Connetquot River State Park Preserve

    Park Overview:

    This 3,473-acre park protects the slow moving Connetquot River and offers an abundance of hiking opportunities for different experience levels. 
    Trail Uses:Hiking, Bridle path, X-C skiing
    Dogs:
    Trail Miles:8.4 miles
    Park Acreage:3473 acres
    City/County/
    State:    		Oakdale/Suffolk/NY
    Buy Book:Hiking Long Island - Guide Book
    Park Description:

    The preserve has a rich historic past, and the old Snedecor Inn (built in the 1820s) still stand along the banks of the dammed-up river. Politicians also enjoyed the outdoors here, including President Ulysses Grant. Today the park has a large herd of white-tail deer and a flock of wild turkeys to observe. There is also a fish hatchery where visitors can see trout in various stages of development. The preserve is a great place to cross-country, with wide paths and flat terrain that lead to quieter woodlands (Hiking Long Island guidebook).
    Trails Overview:

    The Long Island Greenbelt Trail with its white blazes cuts through the park north to south, and four color-blazed (blue, green, red, yellow) trails also loop around sections of the park. The Trails are as follows Blue Trail (8.4 miles loop), Green Trail (3.9 miles one way), Red Trail (3.7 miles loop) and Yellow Trail (1.0 mile one way). Some of the trails are on sandy fire roads, where use is shared with horseback riders. These lanes are soft and not easy to walk on for some, so take note of this. The Red Trail offers the most interesting family hike. The walk is on comfortable wood chips closer to the water where plants and birds are more abundant. The Blue Trail offers the most exercise, and stays in the dryer parts of the park. The Green Trail is similar to the Blue Trail, while the Yellow Trail is a simple one-way access trail to the hatchery.
    Directions:

    The entrance to the preserve is on the north side of Sunrise Highway (route 27) about 1.4 miles east of Southern State Parkway exit 44. Note that you can only enter the preserve going westbound since Route 27 is a divided highway.
    Contact Information:NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
    631-581-1005
    Region:New York City
    Fees:Some times and places; check with park