at Camp Hero has seen little recent distur-
bance from people and the high bluffs that
face the Atlantic Ocean protect the trees and
shrubs from being stunted by the salt-laden
winds. Few places on Long Island have such
large and mature bushes and trees. A paved
road running south to the Atlantic bluffs
offer a dramatic view of the Ocean. Attrac-
tions: Military buildings; wide, paved roads;
beautiful maritime forests; great ocean views.
one-quarter-mile east of Montauk Village,
features more than 2,400 feet of ocean beach.
The park, named for its open, rolling geogra-
phy and the shadbush that grows there, has
bluffs, freshwater wetlands that are part of
the preserve, and hiking trails. A good hike
for the whole family. Attractions: See great
dramatic vistas of Montauk shoreline, sea and
rolling waves.
ed for hikers. Look for the County Park sign on
East Lake Drive near Big and Little Reed Pond
and park in the parking lot. A three loop trail
is marked and color coded, a blue (0.9 miles), a
green (0.5 miles), and a brown (1.3 miles) loop,
with maps displayed on kiosks throughout the
trail system. The view of Big Reed Pond from
the observation deck on the blue trail, will
make you understand why Big Reed Pond is
a Registered Natural Landmark. Attractions:
Big Reed Pond; clear burbling brooks; fern-lined
trails; and beautiful autumn colors.
of Montauk Village at the end of Napeague
Harbor Road. To get there, make a right turn
from Montauk Highway north onto Napeague
Harbor Road, just past Cyril's; travel about 1.5
miles and park near the end of the road on the
shoulder. The dunes are called walking dunes
because strong prevailing winter winds cause
them to move in a SE direction by about three
and a half feet each year. The mile-long loop-
trail affords a great view of Napeague Harbor
and winds atop the ridge of the North Dune,
which is the most active of the three parabolic,
or U-shaped dunes. Follow the arrows and look
for the trail markers. This area is a natural
wonder and deceptively fragile so stay on the
trails. Attractions: 80-foot high sand dunes;
water birds; views of Napeague Harbor.
conducts guided hikes year round of Montauk's
trails. Go to their web site: www.ehtps.org, for
hike schedules, usually held on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. The Concerned Citizens of
Montauk (238-5720) offer free hikes guided
by naturalists and other outdoor activities
throughout the year. Drop by their new offi ce
at 6 South Elmwood Avenue in the Village for
advice or maps; it's your walk-in resource to
everything outdoors. ccom-montauk.org.
Although major trails are marked, many diver-
gent ones are not. At times during the year,
leaf cover can mask main trails, making it easy
to get lost on side trails or even deer paths.
After heavy rains some trails are completely
or partially underwater. Chris at the Montauk
Bike Shop in the Village, is happy to answer
any questions and he sells trail maps.
yourself from them. With a few simple pre-
cautions, hikers and walkers can enjoy walks
through our beautiful woodlands. Experts
recommend that you stay on the trails, wear
light colors, make sure you are well covered,
and use an insect repellent before setting off,
as well as taking one with you. Ticks tend to
congregate on tall grasses, so avoid walking
through these areas. After your walk or bike,
check the family for ticks.
Islander, has a passion for both landscape and
wildlife photography. Photographing wildlife
takes patience, timing, luck and creativity.
Find out more at cliffcaptures.com.