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South Shore Nature Center
4.4 ★★★★☆ 115 Google reviews · Running trail in East Islip, New York · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from South Shore Nature Center'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.
Nature preserve with boardwalks and beach access, trails, and picnic areas.
What runners say about South Shore Nature Center
“Absolutely beautiful place, wonderful kids' programs and fantastic people who work there.”
“A peaceful and not well known getaway into nature.”
I enjoyed walking through this peaceful park. I saw some small birds but not much other wildlife. The wooden walkways through the marsh area is a plus! Great conservation effort.! I will be back to explore deeper.
One of my favorite places to go for a nice little nature walk. Always nice any time of the year. Summer, stay on trails because there are some pesky ticks. Good chance you will see some deer and ospreys.
Absolutely great place to get rid of the winter blues. Nice trails that range from beach & board walks to walking in the woods.
A good walk through forest and marsh. Beautiful trail, safe and tidy. Kept well. Take your family with you.
Trail conditions & character
“If you're doing a hike, definitely stick with the portions on the boardwalk itself- tons of ticks in the mucky, grassy potions of the loop.”
“A peaceful and not well known getaway into nature.”
“Absolutely beautiful place, wonderful kids' programs and fantastic people who work there.”
“If you're doing a hike, definitely stick with the portions on the boardwalk itself- tons of ticks in the mucky, grassy potions of the loop.”
“The main office wasn't open due to COVID-19, so there weren't available bathrooms.”
Plan your run at South Shore Nature Center
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- 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
- Websiteseatuck.org
- Phone+1 631-581-6908
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Friday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am–5 pm |
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