Connetquot SP Sat 11-4 (lots of photos!!)

[LongIslandPiney]

Will probably have to break this up in several posts, since I took so many photos I want to share. On Saturday, November 4th I set off on a LONG hike through the Connetquot State Woodlands here on Long Island. It must've been close to 11 miles. I started off in Lakeland County Park.

Along the boardwalks from Creek's Cove:

Honeysuckle Pond:

Now in Connetquot State Park, in the less traveled northern section, the greenbelt trail bridge is damaged. Crossed on a plank, or I would have gotten my feet wet as I crossed these headwaters of the Connetquot.

Heading toward route 454 on an old Woods road.

Now I will be entering the park, and this is the path I followed once crossing route 454 (Vets Hwy)

On the green trail, in the northwestern section...old growth woods, mainly oaks and some pines

The view of the Connetquot River, looking north from Bunces bridge:

Heading south on the green trail, you will see nice stand of pines:

The hatchery complex has many beautiful ponds:

The red trail runs through this area, running across several small bridges..

In part 2 I head south along the east side of the river, on the red trail...

 

[LongIslandPiney]

Connetquot Hike...Part 2

Now I am heading south along the red trail, pines intermingle with oaks..

I will be making a left onto the blue trail, which will take me through some beautiful wetlands in the southeastern portion of the park. Many of these streams are tea colored:

Some are more clear:

There are lots of fish in this stream!

Slade Pond:

Turning north the blue trail turns into Cordwood road. This is one of the most beautiful horse trails on Long Island, and no doubt you will see many horses, though for the respect of rider privacy, I have not posted any here.

More of Cordwood road (mispelled Corwood on the map) next in the final part...3

 

[LongIslandPiney]

Connetquot Part 3

Cordwood road runs through the more eastern section of the park. It is also the blue trail. Few people are seen walking through here, you're much more likely to see horse riders. Tall pines make this one of the more picturesque paths of the park:

Heading north past poachers path is more of an oak brush plain, which is where a fire burned through here several decades ago.

At the end of Cordwood road, sort of where that spiderweb of trails is in the NE corner, is an area known as "Chicken Farm", a clearing :

Getting closer to those two "kissing pines" in the distance:

Leaving I headed east on a path going out of Chicken farm through classic oak brush plains:

Made a left at the end. There's a dim perimiter trail. Unfortunately a fence blocks access to leave the park, however it is low in the extreme NE corner as I climbed it out. Was pretty tired, and I knew the bus stop was right outside.
Anyway there are more photos of Connetquot in my gallery:
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=417

 

[woodjin]

Beautiful!! Thanks for those great photos.

Jeff

 

[ecampbell]

It's amazing to see how the coastal plains are so similar from Long Island through the Carolinas. Your photo's look just like home.

Ed

 

[Teegate]

Very nice photo's. Thanks for giving us a tour.

Guy