• Miles of uncrowded white sandy beaches extend to the horizon, separating the clear blue ocean and undulating grass-covered dunes.

    Fire Island

    National Seashore New York

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  • More Park Facilities Reopen During May 2013

    Watch Hill and Sailors Haven marinas open May 10. Limited ferry service from Sayville to Sailors Haven resumes May 13 and ferries from Patchogue to Watch Hill start on May 18. Remaining park facilities to reopen by May 25, 2013. More »

What's Happening this Week

Fire Island Lighthouse Sailors Haven Watch Hill Wilderness William Floyd Estate

Camping

 Talisman / Barrett Beach
 
Sunset Walk poster

Enjoy a ranger-guided stroll to the breach at Old Inlet on Memorial Day weekend. William Floyd Estate house tours begin on Friday, May 24. Watch Hill and Sailors Haven visitor centers reopen May 25. Fire Island Lighthouse should be open by then, too!

Check today's Weather, full Calendar of Events, latest Park News.

Current Post-storm Public Access to Fire Island National Seashore:

Public parking and access is currently available through Smith Point County Park, located at the southernmost end of William Floyd Parkway. The Seashore is open to pedestrian traffic from the Fire Island Wilderness Visitor Center (adjacent to Smith Point County Park) to the breach at Old Inlet, 1½ miles to the west. The breach is closed to all public access (boating, wading, swimming, fishing, etc.). People should use caution as storm debris may still wash up or become uncovered on the beach and in the Great South Bay.
  • Ferries are already running to the Fire Island communities, and ferry service to both Sailors Haven and Watch Hill will resume this month. Additional park facilities will reopen during May 2013.

Plan ahead for this year's Photo Contests & Art Shows.
Follow latest updates on Twitter, Facebook; check our videos on YouTube

 
Deer along Wilderness Visitor Center trail.

Enjoy the flora and fauna at the Wilderness Visitor Center.

Wilderness Visitor Center - 631-281-3010
Southernmost end of William Floyd Parkway; parking at Smith Point County Park

Open Friday - Sunday, 9 am - 4 pm

No wilderness camping permits will be issued at the Wilderness Visitor Center while the breach at Old Inlet remains open.
Effective May 15, 2013: Reservations for backcountry/wilderness permits must be made at Recreation.gov for overnight stays starting May 25, 2013. Check-in and access to each wilderness camping zone will now be through Watch Hill.

Call for information: 631-281-3010 (weekends) or 631-687-4780 (weekdays)

Post-Sandy Status at Fire Island Wilderness:

  • The half-mile boardwalk from the Wilderness Visitor Center through the swale to the beach was destroyed and has been removed.
  • All facilities at Old Inlet (boardwalk, dock and vault toilet) were destroyed by the storm and will not be replaced.
  • There is no access to the Fire Island Wilderness backcountry camping zones from the east due to the breach at Old Inlet.
  • Watch for additional closures due to new piping plover nesting habitat.

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Woman approaching William Floyd Estate.

Enjoy a guided tour through the Old Mastic House at the William Floyd Estate. Open Friday - Sunday and holidays, from Memorial Day weekend to Veterans Day.

William Floyd Estate - 631-399-2030 (or 631-395-9693)
245 Park Drive, Mastic Beach, NY 11951 (free parking)

Grounds: Open April 5 - May 19, 2013 Friday - Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm
Open May 24 - November 11, 2013 Friday - Sunday and holidays, 9 am - 5 pm

Old Mastic House: Open May 24 - November 11, 2013; Tours every half-hour, Friday - Sunday and holidays, 10 am - 4 pm

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Mowed path leading to William Floyd Estate's Old Mastic House.
The William Floyd Estate's Old Mastic House is still closed until May 24, 2013, but watch for special walks and grounds tours throughout the year.

Starting in April, grounds and restrooms will be open Friday through Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm.
 
Boardwalk leading to Fresnel Lens Building and Fire Island Lighthouse.

Follow the boardwalk to the Fresnel Lens Building and the Fire Island Lighthouse.

Fire Island Lighthouse - 631-661-4876
Reopens when Robert Moses State Park Field # 5 opens.
Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters Museum to be open by Memorial Day weekend!

Operated by Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society
Southernmost end of Robert Moses Causeway; parking at Robert Moses State Park

Map: Temporary Access to Fire Island Lighthouse
Post-Sandy Status at Fire Island Lighthouse:

  • Boardwalks to the Fire Island Lighthouse were destroyed and have been removed. Construction is not expected to begin before summer.
  • The dock used by water taxis and other permitted vessels was damaged and is not expected to be repaired before summer.
  • Pedestrian access to the Fire Island Lighthouse from Robert Moses State Park Field #5 will involve a walk of about 3/4 mile along the beach through soft sand. The area known as Lighthouse Beach is no longer available as a clothing-optional area.
  • Tower tours and other programs will not be available during restoration work at the lighthouse and on the terrace.
  • Watch for additional closures due to new piping plover nesting habitat.

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Ferry passengers arrive at Watch Hill.

Ride the ferry from Patchogue to get to Watch Hill.

Watch Hill
Ferry service resumes May 18, 2013:
Park at Patchogue - Watch Hill Ferry Terminal (free parking) at 150 West Avenue, Patchogue, NY 11772; take the passenger ferry (2012 fares: $8.50/adult; $5.75/child one-way; $16 and $10.50 round-trip)
Davis Park Ferry Company - 631-475-1665

Facilities now open:

Post-Sandy Status at Watch Hill

  • Stairs to the lifeguarded beach are expected to be repaired by Memorial Day weekend
  • An accumulation of sand on the walkway between Watch Hill and Davis Park is expected to be removed before Memorial Day weekend
  • Funding has been secured, but the Watch Hill channel will not be dredged until after October 1, 2013.

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Watch Hill stairs before and after repairs
Reconstruction of damaged stairs to the beach at Watch Hill is underway by mid-May 2013.
NPS Photo/Dunphy
 
Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal

See special programs and exhibits inside the Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal.

Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal
150 West Avenue
Patchogue, NY 11772

 

Talisman / Barrett Beach

Post-Sandy Status at Talisman / Barrett Beach

  • Boardwalk and stairs at Barrett Beach are OK, but boardwalk on Talisman bay beach and stairs to the ocean were damaged and are not repaired.
  • Restrooms will be opened when electricity is restored.
  • Limited picnic facilities now available at Talisman due to winter storm damage.
 
Talisman bayside beach before and after Hurricane Sandy and winter storms
The small picnic area on the bayside beach at Talisman lost additional sand during winter storms. Portions of the boardwalk were undermined and must be removed, but grills and tables will be reinstalled. 
NPS Photos/Valentine, Dunphy
 
Group of women and children stroll through the Sunken Forest.

Join a guided walk through the Sunken Forest or take a stroll on your own.

Sailors Haven / Sunken Forest
Ferry service resumes May 13, 2013:
Park in Sayville (2013 daily fee at River Road Parking: $8/vehicle/day Monday-Thursday; $13/vehicle/day Friday -Sunday & holidays) and take the passenger ferry (2013 fares: $7/adult; $4.25/child one-way; $13 and $7.50 round-trip):
Sayville Ferry Service 631-589-0810
41 River Road
Sayville, NY 11782

Post-Sandy Status at Sailors Haven:

  • The eastern set of stairs from Sailors Haven to the beach was repaired by May 1, and the westernmost stairs from the Sunken Forest to the ocean beach are expected to be repaired by Memorial Day.
  • Damaged portions of the Sunken Forest Nature Trail were repaired by May 1.
  • Storm damages to the path between Cherry Grove and Sailors Haven have made this route inaccessible. Construction to relocate the trail is expected to begin after July 4.
  • The picnic area on the eastern side of the Sailors Haven marina will be inaccessible until the post-Sandy debris pile can be removed.
  • Funding has been secured, but the Sailors Haven channel will not be dredged until after October 1, 2013.
  • Watch for additional closures due to new piping plover nesting habitat!

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Sailors Haven stairs to beach before and after repair in spring 2013
Stairs to the Sailors Haven lifeguarded beach were repaired by early May 2013.
NPS Photo/Dunphy
 

Ferry Service to Fire Island National Seashore facilities
See Getting to Fire Island

Camping:

  • Watch Hill Campground - Reopens May 11, 2013. Reservations for the 2013 season are accepted online at www.watchhillfi.com
  • Wilderness/Backcountry Camping - Reservations for permits will be available through Recreation.gov on May 15, 2013 for overnight stays beginning May 25, 2013
    Wilderness camping is limited to a 3-night stay, with a maximum of 4 people per site in the east zone and 8 people per site in the west zone. A limited number of permits are issued for each night. Check-in and access to each zone is now required at the Watch Hill Visitor Center, when staffed.

    Camping is also available on Fire Island at Smith Point County Park - Call for Information: 631-852-1313 Reservations: 631-244-7275

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National Junior Ranger Day beach walk with children and parents.
Find out what's happening this week at your favorite destination at Fire Island National Seashore.
  • Fire Island Trek Fire Island Trek

    explores a variety of features and facilities in the park and Fire Island communities. Read More

  • Fire Island Map Fire Island Map

    Get your bearings on this digital copy of Fire Island National Seashore's park folder map. Read More

  • For Kids: Junior Ranger Patch or Badge For Kids: Junior Ranger Patch or Badge

    is the reward for completing Fire Island's Junior Ranger Workbook. Read More

Did You Know?

Close view of sand showing bands of colors: white, dark grey, and reddish purple.

New York's state gem—the garnet—may be found among the sands that comprise Fire Island's beaches. Due to differences in size and weight of the grains of sand, you may sometimes see ribbons of garnet and magnatite among the white quartz, as the sand settles on the beach. More...