“Wildlife Hiking Trails” 

By Andrea Peponakis 

November seems to be the perfect month for hiking on Long Island. The weather is gorgeous, and the pesky mosquitoes are not around. Long Island offers more than 200 miles of beautiful hiking trails ranging from the coast to pine land. Now, that’s a lot to choose from. This week, I have narrowed down four fantastic trails for wildlife lovers, each varying in length and difficulty. Enjoy the outdoors and immerse yourself in nature’s beautiful setting while capturing peaceful moments with animals in their natural environments. Don’t forget your camera and your binoculars. The scenery is captivating and easily captured with your camera for a lifelong memory. It is easy to get lost in the woods. I certainly have learned my lesson twice. I would like to offer you this good advice.  Download an app like All Trails, so you understand the trail ahead of time. Take photos of the trail details in case you lose service. Make sure your phone is fully charged. Let someone know where you will be hiking. Wear hiking boots for safety. Bring plenty of water for you and your dog. But most of all, enjoy the beauty that awaits you. 

Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge, Sag Harbor 

Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge, located in Sag Harbor, is an easy, 1.2-mile loop trail filled with white-tailed deer, songbirds, wild turkeys, and chipmunks all used to humans. You can extend your hike for another two miles, if you like, with a walk along a pristine beach. No dogs are allowed. It is prohibited to feed wildlife. The refuge opens a half-hour before sunrise and closes a half-hour after sunset.  GET THE DETAILS. 

Blue MB Trail Loop, Woodbury 

Blue MB Trail Loop, located in Woodbury, is an easy, 5.1-mile loop. It is one of the three loops within Trail View State Park. The trail runs from Cold Spring Harbor to Bethpage State Park. It features marshes, fields, and forests. Hikers will be delighted to see the songbird migrations and many other birds. Leashed dogs are permitted. It is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week.  www.alltrails.com   Enter Trail View State Park in search bar.  

 Montauk Point Loop, Montauk 

Montauk Point Loop, located in Montauk, is an easy, 6.2-mile loop that takes approximately two hours to complete. Walk along the bluffs at the very end of Long Island. Here you will see seals sunbathing. Hike through the forest and you will reach an overlook with views of the Long Island Sound. The beach is accessible from here. The view of the Montauk Lighthouse makes this hike worth it. This dog-friendly loop is open from sunrise to sunset all year round.  www.alltrails.com 

 Paumanok Path, South Fork 

Paumanok Path is a 125-mile trail of scenic wonder that varies in difficulty. Although you probably won’t complete the trail in one hike, exploring sections of it each time is rewarding. This trail connects the woods of Rocky Point with the stunning shores of Montauk Point State Park. There are beech forests to explore, meadows, dunes, cedar swamps, and ponds. Wildlife includes deer, foxes, harbor seals, and hawks. Along the way, you will find old farms, early settlements, and a WWI training facility. This dog-friendly trail is open year-round from dawn until dusk.  www.alltrails.com