• 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
 

Check today's Weather, full Calendar of Events, latest Park News.
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Deer along Wilderness Visitor Center trail.

Flora and fauna and pre-storm boardwalk at the Wilderness Visitor Center.

Wilderness Visitor Center
beside Smith Point County Park
CR-46 (southernmost end of William Floyd Parkway)
Mastic Beach, NY 11951

Phone: 631-281-3010

Check latest Hours of Opertation and Programs This Week

 
View of Fire Island Wilderness and Beach from the overlook at the Visitor Center

Hurricane Sandy Impacts at the Fire Island Wilderness

  • A breach (where water is freely exchanged between the ocean and the bay) occurred near Old Inlet 1.5 miles to the west of the Fire Island Wilderness Visitor Center. The Old Inlet breach has been monitored by a multi-agency team in accord with a 1997 Breach Contingency Plan, to determine if it will close on its own or should be closed manually. As of early February 2013, this team had not made a determination. While the breach exists, entrance into the breach is closed to the public (e.g., no boating, wading, swimming, etc. is allowed).
  • Facilities at Old Inlet (dock, boardwalk to the beach, and vault toilet) were destroyed during the storm. Due to their location within the federally-designated Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, these facilities will not be replaced.
  • The Wilderness Visitor Center reopened on November 10, 2012, staffed by a roving ranger between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, Friday through Sunday, with pedestrian access to the beach between the visitor center and the breach at Old Inlet. Normal hours of operation and interpretive programs were restored by late December, 2012.
  • The damaged boardwalk, which provided accessible passage between the Wilderness Visitor Center and the beach, was removed in December 2012. Pedestrians access was then restored along the shoreline and through the wilderness area as far as the breach.
  • Wilderness camping has been suspended until public access is restored.
  • The 2012 sportsman recreational driving season (Septebmer 15 - December 31, on the beach between the Wilderness Visitor Center and Long Cove) was cut short by the storm, but the waterfowl hunting season continued.

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Boardwalk leading to Fresnel Lens Building and Fire Island Lighthouse.

Pre-storm boardwalk to the Fresnel Lens Building and the Fire Island Lighthouse.

Fire Island Lighthouse
beside Robert Moses State Park Field 5
(southermost end of Robert Moses Causeway)
Bay Shore, NY 11706

Phone:
631-661-4876

Currently closed at least until Robert Moses State Park Field 5 reopens.

Watch for Hours of Operation and Programs This Week
Operated by Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society

 
Fire Island Lighthouse and Fresnel Lens Building from beach

Hurricane Sandy Impacts at the Fire Island Lighthouse

Many dunes were flattened and boardwalks displaced by the storm. Hurricane Sandy heavily impacted all public access routes to the Fire Island Lighthouse, inlcuding the roads in Robert Moses State Park, where most Lighthouse visitors park.

  • Seashore-owned boardwalks connecting Field 5 and the Lighthouse were destroyed and removed, as were boardwalks connecting the Lighthouse to the beach and to the bayside dock used by water taxis. This administrative dock was also destroyed by the storm.
  • Flooding occurred in the area of the Lighthouse terrace and West District Ranger Station. Utilities were impacted, but power was restored.
  • The unpaved Burma Road in front of the Lighthouse was damaged during the storm.

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Group of women and children stroll through the Sunken Forest.

Pre-storm Sunken Forest Nature Trail.

Sailors Haven / Sunken Forest
Closed until at least mid-May 2013.

Watch for Hours of Operation and Programs This Week

 
Damage to Sunken Forest Nature Trail along the bay.

Hurricane Sandy Impacts at Sailors Haven/Sunken Forest

  • Boardwalks from the marina to the beach and to the community of Cherry Grove were damaged and are still not useable.
  • The Sunken Forest Trail was covered by debris and one bayside section was damaged.
  • Decking and bulkheading around portions of the marina were undermined. Some electric components were impacted and must be repaired before service is fully restored.
  • Large amounts of debris removed from federal lands between the Fire Island communities have been staged in the marina picnic area, awaiting removal.
  • Potential shoaling of sand in the marina channel is unknown at this point.

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Ferry passengers arrive at Watch Hill.

Ride the ferry from Patchogue to get to Watch Hill.

Watch Hill
Closed until at least mid-May 2013.

Watch for Hours of Operation and Programs This Week

 
Boardwalk to Watch Hill lifeguarded beach, with stairs demolished by Hurricane Sandy.

Dunes at Watch Hill were severely eroded during Hurricane Sandy, leaving the massive boardwalk dangling, stairs completely destroyed.

Hurricane Sandy Impacts at Watch Hill

  • Boardwalks from the marina to the beach and to the community of Davis Park were damaged. Both staircases to the beach were completely destroyed.
  • The Watch Hill Nature Trail was covered by some debris.
  • Docks were uplifted and will need repair. Some electric components were impacted and must be repaired before service is fully restored.
  • Potential shoaling of sand in the marina channel is unknown at this point.

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Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal

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

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

The Patchogue-Watch Hill Ferry Terminal will reopen mid-May 2013.

 

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

Camping:

 
Mowed path leading to William Floyd Estate's Old Mastic House.
The William Floyd Estate's Old Mastic House reopened for tours by Veterans Day weekend, and is now closed for the season. Watch for special walks and grounds tours throughout the year. 
 
Woman approaching William Floyd Estate.

Guided tours through the Old Mastic House at the William Floyd Estate will resume by the end of May.

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

Check current Hours of Operation and Programs this Week.

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Did You Know?

Aerial view of small community, Kismet, looking from the southwest, bay to the upper left and sandy beach to the lower right.

Seventeen pre-existing communities remain inside the boundaries of Fire Island National Seashore. Some early supporters of the national seashore were interested in its establishment to ensure that a proposed parkway down the middle of Fire Island would not be constructed. More...