Things to do / Travel Guide
Let the seabreeze ruffle your hair as you speed along Long Island's beach boardwalks, smell the sweet scent of spring while biking through Long Island's parks, or peddle past the ever-vibrant colors of Long Island's fall foliage along roads and trails. You can enjoy a leisurely ride along Long Beach's 2½ mile boardwalk or take a more rigorous (and serendipitous) ride weaving along the quaint hamlets that dot the scenic harbors of the North and South Shores. Another popular yet informal excursion is to pick up the Montauk Highway (Route 27A) anywhere along its course and bike toward the majestic Montauk Point Lighthouse on the thin strip of land that extends like a long arm toward the expansive blue of the Atlantic Ocean.
Bike rental shops are available in many Long Island communities but in the Hamptons and Montauk area they are particularly easy to come by. Bikes can be ridden on paved or dirt roads in all Suffolk County parks and bike hostels are available at many.
Road Biking around Long Island, New York
Kings Park Hike and Trail is a lovely mile and a half trail that runs along the old Kings Park Railroad from Old Dock Road. You'll ride through the Kings Park Psychiatric Center (it's now closed) and on to Nissequogue River State Park.
Bethpage Bikeway is a low-impact, 9½ mile trail from Bethpage State Park to Massapequa. Traffic is minimal and road crossings are painless, any portion of this route is easy for families with children. One important tip: On Sunrise Highway 27 the trail seems to end but it doesn't - to continue on toward Massapequa, cross the highway and turn right onto the sidewalk. You'll see a trail re-entrance on the left side.
For a breezy, beach boardwalk bike, try the Cedar Creek Park to Jones Beach 4½-mile paved trail. The route runs along the Wantagh State Parkway to Zach's Bay. After testing your stamina against the coastal winds and moderate inclines, cool off in the water or buy a refreshment at one of Zach's Bay snack bars.
The Over the Potatoes Trail is a 36-mile route along lightly trafficked roads and takes you through the beautiful farmlands where Long Island potatoes are grown. For a copy of the trail map contact the Rotations Bicycle Center. If you prefer to check out some of the most expensive real estate in the country try the South of the Highway Trail which runs from Windmill Lane in Southampton roughly 15 miles past Mecox Bay and Georgica Pond to Indian Wells Highway outside of Easthampton.
On Fire Island, road biking is restricted in many places but there is a paved road the short distance between the villages of Kismet and Atlantique where it is permissible to ride.
Mountain Biking around Long Island, New York
The 14-mile Pine Barrens trail at Rocky Point is far from barren. You'll enjoy the single track's challenging hills but the flat respites within winding forests will certainly win you over - follow the white trail markers. Be sure to get a riding permit by contacting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Bethpage State Park's 100 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails are full of trees, stumps, roots, and rocks. While the park's many trails are clearly marked, many adventurous riders claim the best way to enjoy the park is to get lost and then work your way out.
Don't let the name fool you - you won't be still for even a moment on the rocky, single track four-mile loop in Stillwell Woods at Syosset. While short, Stillwell Woods presents one of Long Island's most difficult mountain bike challenges. Enter the trail past the athletic fields of Stillwell Field on Southwoods Road.
The Northwest Trails just south of Sag Harbor offer some really great singletrack. Begin near Edwards Hole Road near the junction of Route 114, the trail is clearly marked. This trail is less than 10 miles and at its eastern end near Alewive Brook Road lies an observation deck where on a clear day you can see Block Island.
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