

Hither Woods Preserve & Lee Koppelman Nature Preserve Kirk Park

These two preserves and adjacent Hither Hills State Park are Montauk's prime mountain biking areas, located north of the Montauk Highway between Napeague and the Village of Montauk with 40 miles of trails

Kirk Park

A beautiful three-acre park maintained by the Montauk Village Association, located just west of the Village, includes Fort Pond, the second largest freshwater lake on Long Island. Contains a picnic area, a pavilion on Fort Pond, and is next to Second House Museum, which hosts many events throughout the year. Freshwater fishing permitted.

Montauk Downs State Park

A 160-acre park that has an 18-hole public golf course (see Landsports). It also has a driving range and a putting green, six Har-True tennis courts, a pool, and a wading pool with spray for children. Pool opens June 23rd and closes September 3rd. (668-5000)

Montauk Mountain

A six-acre preserve area maintained by the Nature Conservancy. To get there, follow Second House Road north 0.7 miles to an asphalt road on the left. Park at the end of the asphalt road by the Nature Conservancy sign. The preserve is at the end of the road past the last house on the right.

Montauk Point State Park

This 724-acre park, at the site of the Montauk Point Lighthouse, offers breathtaking views of the sea, Block Island Sound, and Block Island to the northeast, and is great for bird watching year round and seal watching in the winter months. Park your car and set off on foot to explore the area. Ask for a Montauk Point State Park trail map at the toll booth. The park has surfcasting, five miles of marked and unmarked hiking trails, a picnic area with tables, a playground, a restaurant, a gift shop, and restrooms. Daily parking costs $8. The Montauk Point Lighthouse, a museum run by the Montauk Historical Society, is open to the public daily in season.

Navy Road Park

Located at the western end of Fort Pond Bay near Rocky Point; the park has a parking lot, a deep water dock suitable for fishing, and a rocky beach. Offers easy access to trails in Hither Woods Preserve. Good place for launching kayaks and canoes, and many take their dogs to play. Open year round.

Shadmoor State Park

Located two miles east of the Village on Montauk Highway, this 99-acre tract of land has a half mile of ocean frontage where tall clay cliffs plunge down to a pebble strewn beach. If you are coming by car, park in the parking lot at the entrance to the park. About 30 percent of Shadmoor is freshwater wetlands with several small ponds hidden in the thickets. Trails and dirt roads lead to the bluffs from the entrance on Montauk Highway, offering an easy, though sometimes muddy, walk. A passive-use park, Shadmoor was home to two WWII gun emplacements sites trained on offshore waters to deter German submarines off Long Island's east end

Theodore Roosevelt County Park

Two entrances: one at the end of East Lake Drive just north of the airport, where the park office is located, and the other at Third House, three miles east of the Village on Montauk Highway. A total of 1,126 acres features three and a half miles of nature trails suitable for hiking (a self-guided nature trail brochure available), five miles of bridle paths, a picnic area, freshwater fishing and canoeing at Big Reed Pond, surfcasting on the outer beach, and hunting in the winter, in season. Camping permitted for up to seven days from April through November on the outer beach for four wheel drive vehicles that are self-contained camping trailers. Buy a Green Key Card at any County Park for $24, (good for three years), and then purchase a Suffolk County Camping Permit for $93 for outer beach access. Resident fee: $15 per night. Non-Suffolk residents pay a yearly fee of $225 and $30 per night. Tents not allowed.

Walking Sand Dunes

Part of Hither Hills State Park on the east side of Napeague Harbor, the Walking Dunes can reach a height of 80 feet and are slowly moving southeast. To get to the dunes, head west on Montauk Highway and turn right at Napeague Harbor Road, by the Hither Hills Racquet Club. Continue over the railroad tracks straight to the end of the paved road. Park your car here and take off on foot following the path to your right. Continue on this path and you will reach the dunes.