Shoreham/ Wading River H.S.

The following was submitted by Bryon Mayberry bmayberr@runet.edu

I recommend the trails behind Shoreham-Wading River High School and the national guard site next door. Aside from the main circular trail of sand there are plenty of side trails of dirt and pine needles. I am from VA but fell in love with them on recent visits. Most are wide and clear and branch into other trails for many miles of solitary training.

To get there, take the LIE to the William Floyd Expwy and go past the Brookhaven labs to Rt 25A. Turn right and enter the high school parking lot that is the 2d left. The trails are accesible next to the high school track or behind the baseball field. I am sure you will love them.

I have trained back there for hours in a single day and never done the same trail twice. As far as distances are concerned, I only know that the main "exercise" trail is .7 miles and that the rest branch from there.

The following endorsement of the above location was submitted by Noel J. Vigliotta

I too, recommend the trails behind the Shoreham-Wading River H.S. I found the trails, a mixture of near beach like sand, and soft pine needle covered trails, terrific on the joints, especially the knees. It wasn't until I went to college in New York City did I realized how wonderful those trails really were. The trails take you through some of the most amazing stretches of Pine Barrens that most people are not even aware of. There are ponds, park land, farmland, moto-cross trails, and an aboundance of wildlife all around. The high school it self has nature reserve trails and excercise trails, even an obstacle course. What's best is the change of seasons, the sights and sounds overload the senses. There are times even now that I recognize the smell of those pine barrens and it brings me right back home agian. I have built it up a bit but it is getting back to nature that is fun.

Connequot River State Park

The following was submitted by Pamela Schmidlin

Connequot River State Park is located off Sunrise Highway in Oakdale-Bohemia. They have trail running, with four different marked
trails: the Yellow trail which is 1.0 mile, the Green Trail which is 3.9 miles, the red trail which is 3.7 miles, and the blue trail which is 8.4 miles. You can always find other runners there, especially on weekends. There are horseback riders around, as well as lots of wildlife to include deer, fox, owls, bald eagles, and so much more. In the winter watch for icy patches, but this is a scenic and wonderful place to do some trail running. Besides the marked trails there are other trails to include in your run for further distances to run! There are several running groups that meet here on the weekends so you just might meetup with them!

South Haven County Park

The following was submitted by Rob Stokes Jr.

South Haven County Park - located between exits 57 and 58 on the north service road of Sunrise Hwy. Countless miles of trails ranging from beach like sand, hard dirt, and my knees personal favorit the thick cushion of pine needles. The main trail from the north east corner of the parking lot heading north threw the gate to the high power lines and back to the corner of the parking lot is a true 5k. Very quiet park for the exception of shotguns which turn out to be usefull in navigating your way back after some twisty trails. I've ran 6.4 miles in a figure 8 with plenty of area to the north and west I'd say 10+ miles easy without getting on to the small foot trails.