Cold Spring Harbor State Park, State park in Long Island, New York, United States
Cold Spring Harbor State Park is a natural area of mixed hardwood forest on the north shore of Long Island, New York. Marked trails wind through the woods and lead down to the shoreline, where the trees give way to tidal wetlands and open water.
New York State acquired this land in 1960 to keep the natural shoreline out of the hands of developers. The purchase was part of a wider effort to protect the north shore of Long Island before it was lost to construction.
The trails pass through a forest where information boards explain the plants and animals you encounter along the way. In autumn, the mix of hardwood trees turns the woods into a patchwork of red, orange and yellow that draws many visitors from nearby communities.
The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset and parking is free at the main entrances. Trails can become muddy and slippery after rain, so solid footwear is a good idea before you set out.
The park sits next to marine research facilities that actively study the tidal wetlands found along its edges. If you walk close to those wetland areas, you may spot small monitoring devices or markers left by scientists in the field.
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