Heckscher State Park in East Islip
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East Islip, Suffolk County, New York, US
Site: http://parks.ny.gov/parks/136/de...
- Monday:Open 24 hours
- Tuesday:Open 24 hours
- Wednesday:Open 24 hours
- Thursday:Open 24 hours
- Friday:Open 24 hours
- Saturday:Open 24 hours
- Sunday:Open 24 hours
Heckscher State Park in other cities:
Beautifull place!! Great place for a picnic/BBQ with family and friends. There is a beach and basketball courts too. Beach closed at 6 that day, idk if it was just that day or all the time. Also playing basketball on those courts is close to impossible lol. Cause the day we went it was superr windy and the fact that its next to the beach meant it was even stronger, even layups wouldnt go in cause of the wind lol
This park has everything from the beach, playground, BBQ, cottages, bike/walking trail, event venue… but the down fall is that the water at the beach is extremely sludgy and black. I always go to this park, and absolutely never swim here!!! The trail is about 4 miles. And this park is very clean. The staff are pleasant and very helpful!
This was a nice campground, but the mosquitoes were terrible. The campground sites are on grass and that seemed to contribute to the mosquitoes. We had to spray up every time we left our rig. There is a fantastic 4 mile paved trail around the entire park. We were terribly dismayed at how many abandoned parking lots there are in this park. Granted we were here early in the season, so maybe that’s why it felt so EMPTY. There was someone in the campground who ran their generator all day every day(then left, leaving it running) for the entire 4 days of our trip. The staff never did anything about it. I suppose maybe the campers needed medical equipment or something, but why leave it running when you aren’t even in the rig? I digress. We absolutely loved the ice cream truck and wish we had visited him every day. He had the best soft serve ice cream ever. You must try it. He visits the campground and the beach area of the park every day!
Its a great park with baseball and soccer fields, basketball courts, disc golf and Ive seen people playing cricket as well. It has a great beach and a field specifically for dogs. There a few playgrounds for the kids to play at with swings. Has a great paved path for bike riding and walking through the park. I love taking my kids there to get away from the house and off the screens.
A large park with a circular four-lane highway going through it. There is plenty of parking lots all over the park as well as amenities such as playgrounds, basketball hoops, barbecue pits, and more. There is a good view of the beach from most locations. There is also an option to rent a cottage to stay during summers.
Love this state park!NEEDED: Management needs to talk to the park people (rangers, workers, associates, security and whoever) about unnecessarily driving on the bike paths behind or in front people walking/biking! Its extremely dangerous and unnecessary. There is no reason to creep those green trucks behind people who are walking/biking! They even drive up on the concrete and park behind benches. For what?! There are roads and parking lots (riddled with potholes) for them to drive on. If they need to investigate then park in a lot and walk to help preserve what little blacktop/concrete is left and intact.
Ive been coming here for years. I love it here. Its so beautiful. I came today for 3wheel motorcycle lessons. The class was fun. I however was very nervous and confused & couldnt figure out what to do so I failed but still fun & the park was beautiful. It was a little chilly but I dressed warm enough for the weather. The beach is beautiful and clean. The public bathrooms are decent. I come every year to the beach for the summer. Definitely will not give up on the motorcycle lessons until I get it & I will always come to the beach and the park with my friends and family ❤😀
Great trails to walk. Very relaxing place. A very clean park to come with family or a partner. The scenery is amazing all year round. You can enjoy a nice bike ride or a long walk. The new cottages that they are building are looking very nice. Great park for those with 4x4s when it rains to drive through the puddles.
Visited field 8 after 6pm so it was free. Rustic bay beach. Good for kids as the waves are not as rough and water doesnt get too deep. Good access for crabbing and fishing. Watch out for bacteria reports after big rainstorms. Theres a 1 shower outside to rinse off and restrooms available. Sunset sky was amazing.
This is a really good Park, thats a lot of different sections in there depending on what you want to do. There is the side on the water so if you want to sit on some sand and look at the water you can go there if you want to go bike riding this plenty of bike trails and jogging paths with very Scenic roads. Theres also another half of the park where you can picnic and with big Open Fields so you can have big picnics with family and play Frisbee what football, there also are a couple of baseball fields. There also is a remote-controlled airplane flying field there where you can see people flying small model aircrafts, this field is for permit holders only but it is a lot of fun to watch. It makes for a fun day
My family and I arrived at field 19 on Saturday night the park was full. We got eaten by mosquitos.It was very disturbing seeing big groups of people gathering together drinking with loud music all night..The bathrooms are filthy in very bad condition. I m very concerned about the cleaning people they dont wear gloves or mask I saw them with a bottle of spray and a roll of paper towels to clean the toilets and the nasties broom, they dont mop or disinfect nothing...so sad the park is poorly run..
Went to this park for a kids birthday party. Mostly at field 6. It was a great day to be at this spot. Setup canopies, hammocks, and food. The park was pretty empty overall. Beach access is close, life guard on duty and waters were warm. I didnt swim but the kids enjoyed it. There was also an ice cream truck roaming around for a cold treat. Its a big park with a trail for walking or cycling.
The Annual Cider Festival of 2018 was Great especially due to the weather. Plenty of space to walk around and sample different ciders. Arrive early, so you get your moneys worth. Lines will get long, but everyone is friendly and in good spirit. I especially liked the empanadas truck, WOW. this is a great state park to visit and go off the grid. Peaceful and enjoyable, Perfect.
Awesome Park. Very big. Many areas to visit, several with water front access. It was so good, after I finished taking pictures in all the areas, I left, picked up a couple of Italian dinners and returned to eat in the truck with a nice up front evening ocean view. Nice day indeed.
This is a beautiful park. Its a shame only one zone allows dogs - and that zone is not easy to find. There should definitely be better signage inside the park to help visitors navigate. Apart from that, the park if beautiful in all seasons, and Ill definitely be going back.
My Empire pass already paid for itself with the boat ramp here. I frequently launch from this location because of how close it is to home. The ramps have a lot of space and aren’t too steep. It’s a bit slippery on the ramp when you need to get in the water, but it’s definitely not too bad.
Amazing state park. We travelled on a weekday. It was nearly empty. Weather was a bit windy but otherwise warm and beautiful. We went to field 6. Kids lived the playground and got to go into the beach for a bit.Bathrooms were both open and clean. Hand sanitizers are available in numerous location for those who are wondering both near the bathroom and many other locations.Park has many benches to sit, relax and enjoy some food.Highly recommended.
Truly a paradise for biking, jogging or running. It has long long well established trails circulating almost the whole park. Plenty of visitors do biking there. Its nice for family with kids. There is huge picnic/grill area, nice beach areas, boating area and campsite, also 2 or 3 children playground (although closed at this moment). Would definitely visit again.
Went there for camping. We had a tent.The park and staff did really good job on maintenance. Bathroom was clean and the camping ground was handled well.We were unlucky to have a noisy family who were noisy at 1 am~2 am so I got so tired from not getting enough sleep.I gave them 4 starts instead of 5 stars because the park (not the camping ground) generally had no shades, for example in a playground.
Stayed at the camping ground for the last few days. Overall, its a beautiful place and all, but there is just an abhorrent amount of mosquitoes and bugs. The bathrooms are pretty dirty as well and the beach shores were filled with kelp and rocks. And dont forget the bird poop all over the basketball court.
Rental cottages are Not!!! what the park or the large majority of residents and visitors need. Restoration of the pools and fixing basic infrastructure as well as more community friendly advancements which integrate what nature brings to the park would be more appropriate. More park employees wouldnt hurt either. Lastly pushing the Suffolk Aero Modelers to a central part of the park imo is also a bad idea. An asphalt area similar or the same to where they were seems more fitting.
Overall this is a very nice park. There are great bike trails, brand new well designed cabins, beaches, foot paths, baseball fields, picnic areas, camping sites, boat launches, basketball courts, and disc golf. I always enjoy going here. It is one of Long Islands best parks in my opinion. Many areas, like the beaches, are also not very crowded, which is refreshing compared to many other beaches on the island.
Not many people go there so there is plenty of space for a big family you can go there for special occasions too.And the beach there is nice,clean and very deep even if you pass the first boey line, and there are also life guards.There is an ice cream truck a playground although it is temporarily closed.
I went there yesterday mid morning for a walk. My first time there. The smell was so bad I almost vomited! What was that smell from???? I asked a woman who says she walks there everyday and it never smells THIS BAD?!Really??? So it always smells?? It was putrid! The overall park seemed to be in disrepair as well. During my walk the smell would subside a bit the farther I got from the water but still terrible. Ive smelled low tide in my life but this was beyond that! So disappointed. The star is just so I could write this.
Great place for family fun and outdoor activities. You can bike and run along the beach and the forest. You can barbecue next to a playground under the trees or next to the beach. You can come with your choppers and your race bikes and do crazy stuff in the always empty part of the parking lot. Or get your drone out of the box. You can swim, windsurf, paddle board, bring your bid boat to show off and chill in the channel. The only reason I give it 4 stars is the seaweed, sometimes is too much but other than that is a little heaven with little bit of everything for everyone
Nice park with plenty of fields. Went camping there. The sites were nice, you get a bbq, bench on platform and more than enough room to place your tent. The only downside were the bathrooms! No matter what time of day, they are GROSS. Thankfully i live near by and was able to shower at home. The bay beach were decent. Hardly anyone at the beach which is nice but beware of the rocks and seaweed. Overall will definitely visit again
I attend events here usually and its always a good time! Ive been to the campground years ago and it was nice, though it seems to have gotten nicer, I wouldnt know. The events like the Craft Classic and Cider Fest are fun though and definitely worth the price of entry. Ive gone a few times now and will most likely attend more in the future. Beautiful park, so big too!
Its quite a nice area. The place is large with easy access to the beach. However since the park and pool has been closed down, theres not much to do and its better to bring your own fun. Theres also a number of people who refused to go in the water because they found it dirty. Also there was a lot of poop from the birds that inhabit the park.
Heckscher is a great park and much bigger than many think. I have been exploring for years and I still find new things...from disc golf to the new playgrounds, kayak rentals to wind surfing..mor just go for a walk or bike ride...so happy we have this park right here on Long Island!!
This is a great park overall. More to offer than I have explored yet. Need to hit the bike path soon. Its not our favorite beaches, but its a beautiful, large park. In fairness, on our most recent trip, the beach at Field 6 was cleaned up considerably. Enjoy Heckscher!
I love this park I have been going to it since I was a child. It has a nice bike path and plenty of dirt road paths if you want to go off road. Two very nice playgrounds for children to run around on. Plenty of picnic space for a nice summer day. During the summer they also host free outdoor concerts.
I just dont see the appeal of this park. Theres one big circular road that connects to different parking lots with various amenities, including picnic areas, ball fields, a boat launch, and beach areas. Dogs are permitted but restricted to a few areas (not on the beaches). The beach areas are small and dirty (and often crowded). The boat launch had murky water and few benches (and even less trees for shade). When I attempted to walk through a beautiful pasture that connects to a hiking trail, I was bitten by dozens of mosquitoes within seconds. There are nicer state parks on Long Island for hiking (bethpage, sunken meadow), better beaches (robert moses, hither hills) and better views (caumsett), so whats the point? I wont be returning.
Great place to go if you love getting bit by mosquitoes and ticks.The water is inhabited and you willProbably get sick this is NOT a beach it is the bay there is no ocean here.The bathrooms are very clean now. Probably because of the new cabins.The staff including the park police are pretty unfriendly ( except the gate entrance very nice kids there).They do have model aircraft flying but it’s by permit only $40.00 for the year which does NOT include parkingFor another $85.00 you can get the empire pass which is good for all NYS park entrance. BBQ and picnic areas are good if you dont speak english.
Conveniently located for residents of East Islip and Great River. Very easy to get to from farther out. Facilities are clean. Beaches are kept nicely. Plenty of open space for playing and picnics. I really enjoy this park and the diversity of activities you can enjoy.
The Park: 4/5- gotta move tables on your own- charcoal disposal cans- trees for shadesI went to Field 4. Nearby the parking lot. We were lucky there were a lot of trees. Otherwise we wouldve been roasted under the sun. Its about 3 min drive from the beach, so was better than suffering under no trees at fields near the beach. Get there early if you can!The Beach: 2/5- too much seaweed.. smelly.. itchy?!- water cleanness is.. I dont wanna dip anything besides my feet.Im a girl from the west coast, I cant say Im not biased when it comes to reviewing beaches in the east coast.. I mean have you SEEN the beaches on the highway one? (Chandlers voice) It really cant compare.
Enjoy visits here. There is hiking, walking amd biking trails that are pretty good. Beach is nice, nothing fancy, but a solid bay beach. Disc golf course is pretty good too. Nice place to spend a day. Camping is no longer permitted and mosquitoes can be a bit rough, but good overall park.
The park is poorly runThe beaches are dirtyThe bathrooms are filthyThe parking lots are unmaintainedThe playground s are unsafe for kidsManagement needs to do something about uplifting this park ...Make it an upscale rv park with plenty of things to do for families. Make it clean and make it right.....People need to enjoy life instead of constantly paying taxes... Do it for our kids...
Its an alright park to visit at the very end of the southern state parkway. $8 vehicle use fee. Its a little run-down and decrepit in places, but then again I visited in early spring so maybe its better on the eyes when everything starts to bloom. It was a good place to bring my girlfriend, my niece and her little dog for some walking around and trying out all the different workout stations at different points on the paved bike trail (the ones that werent broken at least)
Nice park. Took MSA course which was offered here by Big Apple Motorcycle School. Would definitely recommend them. Park is generally pretty empty. There are several nice sandy, ocean beaches that are all pretty nice. It sometimes closes after bad weather, but not all that often. The road through the place is one big circle with a few offshoots. Safe area with a nice crowd. I think there was once a public pool but it has since closed. Not sure of the status with COVID, but I believe its open. I think its free after labor day until memorial day, otherwise there is an entrance fee.
It is a big place. It has multiple fields for many different kinds of activities. It has bike paths. Their are parking fields for the beaches. There is a parking area for boats with trailers only. There are lifeguards. Facilities are at a minimum. Some of the places there look like something from a post apocalyptic movie. They had several newish cabins for rent. There are a lot of places to bbq and picnic. It cost 10 bucks to get in. Wear a lot of bug repellent.
Total reviews rating 4.5
199 Reviews for Heckscher State Park 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-18This is an absolutely beautiful park. The cabins are incredible and right on the water. The cabin was well equipped and very clean.Out of the many New York state parks Ive been to, this has to be my favorite. The check in process was also the best experience. Phil was extremely nice and everyone else in the office was so friendly and helpful. Cant wait to go back!
Review №2
2022-06-20A regular picnic spot for our Bangladeshi community, every year most of all our community organization choose this park as their first choice, area is safe kid play around without any tension, never had any problem the best spot for group Picnic .
Review №3
2022-05-19This is my new favorite hiking spot, particularly field 5. Starting out right along the water, you feel like youre instantly transported to another world. Large, gnarled wind-blown trees look down upon you, surrounded by reeds and birdsnests. As you continue on, you come across some lovely open fields, lush foliage, and a gentle ocean breeze. The magic of Long Island can truly be found here. This is what keeps me home. :)
Review №4
2022-05-04Good park especially if you live close. Has a ton more potential though. Id love to see them reopen new refurbished pool area and offer a better beach experience. Has disk golf course which is unique to long Island. It is the southern terminus for the 32 mile greenbelt trail and stretches to North shores sunken meadow Park. Ive see cricket games and a remote control airfield for model planes. There is tent camping as well as cabins to rent and even a boat launch.
Review №5
2022-06-20Nice park and clean so many trees plus there is a nice beach
Review №6
2021-08-15Live on long island and decided to stay in their cabins for a few nights. I have mixed feelingsPros- serene and beautiful surrounded by nature- close to lots of restaurants, shopping ect- park has alot to do; beaches, multiple playgrounds, frisbee golf, bike trail, camping ect- cabin itself is minimal but beautiful deck/patioCons- way to expensive for what they provide and a three night minimum (when I booked atleast) $225 per night came to $700+.- counted about 20 dead crickets over the course of three days and a few alive in our cabin.- Toooo many mosquitos, I came home with to many bites to count for someone that was in a cabin and not a tent- bed is terrible- cabin is stocked with bar minimum and they take a $200 deposit. Seems excessive especially since they make clear you should sweep daily and clean a bit before you leave- No T.V. and slow wifiAll in all we had a nice relaxing time, my husband loved waking up every day and having coffee in the screened in patio. I just honestly rather go camping if Im going to deal with so many bugs and bites, its not worth the price tag.
Review №7
2021-08-30Clean.Picturesque.Surrounded by nature.I would recommend this place to anyone wishing to camp and get away with family and friends. There are also stores nearby to accommodate any needs. I look forward to returning to this camp site.
Review №8
2022-05-218$ to park and the place is showing her age. Getting rundown. Parking lots and streets need repaving. Depressing sight if the pool closed for years. Few places to swim with lifeguards. But it is beautiful
Review №9
2021-08-04We recently camped there the park is beautiful its kept clean great for walking jogging cycling fishing hiking or just relaxing to the beautiful scenery.... we were lucky enough to see a few white tail deer 🦌
Review №10
2021-09-06Hugh park with plenty room for an improvement. Entry fee is $8. There are three Cricket pitches in one of the field. Pitches has hard concrete under the matting so cricket leather ball doesnt bounce much. You can easily hit ball on the rise without getting worry of bounce. Outfield is quick and plenty room for an improvement in terms of outfield is concern. I hope in years to come, Cricket facility will be improved.