Recreation > Beaches/Parks/Preserves
The East End offers ocean beaches, sandy coves, preserves and family parks to explore.
Long Island beaches are world-renowned for their fine white sand, spectacular waves, miles of boardwalks, beach trails, restaurants, picnic areas, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. In fact, Coopers Beach in Southampton was ranked number one in the country on Dr. Beach’s 2010 Top 10 Beaches List. East Hampton’s Main Beach has also made the list, ranking at number five.
East End beaches provide abundant scenic and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike including fishing, kayaking, surfing, swimming, boat rentals and scuba diving. Most beaches also provide showers, restrooms, and food concessions.
Parks offer countless opportunities to explore your natural environment, escape from the grind of the everyday and experience exciting new adventures. Boat launches, hiking trails, campsites, horseback riding, fishing, playgrounds and golf courses all await you at many East End Parks!
Nature lovers can grab your binoculars and set out on a nature and bird watching trip through one of the East End’s preserves. Preservation efforts have seen endangered species like the Piping Plover starting to flourish, especially out in the Hamptons area and on the North Shore. Hawks have made a truly remarkable comeback on Long Island, and they can often be viewed perched high on the flood lamps along major parkways. Other wildlife sightings include egret, heron, black ducks, warblers, gadwalls, mergansers, yellowlegs, osprey, deer, owls, red fox, opossum, and wild turkey.
You’ll never tire of all the things to do and see on the East End of Long Island.
Cupsogue Beach County Park
This 296 acre barrier beach park offers lifeguard-supervised swimming, sunbathing on white sand beaches and some of the finest saltwater bass fishing to be had on the Island. Campers and recreational vehicles are permitted along the access road running parallel to the outer beach.
Hither Hills State Park
Hither Hills State Park offers visitors scenic picnic areas and fireplaces, sport fishing, a sandy ocean beach, playing fields, a playground and a 168-site campground on the ocean. Anglers can fish year-round and obtain permits to fish at night. The unique "walking dunes" of Napeague Harbor are located on the eastern boundary of the park, which also has woodlands filled with Russian olive, oak, shad and pine trees. Bridle paths and hiking, nature, biking and cross-country ski trails are available.
Sears Bellows County Park
Nestled within the Long Island Pine Barrens, Sears Bellows offers a broad range of recreational opportunities to Suffolk County residents and tourists. Campsites for both tents and trailers are available. Rowboat rentals are offered on freshwater Bellows Pond. Sears Bellows' extensive trail system attracts hikers and horseback riders from all points, east and west. Riders may use the park with a horseback riding permit. This park is closed to certain activities during waterfowl hunting season. Sears Bellows Park is a sportsman's paradise. Freshwater fishing for bluegill, bass, perch and pickerel, with bait, is permitted.
Theodore Roosevelt County Park
Montauk County Park offers outer beach access and outer beach camping, seasonal hunting, salt and freshwater fishing, hiking, horseback riding trails and canoeing. On the County Park property the Deep Hollow Ranch has available popular horseback rides to the beach for park visitors. Also in the park is the historic Third House utilized by Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. There is camping for self-contained trailers and campgrounds for youth scout groups. The park is dog friendly as long as dogs are kept leashed.Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge
Sag Harbor NY 11963
631-286-0485
Linda Gronlund Memorial Nature Preserve at Barcelona Neck
Sag Harbor NY 11963
631-444-0273