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A special guided hike sponsored
by Fire Island National Seashore and its partners began during
a celebration of the park's 40th anniversary in 2004.
Join us as we continue to develop
this 4-day excursion on Fire Island.
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| Fire Island Trek |
Fire Island National Seashore is hosting its Fire
Island Trek twice this year: June 26 - 30 and September
11 - 14, 2006. The excursions are from the Fire Island Lighthouse
to the Wilderness Visitor Center at Smith Point, a distance
of almost 20 miles. Special guided tours and interpretive programs
are incorporated along the way. A limited number of participants
may be accommodated overnight (fees are charged for lodging),
but day trippers are welcome on most segments. Each trek will
start at the Fire Island Lighthouse at 9:00 a.m. on Monday (June
26 and September 11, 2006). From 3-10 miles of walking in deep
sand and over uneven terrain is required each day.
Limited logistical support is available, but you must provide
for your own transportation and parking, and pay for your own
meals along the way. You will need to provide your own sleeping
bag for all overnight stays and provide a tent for camping on
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Day 0
You may have to arrive at
your final destination early on Monday morning to drop off a
vehicle or make your ferry connections. Be prepared!
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Sunday
If you're coming from out of town, make arrangements for local
lodging so that you start your day well rested and early on
Monday. Be sure you've packed all the items you'll need for
the trek. Familiarize yourself with the trip's logistics (parking,
transportation, etc.)
Lodging may be available at the AMC cabin at Atlantique,
requiring a 3-mile walk on Monday morning to join the group.
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Day 1
Fire Island Trek begins at the Fire Island Lighthouse. The program includes a climb to the top of the tower and a tour of the historic light station grounds.
The first afternoon includes a little free time to explore before dinner.
A National Park Service ranger will share an interpretive program about Fire Island's park resources after dinner.
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Monday
To launch each trek, you can enjoy the spectacular view from
atop the historic Fire Island Lighthouse. After a two-hour tour
and walk to the site of the old Surf Hotel, the participants
will stop for lunch at a restaurant in the Fire Island community
of Kismet, then continue the trek to Atlantique. (Lunches
are ordered from the menu individually.) Total hiking distance
on Day 1 is about 3 miles.
In partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), who
maintain a cabin in the community of Atlantique on Fire Island,
participants may enjoy AMC's recreational facilities in the
afternoon, then spend the first night of the trek in the AMC
bunkhouse. (AMC is charging a special rate of $45 which
includes dinner, lodging and breakfast.)
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Day 2
An early morning stroll past Ocean Beach shops and eateries can help you plan for a future visit to the more commercial communities on Fire Island.
After a hike along the beach and through the dune and swale habitats, a stroll on the Sunken Forest boardwalk is cool and refreshing.
The Sailors Haven snack bar provides a welcome rest stop before the long afternoon trek to Watch Hill.
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Tuesday
The second day includes a longer hike (about 7 miles),
but there are a few opportunities to shorten your trip if
you're not able to walk the entire distance.
After breakfast, the group will work its way to Sailors Haven
via brief stops at Fire Island Summer Club, Ocean Beach and
Point O'Woods, and a stroll through Sunken Forest, an impressive
maritime forest with centuries-old holly trees.
Lunch may be purchased at the Sailors Haven snack bar. The
trek gets a little more strenuous in the afternoon, as the
group will spend more time walking on the beach and in the
sand between Sailors Haven and Barrett Beach. Dinner may be
purchased at a local restaurant or market in Cherry Grove
or Fire Island Pines, before staying overnight at the narrowest
part of Fire Island.
Overnight participants must be able to tolerate a "sleep-over"
in National Park Service housing. No evening program is scheduled
this night. Plan to get up early to catch the sunrise at dawn!
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Day 3
A 2-hour canoe tour allows
you to get up close to the productive salt marsh.
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Wednesday
The third day requires only a 3½-mile hike, leaving time
after lunch for a guided canoe trip into the Watch Hill salt
marsh.
Overnight participants may set up camp at the Watch Hill
Group Campground. Lunch and dinner can be purchased at the
Watch Hill snack bar. You can rest your feet while attending
a park ranger's program at the Watch Hill Dune Station, before
retiring to your tent behind the dunes.
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Day 4
Portions of the trek that take you through the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dunes Wilderness provide an opportunity to experience the character of wilderness.
Finally arriving at pavement beyond the Wilderness Visitor Center, you can truly appreciate the vast diversity of Fire Island National Seashore.
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Thursday
The third day includes a 7-mile guided hike into New York State's
only designated wilderness area. A box lunch may be purchased
for the day's hike. The program concludes with a stop at the
Wilderness Visitor Center and shuttle back to your starting
point. (Fees may be charged for shuttle transportation.)
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For more information or to your reserve your spot, call Fire Island National Seashore:
631-654-3362
Space is limited. Reservations are required.
2006 Agenda
Registration
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| Back to Calendar of Events |
