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    Heckscher State Park

    3.6 (55 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Heckscher State Park Photos

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    George C.

    Originally Gilded age property dating back to the 19th century, the current property of Hecksher State park once contained two estates located on the great South Bay. After being estate land during a great period of opulence, the land was eventually expropriated by Robert Moses and the parks commission during a time of great development in 1924, then becoming a park in 1929. Heckscher is truly a great place to visit and offers something for beach lovers as well as lovers of leisure activities, these activities include walking, hiking, fishing and bicycling as well as a disc golf course. Camping is also an option as the park offers camp sites along with cottages that can be rented by the day/week. There are Plenty of picnic areas for Barbecuing and socializing. One thing I could say about the park is that it looks like it is in need of some TLC as far as paved surfaces and possibly turning the defunct swimming pool into a possible free concert stage (Example: Jones beach Band Shell), this building was destroyed in 2012 by Hurricane sandy and lies dormant and boarded up. Looking around I can see that this park once had its hay day rivaling beaches such as Jones beach further west. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing New York State try and revive this once impressive location on their roster of State Parks on Long Island. Besides a little wear and tear I certainly recommend people visit this park as the design of it is so interesting and unique, it's still a nice place to get out doors and explore. I recommend down loading the park map if you're going on a walking tour like I did. One of my Favorites :)

    Twirly playground
    Stephanie F.

    Even on a cold and rainy day we had a wonderful time at Heckscher Park. This is the perfect park. If you have a toddler, there are three awesome playgrounds within five minutes walking of each other. Our son was so excited and enjoyed every moment and even though he was freezing and covered in goosebumps, he did not wanna leave. It is also really awesome that they have super clean bathrooms available which is always a plus. We tried to walk over by the water where we found yet another playground, but it was too too cold. Super excited to come here again when the weather is better.

    Nancy W.

    We went to Heckscher State Park (field 6) mid afternoon and the views were beautiful. No toll pay coming in because it's the Fall and off season. It was quiet, parking lot was clean, and just enough time to walk around before it got dark early. We ate in the parking lot for a bit before getting ready to head towards the beach. Walking along the beach, it was really peaceful. There were still a few sandflies around, we were already in sneakers, hoodies and sweats to avoid getting bitten. It was a nice change to come here during the Fall besides the Summer. When we went, temperatures were warm with a slight wind, however it was great to just take the walk until the sun set. The next time we come back to Heckscher State Park, we want to check out the other fields. Field 6 had plenty of parking, public restrooms available, and cool views.

    Field 5 is for dog lovers and boaters
    Gail B.

    Easy to find, off the Sunrise Highway, this park is safe for a single gal like me. There is plenty of parking, which is grouped according to fields. Example: Field 5 is for dog walkers and boat owners. Field 7 is for beach goers. There are lots of people including police, so this place is relatively safe. Many mask-less individuals are abound, like myself, maintaining a six-foot distance between others. It is early Spring, so the beach is closed. I can't wait until the quarantine is over so I can play volleyball here. I definitely will come back.

    Cottage
    Danielle D.

    I spent the past two weekends at Heckscher Park. Two weeks ago I rented Pavilion 3 for a work picnic. When I arrived the site was clean. We just went and set up. I had received my permit in the mail. Everything went smoothly. This past weekend a booked one of the newly built cottages. It was awesome! It was clean upon arrival. Had cups, plates, coffee pot etc. you need to bring coffee filters, paper towels, bedding, soap. They provide toilet paper. There is a broom to sweep. My cottage had two bedrooms. A master with a queen and the second room had two twin beds. The couch pulled out as well. Our cottage had beach access. We had a fire pit with a grate over it so you could barbecue. I brought my kayak and bicycle with me. There are designated bike lanes. You can put your kayak in right off the beach. My husband would go fishing every morning. I loved that we had a screened in porch and they had Adirondack chairs. They really thought of everything. Check in and out went smoothly. I will definitely be renting again. And they do not have air conditioning but they are installing them for next summer.

    Morning coffee
    Kim K.

    Live on long island and decided to stay in their cabins for a few nights. I have mixed feelings Pros- serene and beautiful surrounded by nature - close to lots of restaurants, shopping ect - park has alot to do; beaches, multiple playgrounds, frisbee golf, bike trail, camping ect - cabin itself is minimal but beautiful deck/patio Cons- way to expensive for what they provide and a three night minimum (when I booked atleast) $225 per night came to $700+. - counted about 20 dead crickets over the course of three days and a few alive in our cabin. If you come home at night you will fight spiders and tons of crickets jumping up from the deck. - Toooo many mosquitos, I came home with too many bites to count for someone that was in a cabin and not a tent - bed is terrible - cabin is stocked with bare minimum and they take a $200 deposit. Seems excessive especially since they make it clear you should sweep daily and clean a bit before you leave - No T.V. and slow wifi All in all we had a nice relaxing time, my husband loved waking up every day and having coffee in the screened in patio. I just honestly rather go camping if I'm going to deal with so many bugs and bites, it's not worth the price tag.

    Variety of Cottages
    Sam N.

    Heckscher State Park is a place that has a variety of things to do. It has beach, grass, trees, camping, bbq grills, running and riding paths, and multiple playgrounds. It is located on Long Island's south shore about an hour drive from New York City. But this review is mainly for the on-site cottages. We opted to stay here for 2 days for a quick long weekend getaway. The cottages offered our family a mix of nature without sacrificing luxuries/amenities like personal bathroom & shower, comfy bed, kitchen, hot water, and heat and A/C. Overall a nice getaway at a nice location but the place could definitely use a face lift. Pros: - smooth check-in (fill out some paperwork, pay deposit via credit card, grab keys and go) & check-out process (drop off keys and you receive your deposit back in a few days) - cottages are for the most part clean upon check-in and layout was perfect for our family of 4 - rules are reasonable. - plenty to do from laying around, sightseeing, and plenty of physical activity options around the area. - very close (within 15 min drive) to local restaurants and shops outside the park - rates are great for the area. We paid $255 per night at the time of our booking Cons: - the park definitely needs some maintenance. Lots of potholes along the main roads; weeds and grass around the house needed trimming when we arrived; beach behind the house had trash and weeds in the sa - the cottages are starting to show some wear & tear. - cleanliness of the cabin is not the most thorough. you'll probably want to give the place another wipe down upon check-in.

    Windsurfing
    Amy M.

    This is one of my favorite spots. I can't says it's the prettiest beach on Long Island but it's nice enough, offers a ton of walking paths, several options for enjoying a swim or peaceful water views and/or different areas for a nice picnic (including tons of picnic tables and barbecues). Also on location is a boat launch, disc golf course and they even have an air field for remote control planes, helicopters and registered drones. It also seems to be a favorite location for wind surfers. Another interesting activity that's cropped up in recent years is cricket games, though I do wish the league owners would clean up after themselves better and appreciate that the park lets them use this nice big open field for their sport. Park staff does clean up, but it's gross when people don't keep up after garbage themselves. There's a few areas that have been shut down in years past, like the camp ground and the swimming pool, so here's hoping they'll revitalize those areas into something else interesting. I know there's some rumors (2016) about rental cabins. During the week and off season it's generally pretty quiet and easily accessible, it's only on weekends in the summertime that it can get a bit crazy busy. Even when it's packed at it's busiest times, park staff do a fairly good job cleaning up at the end of a day so there isn't garbage strewn all over. It's really a nice place for a walk or to enjoy a picnic lunch/dinner with the family. We go often.

    Mia K.

    You have to love the beauty and preservation of state parks. One of the few maintenances I don't mind my tax dollars supporting. Driving in from NYC it's very welcoming to be greeted by blankets of lush grass, sand trodden by seagulls and calm water. There is an $8 fee for parking and entry. Once in the park you can pick the field space of your choice. There are several picnic tables, playgrounds, basketball courts, trails perfect for biking and taking a nice stroll and you can't forget the opportunity to relax next to tranquil water at the beach. Accessibility to boating is also available. The grills at the park are very low, so if you are really about the "grill life" bring your own. There are several trash cans and places for disposing your hot coals. Bugs were not a nuisance at the park and the restrooms were clean and equipped with tissue paper and soap; which can sometimes be a lot to ask for in parks. There is an abundance of trees to give you shade from the sun-rays but the breeze from the water cools the temperature a good 5 degrees. If the parking at Jones Beach is full, the state park is not a bad alternative.

    Soothing
    Renee B.

    Here's the Scoop: Heckscher State Park at field 7 is lovely. The beach is clean and the water is soothing to watch. My honey and I come here for lunch every now and then and one of those times was today. Enjoying the breeze and sounds of the waves and water views while having lunch with my honey is fabulous. This park has so much to offer. Concerts during the summer are great. There are some repairs happening around field six but you can still drive through. During the summer fields 4-6 get filled quickly because of the picnic grounds, pool, playground, baseball and basketball courts. They also have a place to fly model planes. Park passes are available at new rates to accommodate everyone. Check out the park, you'll enjoy it.

    Isabel J.

    I came here for a hike and I was shocked I have never been here before especially during the warmer months. We started our hike by the water and we got beautiful views of the island. This place is really nice and has a lot of path for walking and biking.

    The bike trail was  free of debris - just the signs were in our way in some areas!

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    2 years ago

    Such a gorgeous place! Also a great spot to hear the Spring Peepers in the spring time!

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    We barely made it into the park (field 4) before we were attacked by mosquitos. We went to the beach there instead and had a lovely time.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Heckscher State Park

    What do we need to bring with us? Pots and pans? Sheets, pillows?

    What do you need to bring where? Where at the park are you going? The beach? The fields? The picnic area? The BBQ pits? Where are you talking about?

    Is this park dog friendly?

    Are the cabin rentals d0g friendly?

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - Heckscher State Park

    Heckscher STATE Park in East- Islip--Note: not to be confused with Heckscher Park in Huntington NY.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Connetquot River State Park - Park house

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    4.0(38 reviews)
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    We went off season before this crazy cold snap. I i've been here before but many years ago. I…read moreforgot how beautiful it was. I want to say @ least 3500 acres. There are buildings throughout the park with plenty of bathrooms : CLEAN bathrooms! , There is also a small gift shop & Cafe that is open for " most" of the year . . You can definitely " Get lost" here , if that is a goal...and daydreami. There are wide open smoother paths as well as paved walkways & more paths you can track through the woods. There's different water displays with the river running throughout the park iWe got to see a few animals in nature. : a Hawk. Dear, chipmunks. to start. Any time of year this park is beautiful. S if you're in the area or even if you're not in the area, it's definitely worth the drive in the season. It's a MY Star park so they take the NYS EMPIRE PASSPOET or pay cash at either entry . I know there are at least two ways to get into the park. With plenty of parking and again they only charge parking fees during peak season. Bundle up agates this weather breaks, it's good for you to get out there for fresh air and exercise in the dead winter. ( an you tell I am a mom? ) I love this place, I am just trying harder to try to see more of what Long Island has to offer as far as Parks & trails. Oh, at the beginning of one of the trails it had a sign and showed different plants and bushes. And we had identified all 10 of those even though it was I believe late November when we came here. I'm looking forward to coming back specifically in more spring, like weather. You can see the fish some of the waters / streams running thru ...

    Beautiful place to relax and walk in peace. Amazing for young children, I recommend it all year…read morelong.

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    Belmont Lake State Park

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    Belmont Lake State Park is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round…read more They have Pavilion Rentals for larger gatherings or Parties..There is also fishing allowed in the lake : Following DEC guidelines, available year-round. Picnicking is available all year-round. You can also rent rowboats, pedal boats and kayaks... You and your family can also enjoy activities such as picnicking, playgrounds, and using the various game courts and fields. The lake has trail walking, fishing, and non-motorized boating. The 7.6 miles of trails throughout the park are available for hiking, walking, biking, nature observation and, weather permitting, cross-country skiing.

    This is a family- and singles-friendly park…read more There is an $8 vehicle entry fee at certain times of the day, so it would behoove frequent visitors to buy an Empire State Pass, which costs $80 for the season. Go to ny.gov keyword: Empire Pass. The same Pass can be used for unlimited visits at most parks and beaches throughout the State of New York. I passed by here on Memorial Day weekend. In plain view was a Park Police vehicle, so I felt safe. I also saw several people riding in a paddle boat. How fun! There are multiple clearly marked trails, which are great places to ride your bike or walk. There were several people feeding the ducks and geese in the lake, ignoring the signs that warn them not to do that. The two children's playgrounds are quite spacious, and leashed dogs are allowed. There are lots of picnic benches and huge tables. The restrooms have a lot of stinky toilets. Staff needs to clean them more often. Finally, BEWARE OF DEER TICKS! A few people said that they saw some, so bring some tick repellent.

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    Heckscher State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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