Fire Island Wilderness

Behind the dunes in the Fire Island Wilderness, you can feel so far away from civilization. Yet this federally-designated wilderness is only 60 miles from New York City.

 

You can hike into the Fire Island Wilderness at any time, but it's best to plan your trip for late fall through early spring, to avoid ticks and mosquitoes that share this habitat. If you plan to camp, you must reserve a backcountry camping permit at Recreation.gov.

The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness contains a variety of barrier island ecosystems in a relatively natural condition. It is the only federally designated wilderness area in the State of New York. At 1,380 acres, it is also one of the smallest wilderness areas managed by the National Park Service.

Before Hurricane Sandy, you could enter the Fire Island Wilderness from Watch Hill (which is accessible seasonally by ferry or private boat), Old Inlet (accessible by private boat only), or by the Wilderness Visitor Center (located adjacent to Smith Point County Park, accessible year round by car or bus). Privately-owned Bellport Beach splits the wilderness into two zones. (See Park Map and Wilderness-Backcountry Camping Map)

Hurricane Sandy rearranged the landscape, so that you may still enjoy a portion of the Fire Island Wilderness from the east, but as long as the breach at Old Inlet is open, access to both wilderness camping zones is from the west, through Watch Hill.

Backcountry camping has been temporarily suspended since late October 2012, due to impacts of Hurricane Sandy. Beginning May 15, 2013, reservations for wilderness camping permits may be made on-line at Recreation.gov, for overnight stays starting May 25, 2013.

 

As you hike deeper into the interior of the designated wilderness, you gradually begin to appreciate the sensation of being one with the barrier island. Here, you may truly understand and appreciate the value of wilderness.

Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness is within 60 miles of New York City. This wilderness is so close to millions of urban and suburban populations, yet it provides an opportunity to experience the values of wilderness character. Surrounded and buffered by high dunes and salt marsh, you can actually feel miles away from civilization.

In the wilderness, you can be free to explore, to discover a natural barrier island ecosystem, to savor the solitude. However, you must respect the natural resources and expect to provide for your own safety. There are no venomous snakes on Fire Island to be concerned about, but you're very likely to encounter dense thickets of catbriar and poison ivy, and in warmer weather, vast numbers of salt marsh mosquitoes and ticks. Wearing light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat helps detect ticks and provides protection from the sun. Always be aware of changing weather conditions, tide and ocean conditions and rip currents, and your response to the heat or cold. For your safety, never swim alone.

From March 15 through Labor Day, pets are not permitted in the Fire Island Wilderness area or on the beach in front of the wilderness.

 

As seen from the boardwalk to Watch Hill's life-guarded beach, the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness provides a scenic and serene backdrop for the Watch Hill Campground.

Be a Good Steward
Everyone has a responsibility to leave the island as they found it. Your efforts to leave it better than you found it-by carrying out more than you carried in-are truly appreciated. Leave No Trace!

Learn More

The Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577) was signed into law on September 3, 1964. In 1975, what became known as the "Eastern Wilderness Areas Act" (Public Law 96-622) provided for the addition of areas that had been severely modified, including the authority to condemn and remove structures, to create designated wilderness in the East.

The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness Act, Public Law 96-585, December 23, 1980, designated approximately 1,363 acres as wilderness in Fire Island National Seashore, and identified 18 more acres as potential wilderness additions.

In October 1999, a Federal Register notice announced that 17 acres of potential wilderness by that time fully complied with wilderness standards, and were officially designated as wilderness.

Approximately 1 acre of potential wilderness exists within the boundaries of Fire Island National Seashore: the boardwalk nature trail at Smith Point, which runs behind the dunes for about ½ mile from the Wilderness Visitor Center to the ocean beach; and the dune crossing boardwalk and bathhouse (vault toilet) at Old Inlet.

• National Park Service Wilderness
• Wilderness.net
• • Overview of Wilderness laws
• Fire Island National Seashore Wilderness Management Plan (1983)
• Notice of Designation of Potential Wilderness as Wilderness, Fire Island National Seashore (October 1999)
  

 

NPS Natural Resource Program Center

Visit "Views of the National Parks: Wilderness"

• Wilderness multimedia education program

 

The Wilderness Act was signed into law on September 3, 1964, just a week before the establishment of Fire Island National Seashore. Celebrate both in 2014!

• Celebrating 50 Years of American Wilderness: 9/3/1964-2014
• Celebrating 50 Years of Fire Island National Seashore: 9/11/1964-2014

 

The Fire Island Wilderness includes evidence of former human occupation on this stretch of the barrier island, from the U. S. Life Saving Stations of the late 1800s to the seasonal beach houses and their associated utilities into the mid-1900s.