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    Dead Horse Bay

    4.5 (24 reviews)

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    Cool graffiti
    Nadia Z.

    I get excited over trips like this, we been talking about it for a while. Whole beach filled with old treasures? Yes, please! Short ride away, we parked at Floyd Bennett Air Field, and walked across the highway. Along the trees there is a sign with an arrow that reads "Park Entrance". Is there sign pointing to giant mushroom & caterpillar here somewhere? I feel like there is... We follow sandy road thru the trees, bushes & tall whipping grasses - they wave and whisper in the wind - and soon, view of the bay opens up... Tide is low, and we can walk rather far into the bay. It is filed with all kinds of odd treasures - mostly bottles, big or small, broken or whole, some in clear view, some covered in seaweed. There are some old gorgeous perfume bottles to be found here - I am a little jealous I did not have good eye to find them. Looking around is pretty cool. Old Coke & Pepsi Bottles, Clorox glass jars, endless caps, some shoe soles, ceramics, parts of boats and even old iron... There is also art scattered throughout the bay, on boxes, trees and boats. It is kinda cool to find graffiti around the beach. I get distracted easily by scenery around us, and keep turning around in circles. Oh, look, smiley face! Low tide leaves narrow paths of white clean sand pointing to New York City. Surprisingly, it is super-clean and soft to walk in. Waves wash over it left and right, and you feel like you standing at the end of the world... At the end of the beach, there is an old boat and a bench to seat on - and a shortcut to the road. Pretty cool place to explore - wear good hiking boots and dirty clothes, tho!

    Nylon Stockings filled with sand
    Cristina R.

    Great place to go hiking and scavenging. Went with my daughter and husband. We hiked through a trail in the woods to the beach. It is NOT the kind of beach you lay down on. I recommend you read up on the history a bit up first to understand what you are looking at when you go. Nylon stockings and shoes floating galore. Bottles of all sizes and shapes, from perfect to smashed up into smithereens. All kind of bits and pieces of toys from the early 1900's. I am out of shape and it was a lot for me, but most certainly worth it. I bought a hiking stick along and it helped poke at things as well as giving me support. No "cooked" glass here. The glass is all coming from the land into the bay, so it's not been frosted yet. http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dead-horse-bay

    Lacey R.

    I've been wanting to go to Dead Horse Bay for awhile now but the fire to head there was ignited once again when it was featured on the Only in Your State blog. (If you don't follow this blog for your own state you should - it features places you'd never know about otherwise from nature to restaurants, shops, etc.) Dead Horse Bay was home to horse-rendering plants (ew) and other factories in the 1850s and around the 1920s - 1930s the marsh was used as a landfill. The landfill was capped in the '30s and then the cap burst in the 1950s! You'd think the city would have fixed it but nope, the landfill has continuously been spilling trash onto the beach and into the water ever since. Fast forward to today and the beach has become a haven for artists and collectors who scavenge through the glass and other trash which have now become treasures to the keen eye. We decided to head out to Brooklyn to see this weird beach for ourselves and hopefully pick some treasures! We parked at Floyd Bennett Field, crossed the street and headed to one of the walking paths that will lead you to Dead Horse Bay. Luckily this area is a big spot for Audubon Society members so the paths are clearly marked and wide open. The grassy stroll eventually led us to a sandy path and we were on the beach! We are also idiots who didn't check the tide report before we left so we were lucky to be able to make it down the beach - the tide was pretty high that time of day so we had to climb through some marshes and over some stuff to get as far down as we wanted. We also lucked out with a pretty overcast day - perfect for spending a couple of hours with our eyes grazing over the shoreline, sand and busted landfill cap. You can see everywhere the cap that has burst. So every time the tide comes all the way up or a storm comes it washes away more of the dirt and landfill and pulls out more glass and other garbage. You can see things embedded in the wall. We wound up taking a lot of things home with us - we took some glass bottles of all different shapes and sizes - some that held alcohol, some that held perfume, etc. We also took some jars that held beauty products from Ponds, a glass Log Cabin syrup bottle, I found an adorable teacup that was missing the handle and I collected a whole bunch of pottery/china fragments. I want to find a way to display them in a shadowbox or something - just need to figure out how! Can't wait to go back in a few months to see whats new that has washed up!

    Shawn H.

    As someone who enjoys messy and is averse to sanitized, I enjoyed this bay. While I have family members that work in renewable energy and would cringe at the landfill polluting the ocean waters, they would still be able to appreciate the rustic beauty that the bay has to offer. Sifting through trash to find trinkets added an experience that you wouldn't find at any other beach. I'd wholly recommend it for people without a germ phobia. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the multitude of boats in front of the bay detract from the view.

    Poke at some broken glass with your toe.
    John K.

    I'm a fan of derelict spaces and weird experiences, but Dead Horse Bay is just a trash-strewn beach filled with broken glass and dirty bottles. There aren't even all that many dirty bottles any more. We went at low tide and walked around on broken glass lodged in the sand. Seeing bits of horse bone and old shoe soles was cool though. Perhaps it's worth seeing if you're already in the area, but it's not OMG AMAZING!

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    Ask the Community - Dead Horse Bay

    Are pets allowed?

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    Review Highlights - Dead Horse Bay

    check high and low tide before you go - you'll be able to find a ton of insane stuff.

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    Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk

    Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk

    4.2(298 reviews)
    7.1 kmSeaside

    Whenever I go to NY and the weather is nice, my sis always takes me here. There's just so much to…read moreenjoy. The beach itself is nice, and while the water isn't clear like the Caribbean... we just have to accept that here haha. The lifeguards are attentive -- they even have a drone that I think looks out for sharks. The boardwalk has a bit to see, and there's one hub that's got a bit of everything -- pizza, hot dogs (including vegan ones), smoothies, poke bowls, alfajores, a bar... it's quite nice. There's a bunch of tables right outside and they usually have a dope DJ mix going on. It's just a shame that there's a big sign that tells people not to ride their bikes and scooters through that area, but they do anyway... shame! Parking can be hit or miss based on what time and what day you go. Sometimes we've parked right across the street from the boardwalk. Other times we've parked three blocks away. A lot of the parking is free, by the way. There is some pay-to-park, but we don't like that haha. Definitely go if you have some time!

    Buses can get you to the Rockaways but we've driven recently. Beautiful views over Cross Bay…read moreBridge. The area has been improved since we last went at least a decade ago. Street parking is available but not that easy to get. I googled and read that the southern parking spots on Shore Front Pkwy are not for public use. Didn't want to take a chance so found one (north side) by Beach 95th St. Beach 95-97 area was pretty lively last Friday. Saw a schedule of events until 8/31. There was the surf music festival with live bands performing; also a stage performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Rockaway Beach ampitheater. Beach 97 has food vendors; lifeguard station. Update: Enjoying Off The Rails live performance on 8/29 right now. Restrooms were dirty and smelly though. I know that a lot of people use them but need better maintenance. Only 1 sink was left on 8/29. Showers were on the boardwalk making the area sandy and wet. The beach/sand was coarser and a lot more broken shells, some sharp, when compared to Long Beach NY which we've gone to recently. Waves were much stronger too.

    Photos
    Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk
    Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk - Wise Clock Cafe (sandwiches and salads are $11-14) and Oddfellows Ice Cream

    Wise Clock Cafe (sandwiches and salads are $11-14) and Oddfellows Ice Cream

    Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk - Beach 97 schedule of events 8/2025

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    Beach 97 schedule of events 8/2025

    Breezy Point Tip - Police Man

    Breezy Point Tip

    4.2(12 reviews)
    5.3 km

    This is a private area so be aware before you go. I didn't know, as this is part of the National…read moregateway park so it's still a bit confusing. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_National_Recreation_Area Most of the area is owned by the breezy point cooperative. As you approach you will see a gatehouse where those going to the cooperative must check in, and those going through pass on the left. I had no indication that it was private at this point. I drive on to the fisherman's entrance, I canister this is 222nd street, and parked. I had a lovely walk, going all the way to the point and back. Later, as I was checking out an old military tower, I was approached by a resident. He seemed nice enough but I quickly realised that he was trying to determine whether I belonged there. He mentioned more than once that the entire area was private and that the only way people can get access is by knowing someone who lives there. Later I read reviews that you are allowed to go to the park if you first get a free day pass from the ranger station at riis park, or hike from Fort Tilden. So know before you go!

    Raw and elemental is what this beach is, just an expanse of sand and dunes and grass and many…read moreshorebirds. It's magical if you like to be far from the maddening crowd, and can handle being far from a working toilet too. As you head further out, the beach has, thankfully, less garbage than by Fort Tilden, though you might find, as we did, when you stroll along the shore an occasional dead blowfish, jellyfish, a horseshoe crab. The music you hear will be surf, gently rolling in or hammering at the shore and the occasional screeches of birds. A top site for birding, this beach didn't disappoint and we didn't even visit at peak migrating times. Just be careful if you walk further up along the sands and watch for signs that tell you not to disturb the nesting areas. Nature's ecosystem is more fragile than you think. The beach is a trek from Fort Tilden. You do need a permit if you have a car as the rangers here do check. If you don't have a car, be prepared to hike, and hike, and hike from Fort Tilden. It's a shorter walk if you take the trails from Fort Tilden and might seem endless if you walk along the shore. For all those of you who post on your profile that you love beach walks, well, Breezy Point will offer you the chance to prove your words!

    Photos
    Breezy Point Tip - Police boat

    Police boat

    Breezy Point Tip - We hoped the seagull would catch some for us...wasn't to be. Credit for pic to sis.

    We hoped the seagull would catch some for us...wasn't to be. Credit for pic to sis.

    Breezy Point Tip - After our long trek, sis fired away with the camera

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    After our long trek, sis fired away with the camera

    Fort Tilden

    Fort Tilden

    4.1(72 reviews)
    1.7 km

    BOTTOM LINE: crowded alternative adjacent to Jacob Riis Park…read moreTIP/S: go early, exit early ...WHO: party of 1 WHY: curiosity WHAT: (Deets) I followed the crowd across the ball field to this beach. Compared to other beaches, there is less space to spread out because much of the land is roped off for nature preserve. Family friendly but folks were too close to one another IMO. I will say though, that the water seemed less littered with plastic and random waste, and I didn't have to tread through rocks and sharp shells to go in waist deep. That was a welcome surprise. WHEN: 7/12/20 WHERE: beach HOW: bike/ public transportation Q35 BATHROOM: 2 options, just off the water are port o johns. In the park area closer to the stables are separate gender restrooms. I used neither. WIFI: beats me DRESS CODE: as you wish SERVICE: n/a

    Beach-goers are not allowed to park, or swim/bathe/wade at Fort Tilden. Dogs are not allowed on the…read morebeach in the Spring and Summer. Dogs are never allowed off-leash here, or anywhere else in Gateway National Recreation Area. Please, see my 2016 review below for all of the details! :) There is a nice bathroom with water fountains at Fort Tilden, but it closes around 5 pm (or sometimes earlier). There is no parking without a permit, unless you are there for a sports league, the community garden, theater, fishing (permit required), or some other official business. Where you can swim: https://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/beaches.htm Safety: https://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/safety.htm Dogs: https://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/pets.htm Why you cannot let your dog off-leash, or on the beatch: https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/news/pet-restrictions-during-plover-season.htm Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.nps.gov/gate/frequently-asked-questions-gateway.htm

    Photos
    Fort Tilden
    Fort Tilden
    Fort Tilden

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    Dead Horse Bay - beaches - Updated May 2026

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