Nassau-Suffolk Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · Spring · Wildflowers · Wildlife

I trail run multiple times here a week and the conditions are almost always great, even in the wet weather. The trails drain very well, and there aren't too many places that have slippery footing. One of the great things about this trail is that you can park at multiple places along the whole route and run different sections. There is also a series of loops off of the main white blaze trail in Stillwell Woods Park. The only thing to note is that mountain bikes are allowed in most of Stillwell Woods Park.

There are many segments that make up this 19 mile trail. You can start your run in a variety of places and can plan for a variety of lengths for your outing. Long Island is hilly and rocky in the north. If you start at Cold Spring Harbor you'll have some relatively steep hills to climb and this northern portion of the trail is popular for the aerobic workout it can provide.

Southern portions of Long Island are flat. The southern segments of this trail can get swampy in rainy weather, but provide wonderful views of lakes/ponds with lots of ducks and swans.

A bike trail, marked with blue markers, runs near to the pedestrian trail. Biking can be a great way to cover more of the trail in less time, especially if completing the whole thing is your goal.

In several areas, such as Stillwell Woods, there are additional trails to explore.