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Mashomack Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 310 Google reviews · Running trail in Shelter Island, New York · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Mashomack Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
A 2,039-acre coastal nature reserve on an island established in 1980 with marshes, forest & creeks.
What runners say about Mashomack Preserve
“The preserve is protected by the Nature Conservancy, and has a very nice visitor center, which offers clean bathrooms and a small, free-admission museum.”
“Making up a third of Shelter Island, Mashomack Preserve has some of the most beautiful scenery of Long Island and is teaming with life.”
“The clearly marked trails were very well maintained.”
“It was beautiful, lush, and serene, with wild turkeys wandering around near the entrance and several different trail loops to walk.”
The Nature Conservancy has done a great job with this beautiful preserve. We hiked around 5 miles and went from shaded forest to grass fields to tidal Marsh. The clearly marked trails were very well maintained. The "trail book" that they have was fun and engaging for our 5 year old.
Indeed, one of the best Nature Conservancy preserves, it combines multiple landscapes in one hike from woods to meadows to bay shores. I have visited on early September weekday (ample parking was available in mid-afternoon) and hiked red and green trails making a loop.
Mashomack Preserve is a quiet park with many trails filed with wildlife and plants. Very beautiful and a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Hamptons or North Fork. Even a place to plug in an EV. Visitor Center is great with many displays, a kids corner and bathrooms.
Beautiful site to hike, even in the winter. It might be the better time to visit as the tourist population of the island is so low. They have some fairly easy hikes, at varying distances to choose from. I think we ended up hiking around 6 miles all counted.
Trail conditions & character
“Making up a third of Shelter Island, Mashomack Preserve has some of the most beautiful scenery of Long Island and is teaming with life.”
“It was beautiful, lush, and serene, with wild turkeys wandering around near the entrance and several different trail loops to walk.”
“I have visited on early September weekday (ample parking was available in mid-afternoon) and hiked red and green trails making a loop.”
“The preserve is protected by the Nature Conservancy, and has a very nice visitor center, which offers clean bathrooms and a small, free-admission museum.”
“Nature preserve with flat hiking trails- not muddy after a morning of rain due to sunny afternoon.”
Plan your run at Mashomack Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitenature.org
- Phone(631) 749-1001
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–6 PM |
Running trails near Shelter Island
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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