Long, scenic and family-friendly bike trails on Long Island

Biking is a great way to get your wheels turning on Long Island and there are a host of dedicated paved trails, with scenic views to boot. 

NASSAU-SUFFOLK CONNECTION

OCEAN PARKWAY COASTAL GREENWAY

Create your own Tour de Long Island on the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway, completed last summer. There’s scenery, historic sites and eateries galore along the 13.7-mile bike path from Captree State Park in Bay Shore to Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh. Fitness riders, family groups and solo cyclists are already riding the multiuse path and enjoying its rest stops, says Joseph De Palma, of East Setauket, president of the 2,000 member Nassau-Suffolk Bicycle Coalition. "You can do a group ride and make a lunch date out of it," says De Palma, who has biked the path several times. Or, De Palma adds, "you can make a family fun trip while staying on Long Island." Beaches (including a legendary surfing mecca), concerts, zip lining and strolling by the sea can enrich or cap your day spinning in the sunshine.

NASSAU

LONG RIDE: BETHPAGE BIKEWAY | WOODBURY-MASSAPEQUA

The entrance is located where the sign says “BEGIN” at the corner of Manetto Hill and Woodbury roads. From that point, the ride is approximately 13.2 miles. It travels along Sunnyside Blvd. to the LIE, then underneath the expressway through Bethpage State Park before reaching the Bethpage State Parkway. The trail stays near that roadway until reaching the Massapequa Preserve before crossing over and continuing south to Massapequa Lake and terminating at the corner of Merrick Rd. and Ocean Ave.

SCENIC RIDE: ELLEN FARRANT BICYCLE PATH

Also known as the Jones Beach Bikeway, this is the long trail one sees while driving down the Wantagh Pkwy. south of Merrick Rd. The trip technically starts at the entrance of Cedar Creek Park (3340 Merrick Rd., Seaford). After riding through the park a bit, you'll see a statue of a man on a bicycle — from there, continue along the path to the bikeway which hugs the east side of the parkway. Look out to see marshes and water views, where gulls and cranes can be heard as they either call out from perches, fly overhead or poke around in the shallows. Riders pass the Goose Creek Bridge (you'll need to walk your bike over) and the Wantagh Parkway Bridge. The route passes through Field 5 at Jones Beach State Park before connecting to the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway, which follows Ocean Pkwy. and wraps at Tobay Beach. If including the Greenway, the ride is about 7.6 miles from Cedar Creek Park; end at Field 5 and it’s around 5.3 miles.

FAMILY FRIENDLY: EISENHOWER PARK

At 930 acres (Merrick and Stewart avenues, East Meadow; 516-572-0347, nassaucountyny.gov), there’s lots of open space in addition to over 10 miles of multiuse paths and trails, suitable for all skill levels. Runners and bikers will pass picnic areas, ballfields, golf courses and playgrounds. Features also include a massive memorial garden that honors war veterans and firefighters, and a large lake that sits before a remembrance of the 9/11 attacks. Fee: Parking $10 weekends for nonresidents from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

KEEP IT SHORT: OCEANSIDE TOWN PARK

There are several options for quick trails, but this spot (3800 Mahlon Brower Dr.; 516-763-0710, hempsteadny.gov) has a one-mile bicycle trail that runs in the park and includes marshy water views.

SUFFOLK

SCENIC RIDE: CAMP HERO STATE PARK

Trails around Long Island tend to give bicyclists great views of the area’s nature and waters, but here (1898 Montauk Hwy., Montauk; 631-668-3781, parks.ny.gov) one can come across the striking remnants of a former military installation. One could argue that this park offers some of the eeriest of trails, as rides down some paths give good looks at sealed bunkers and a massive radar tower, all surrounded by woods which have reclaimed much of the area. The park inspired the Netflix series "Stranger Things." Fee: $8 collected daily through Columbus Day; After Columbus Day fee is only collected on weekends, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., until Nov. 14.

LONG RIDE: CAUMSETT STATE HISTORIC PARK PRESERVE

There are several trails within the park (25 Lloyd Harbor Rd., Huntington; 631-423-1770, parks.ny.gov) — a former estate that now serves as a preserve that claims to host over 200 species of birds — but as all the trails are open to biking, that means riders get 22 miles worth of routes to try. None are dedicated to cycles, however, so be ready to encounter (and safely ride near) both humans and horses on foot; around 10 of those miles are paved, so it’ll be the earthen trails where equestrian activity may take place. Routes can offer a fine view of meadows, wooded areas, shorelines and marshes. Fee: $8 daily, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

FAMILY FRIENDLY: BELMONT LAKE STATE PARK

Extremely popular in the warmer months for its kayak, pedal boat and rowboat rentals, the North Babylon park (631-667-5055, parks.ny.gov) has over five miles of multiuse trails great for bike enthusiasts of all levels to try. And while most of the trip surrounds the lake, bikers can also roll on paths that weave between grassy lawns, trees and other flora. (A choice time to ride is during a clear sunset; the light reflects off the lake and pushes soft light across the scene). Fee: $8 April 3-May 23 and Sept. 11-Oct. 11 weekends, May 29-Sept. 6 daily.

KEEP IT SHORT: KINGS PARK HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL

At a mere mile-and-a-half, this quick-paved path starts just east of the R.J.O. Intermediate School (99 Old Dock Rd., Kings Park), moves behind a lot behind Kings Park Boulevard and through a neighborhood before ending in Nissequogue River State Park close to the Kings Park Liberty Soccer Field. State Park Vehicle entrance Fee: $8 April 3-May 23 and Sept. 11-Oct. 11 weekends, May 29-Sept. 6 daily.