NASSAU COUNTY -- Springtime is the perfect time to travel along many of Nassau County’s bicycle trails and streets and provide an opportunity to marvel at nature, historic sites and sprawling estates. On the “Island of Possibilities” cycling enthusiasts of all types will find a variety of mountain bike trails, paved paths and road routes throughout the county, all easily accessible, that provide a variety of scenery along with exercise.
MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS
Stillwell Woods Mountain Bike Trail, South Woods Road, Syosset
This 270-acre preserve in eastern Nassau offers vistas, flora and fauna more typical of areas much further east. Enthusiasts say there are some tricky places along the marked, narrow, twisting trail with short, but steep climbs over sandy-gravely earth. There’s also an easy main loop. The trail runs about 5 miles.
Take 495 to Exit 46 North, Sunnyside Blvd. Take Sunnyside Blvd north to Woodbury Road. Turn right onto Woodbury Road. Take Woodbury Road to Jericho Turnpike (25). Turn left onto Jericho Turnpike. Turn right onto South Woods Road. Just after Syosset High School turn right into the soccer field. Bear right and go to the end of the field; the trailhead is in the southeastern corner.
Bethpage State Park, Powell Avenue, Bethpage
A 12-mile jaunt over mixed single track and fire roads, the trail through this greenery is not marked. Take 495 to Rte 135 south. Exit at Powell Avenue, turning left at end of ramp and make a quick left into the Bethpage State Park picnic grounds. A parking lot is at end of road.
Trail View State Park, Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury
This 7.4-mile stretch of terrain, also known as the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt, is a hiking-biking trail covering 400 scenic acres so cyclists will have to keep their eyes open for hikers. Originally destined to be part of Bethpage State Parkway, it’s considered an intermediate trail in terms of difficulty and passes through a variety of habitats. The trail connects to Stillwell Woods to the north and Bethpage to the south.
Take 495 to Exit 46 North, Sunnyside Boulevard. Take Sunnyside Blvd north to Woodbury Road. Turn right onto Woodbury Road. Take Woodbury Road to Jericho Turnpike (Rte 25). Turn left onto Jericho Turnpike. Turn right into the dirt lot next to the Stop and Shop supermarket.
PAVED PATHS
Atlantic Beach Boardwalk
You can access this 1-mile, shorefront ride year-round from Putnam, Genesee and Plaza Boulevards in Atlantic Beach.
Bethpage Bicycle Path, Bethpage to Massapequa
Once the right-of-way for an extension of Bethpage State Parkway, south of the Southern State Parkway, this long flat, bucolic path runs from Bethpage State Park to Massapequa. Bounded by trees and foliage and marked every quarter mile, it runs about 8 miles end to end and passes through the tranquil Massapequa Preserve where wildlife abound near the ponds and streams. Caution, there are some road crossings. Entry to the path is also possible from a spot a few hundred yards from Lakeshore Drive, south of Sunrise Highway in Massapequa.
Hempstead Lake State Park
Circle Hempstead Lake and cycle through the woods on 4 miles of flat path. Exit 18 of Southern State Parkway will get you there.
Jones Beach Bike Path, Cedar Creek Park, Seaford to Jones Beach
This 4.5-mile scenic trail is one of the most well known bike trails on Long Island. It runs parallel to the Wantagh State Parkway from Cedar Creek Park, off Merrick Road in Seaford, to the Jones Beach Theater at Jones Beach State Park. From October to March, you can also bicycle the boardwalk.
Long Beach Boardwalk
There’s nothing like a leisurely ride with ocean vistas along the beach. The boardwalk runs for about 2 miles and entry is possible from any street between Neptune Boulevard and New York Avenues.
Valley Stream State Park
Here, close to New York City, you’ll find 2 miles of heavily treed flat paths and another 2 miles just to the south in Arthur A. Hendrickson Park. Take the Southern State Parkway to Exit 14or Exits 15S (westbound) or 15A (eastbound). Wantagh Park, 1 King Rd., Wantagh This is a 5-mile trek over an extensive network of paths and walks through the waterfront park’s 111 acres. Take Southern State Parkway to Exit 27 South (Wantagh Parkway). Exit off the Wantagh Parkway at Sunrise Highway East. Make a right onto Wantagh Avenue. Take to the end and make right onto Merrick Road. At first light make a left into park.
FOR ROADIES
Club Cycling
Riding with a club is a great way to get to know the ins outs of Nassau County’s less traveled roads and provides cyclists with opportunities to challenge themselves on the region’s varied terrains.
The Long Island Bicycle Club offers a standard ride every Saturday, Sunday and holiday (weather permitting), starting promptly at 9 a.m. from Westbury High School. The trips vary by endurance levels. The shortest trips runs 34 miles, meandering through Syosset, Oyster Bay and Mill Neck to Bayville for lunch and then back through Locust Valley and Old Brookville. Take the Northern State Parkway to Exit 32 North. Go north on Post Avenue. The school is on the right just after Jericho Turnpike. Park by the tennis courts. Riders generally pause at the Syosset Fire House at about 9:45 a.m.
The Massapequa Bicycle Club offers group rides, too, on Saturdays and weekdays, generally starting at the Bethpage Library (47 Powell Ave., Bethpage), Borella Field (Plainview Road, Plainview), or the Massapequa Park Village Hall (151 Front St., Massapequa Park).
The Huntington Bicycle Club includes tours of Nassau County, departing from the Greenlawn Public parking lot, on various Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. For details visit www.huntingtonbicycleclub.org/
Gold Coast Villages
If you don't mind sometimes narrow, winding, oft-hilly roads, you can drive in and around the North Shore’s Great Neck Peninsula, Manhasset, the Port Washington Peninsula, Roslyn, Oyster Bay, Brookville and more. Traffic is generally lightest on Sunday mornings. Plan your own route or check out a copy of Phil Angelillo’s “Short Bike Rides Long Island.” Also, the Long Island Bicycle Club’s web site has directions for various routes.
Getting to and around Nassau County
You can drive you car and park or take the Long Island Railroad and bike the streets to these paths. Bicyclists taking the Long Island Railroad will need a bike permit from the MTA for $5. Go to www.mta.info/lirr/pubs/bicyclep.htm for more information.Additional information:
“Short Bike Rides Long Island,” by Phil Angelillo (Globe Pequot Press)www.climbonline.org
www.singletracks.com
www.trails.com
www.bicyclelongisland.org/libc/
www.bicyclelongisland.org/mpbcfram.htm
http://nyrides.freehosting.net/long_island.htm
www.huntingtonbicycleclub.org/
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