Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Hempstead Lake State Park
(Hempstead Village)

With a half-million visitors a year, Hempstead Lake State Park is well known for its lake and its developed facilities for field sports, picnicking and even ice skating. One notable feature in the park is a 1931 children’s carousel donated by August Heckscher. However, the park should not be overlooked for it possesses pleasant nature walks, as well as scheduled, staff-run environmental programs.

During the Revolutionary War, Hempstead Lake was described as an “impenetrable, mosquito-infested swamp” where British Loyalists hid from rebels. In 1925, Robert Moses commissioned New York City to purchase the lake area for the city’s water supply. About 903 acres were later set aside for the park. Hempstead Lake is Nassau County’s largest freshwater lake. At either end of it are five other ponds. The southernmost pond, aptly named South Pond, offers the first opportunity for a nature walk. After a stroll of only 1000 feet through mature oak forest, you can look out over South Pond. Bring your binoculars, for you may see some bird species that prefer a more secluded pond than its larger neighbor, Hempstead Lake.

The second nature walk goes around Hempstead Lake. The 4-mile footpath parallels the more conspicuous path for horses. The footpath is pretty and gives you a more private view of the lake that is very different from the view most visitors get from the developed side of the lake.

Equestrians (only) have an exclusive opportunity to get a look at the seldom-seen North Ponds. The bluffs that rim these ponds are the highest point in Nassau County’s South Shore (70 feet above sea level). Only horse riders are allowed in this section, which is north of Southern State Parkway. This bridle path starts only from the Lakeside Riding Academy on Eagle Avenue. Horse riders can also take the bridle path that goes around Hempstead Lake.

The park is open every day, sunrise to sunset. For information about programs, call (516) 581-1072. The general office is (516) 486-9673.

How to Get There: Take Southern State Parkway to exit 18 south, Eagle Avenue, which directly enters the park. Pay an admission fee. Drive to the south end of the park to the last parking lot.

Walk on the trail at the end of the lot. Veer right onto the unpaved trail that separates from the paved walkway. Through the woods to your right, notice secluded Schodack Pond. When you arrive at South Pond, look for waterbirds. From here, you have the option of going down to the shoreline. You can walk along the shore either to the right or to the left. Unfortunately, the lake’s outlet prevents you from going completely around the lake.

To connect with the longer trail which circles Hempstead Lake, start from the same parking lot where you parked. Walk out the driveway that exits the lot and then head to the lake to your right. Walk onto the bridle path but stay on its margin to avoid horses that have the right of way. Follow it around the lake’s south end, always keeping the lake on your left. When you get to the other side, look for the footpath that runs parallel to the bridle path.

For the next ¾ mile, you walk through attractive woods with lake views. During the next half-mile, you skirt athletic fields close to Peninsula Boulevard. When you get to the north end of the lake, you have two options. We recommend that you walk along the edge of the athletic field toward the lake, and connect with the bridle path. Again, remember that horses have the right of way, so stay along the edge. This trail goes around the end of the lake. Soon you pass by the picnic shelters and buildings across Lake Drive. In ¾ mile, look for the entrance to your parking lot.

The second less scenic option is to stay on the footpath as it heads away from the lake and toward Southern State Parkway. It then crosses and parallels the parkway on its north side. This is a noisy, not very attractive concrete path. Near the highway exit, it crosses the parkway and heads down the park entrance road.

You can also reach the foot trail without parking in the State Park. Take exit 19 off the Southern State Parkway. Head south and immediately leave Peninsula Blvd. and go onto North Village Avenue. Drive south a few blocks. Opposite Roxen Road and Demott Avenue, you can park and cross over a highway on a concrete footbridge. You end up in Hempstead Park and head to the lake to connect onto the foot trail.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Hempstead Lake State Park (Hempstead Village) With a half-million visitors a year, Hempstead Lake State Park is well known for its lake and its developed facilities for field sports, picnicking and even ice skating. One notable feature in the park is a 1931 children’s carousel donated by August Heckscher. However, the park should not be overlooked for it possesses pleasant nature walks, as well as scheduled, staff-run environmental programs. During the Revolutionary War, Hempstead Lake was described as an “impenetrable, mosquito-infested swamp” where British Loyalists hid from rebels. In 1925, Robert Moses commissioned New York City to purchase the lake area for the city’s water supply. About 903 acres were later set aside for the park. Hempstead Lake is Nassau County’s largest freshwater lake. At either end of it are five other ponds. The southernmost pond, aptly named South Pond, offers the first opportunity for a nature walk. After a stroll of only 1000 feet through mature oak forest, you can look out over South Pond. Bring your binoculars, for you may see some bird species that prefer a more secluded pond than its larger neighbor, Hempstead Lake. The second nature walk goes around Hempstead Lake. The 4-mile footpath parallels the more conspicuous path for horses. The footpath is pretty and gives you a more private view of the lake that is very different from the view most visitors get from the developed side of the lake. Equestrians (only) have an exclusive opportunity to get a look at the seldom-seen North Ponds. The bluffs that rim these ponds are the highest point in Nassau County’s South Shore (70 feet above sea level). Only horse riders are allowed in this section, which is north of Southern State Parkway. This bridle path starts only from the Lakeside Riding Academy on Eagle Avenue. Horse riders can also take the bridle path that goes around Hempstead Lake. The park is open every day, sunrise to sunset. For information about programs, call (516) 581-1072. The general office is (516) 486-9673. How to Get There: Take Southern State Parkway to exit 18 south, Eagle Avenue, which directly enters the park. Pay an admission fee. Drive to the south end of the park to the last parking lot. Walk on the trail at the end of the lot. Veer right onto the unpaved trail that separates from the paved walkway. Through the woods to your right, notice secluded Schodack Pond. When you arrive at South Pond, look for waterbirds. From here, you have the option of going down to the shoreline. You can walk along the shore either to the right or to the left. Unfortunately, the lake’s outlet prevents you from going completely around the lake. To connect with the longer trail which circles Hempstead Lake, start from the same parking lot where you parked. Walk out the driveway that exits the lot and then head to the lake to your right. Walk onto the bridle path but stay on its margin to avoid horses that have the right of way. Follow it around the lake’s south end, always keeping the lake on your left. When you get to the other side, look for the footpath that runs parallel to the bridle path. For the next ¾ mile, you walk through attractive woods with lake views. During the next half-mile, you skirt athletic fields close to Peninsula Boulevard. When you get to the north end of the lake, you have two options. We recommend that you walk along the edge of the athletic field toward the lake, and connect with the bridle path. Again, remember that horses have the right of way, so stay along the edge. This trail goes around the end of the lake. Soon you pass by the picnic shelters and buildings across Lake Drive. In ¾ mile, look for the entrance to your parking lot. The second less scenic option is to stay on the footpath as it heads away from the lake and toward Southern State Parkway. It then crosses and parallels the parkway on its north side. This is a noisy, not very attractive concrete path. Near the highway exit, it crosses the parkway and heads down the park entrance road. You can also reach the foot trail without parking in the State Park. Take exit 19 off the Southern State Parkway. Head south and immediately leave Peninsula Blvd. and go onto North Village Avenue. Drive south a few blocks. Opposite Roxen Road and Demott Avenue, you can park and cross over a highway on a concrete footbridge. You end up in Hempstead Park and head to the lake to connect onto the foot trail.