Watch Hill, New York

Watch Hill is a coastal campground and marina situated across the Great South Bay from Patchogue on Fire Island. The site contains overnight facilities, docking space for boats, and marked trails that lead to the ocean beaches on the island's oceanfront.

This area was recognized in the early 1900s as part of Fire Island National Seashore, established to protect the island's natural ecosystems. The designation shaped how the land has been managed and kept the landscape intact over the following decades.

The Whalehouse Point Restaurant and Bar serve as a social hub where visitors encounter local maritime food traditions and meet people who know the island well. The gathering place reflects how the community has long depended on the water for both livelihood and leisure.

Reaching this site requires taking a ferry from the terminal on West Avenue in Patchogue, as there is no road connection to Fire Island. Plan for ferry travel time and bring supplies with you, since shopping options on the island are limited.

This site borders the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, the only federally protected wilderness area within New York State. This rare designation means visitors can walk through dunes that remain largely undeveloped and wild.