Fire Island

Fire Island combines impressive nature experiences with insights into the island’s maritime history. The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness is home to a distinctive wilderness landscape; at Barrett Beach/Talisman, a boardwalk crosses the island to the ocean beach. The Fire Island Lighthouse adds to these experiences with exhibits on Fire Island’s maritime history. When planning your vacation, it’s worth first considering which of these different aspects you want to shape your stay.

Plan Your Arrival and Access Carefully

Watch Hill is accessible only by the Watch Hill Ferry, a private boat, or on foot. Barrett Beach/Talisman has different access options: the area is currently accessible only by private boat, on foot, or by charter ferry from Patchogue or Sayville. These specific differences are useful when planning your stay on Fire Island. Consider which location is most important to you and which of the listed ways of getting there suits your plans.

The boardwalk at Barrett Beach/Talisman is another reason to consider including this area in your plans: it crosses the island to the ocean beach. If you’d like to spend time there, you can make this beach access a focus of your stay.

Wilderness, Dunes, and Trails

The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness is the only federally designated wilderness area in New York State. This gives the area particular significance in the state’s landscape. Another remarkable natural feature is the Sunken Forest, considered a rare ecological community worldwide. Both names represent different aspects of Fire Island’s natural environment: a designated wilderness area and a rare ecological community.

The wilderness offers excellent hiking opportunities along the route of the former Burma Road. Those interested in these hikes will encounter a trail whose name recalls its former use; the current description refers to the former route. There are also opportunities for wilderness camping via Watch Hill and at points farther west. Hiking and wilderness camping are different ways to experience the wilderness. When planning your trip, it’s therefore important to decide which of these experiences you’d like to make a focus.

A dedicated place to camp is the Watch Hill Family Tent Campground, with 26 sandy campsites. The number of sites and the sandy ground give the campground a distinct character. This sets it apart from the wilderness camping opportunities in the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness: one is a named campground with sandy campsites, while the other offers wilderness camping opportunities. Both are useful information for travelers considering different ways to spend time outdoors.

Maritime History and Kayak Tours

The Fire Island Lighthouse has exhibits on Fire Island’s maritime history. If you’re interested in the island’s history and the sea as well as nature, you can include this cultural aspect in your travel plans. The exhibits give the lighthouse a distinct role among the experiences described here: alongside wilderness, hiking trails, and beach access, maritime history is also an option.

The Watch Hill Visitor Center has information about upcoming ranger-led kayak tours through the salt marsh. If you’re interested in a kayak tour, the Visitor Center is the place to get information about upcoming tours. The tours are led by rangers and travel through the salt marsh.

Access options vary by location; take this information into account when planning your stay.

More Destinations

Greenport, Fishers Island, Commack, Rocky Point, Bohemia, Port Jefferson Station, Coram, Cutchogue.

For the broader travel overview: Suffolk.