Located in the heart of Cold Spring Harbor, Cold Spring Harbor State Park has one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the area. It’s a perfectly long out-and-back trail. You can drive to and start in the middle, but it’s not a loop. You follow the trail to an end point and then return along the same route.

The state park encompasses 40 acres. It has a wonderful nature trail which has some nice elevation changes as well as some really challenging hills. In fact, it’s probably one of the few trails on Long Island that lets you experience those elevation changes, leading to a real workout.

From the top of the trail you have spectacular views of Cold Spring Harbor itself. Within the park you’ll see gorgeous wildlife as well as amazing forest views.

The elevation changes contribute to the state park being one of the most beautiful areas in Nassau and Suffolk County and certainly one of the most challenging hikes.

You’ll frequently see people on the trail with hiking poles, some even racing up and down the trail for exercise. If you’re more advanced, it can turn into a nice jogging trail.

The crowds are wonderfully varied and full of all types and ages. You are just as likely to see a senior citizen as a family with five kids.

You can follow the trail quite easily without any issues as there are blazes, or trail markers, throughout. But also with it being an out-and-back trail, you can’t really get lost.

Lastly, it’s also the northern trailhead of the Nassau Suffolk Greenbelt Trail. So, if you’re prepared and able, you can go further south to attempt other Long Island trails.

Cold Spring Harbor State Park is so unique on Long Island as a result of having that historic element as well as being a challenging trail.