Nassau County, NY Offers A Biker's Paradise 17 miles from Times Square

PRWeb

November 11, 2009

- With the air turning crisp and the trees shifting hues, the cooling days of autumn are a perfect time to travel along many of Nassau County's bicycle trails and streets and provide an opportunity to marvel at nature, historic sites and sprawling estates.

On the "Island Next Door" cycling enthusiasts of all types will find a variety of mountain bike trails, paved paths and road routes throughout the county, all easily accessible, that provide a variety of scenery along with exercise.

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS

Stillwell Woods Mountain Bike Trail, South Woods Road, Syosset
This 270-acre preserve in eastern Nassau offers vistas, flora and fauna more typical of areas much further east. Enthusiasts say there are some tricky places along the marked, narrow, twisting trail with short, but steep climbs over sandy-gravely earth. There's also an easy main loop. The trail runs about 5 miles. Take 495 to Exit 46 North, Sunnyside Blvd. Take Sunnyside Blvd north to Woodbury Road. Turn right onto Woodbury Road. Take Woodbury Road to Jericho Turnpike (25). Turn left onto Jericho Turnpike. Turn right onto South Woods Road. Just after Syosset High School turn right into the soccer field. Bear right and go to the end of the field; the trailhead is in the southeastern corner.

Bethpage State Park, Powell Avenue, Bethpage
A 12-mile jaunt over mixed single track and fire roads, the trail through this greenery is not marked. Take 495 to Rte 135 south. Exit at Powell Avenue, turning left at end of ramp and make a quick left into the Bethpage State Park picnic grounds. A parking lot is at end of road.

Trail View State Park, Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury
This 7.4-mile stretch of terrain, also known as the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt, is a hiking-biking trail covering 400 scenic acres so cyclists will have to keep their eyes open for hikers. Originally destined to be part of Bethpage State Parkway, it's considered an intermediate trail in terms of difficulty and passes through a variety of habitats. The trail connects to Stillwell Woods to the north and Bethpage to the south. Take 495 to Exit 46 North, Sunnyside Boulevard. Take Sunnyside Blvd north to Woodbury Road. Turn right onto Woodbury Road. Take Woodbury Road to Jericho Turnpike (Rte 25). Turn left onto Jericho Turnpike. Turn right into the dirt lot next to the Stop and Shop supermarket.

PAVED PATHS

Atlantic Beach Boardwalk
You can access this 1-mile, shorefront ride year-round from Putnam, Genesee and Plaza Boulevards.

Bethpage Bicycle Path, Bethpage to Massapequa
Once the right-of-way for an extension of Bethpage State Parkway, south of the Southern State Parkway, this long flat, bucolic path runs from Bethpage State Park to Massapequa. Bounded by trees and foliage and marked every quarter mile, it runs about 8 miles end to end and passes through the tranquil Massapequa Preserve where wildlife abound near the ponds and streams. Caution, there are some road crossings. Entry to the path is also possible from a spot a few hundred yards from Lakeshore Drive, south of Sunrise Highway in Massapequa.

Hempstead Lake State Park
Circle Hempstead Lake and cycle through the woods on 4 miles of flat path. Exit 18 of Southern State Parkway will get you there.
Jones Beach Bike Path, Cedar Creek Park in Seaford to Jones Beach,

This 4.5-mile scenic trail is one of the most well known bike trails on Long Island. It runs parallel to the Wantagh State Parkway from Cedar Creek Park, off Merrick Road in Seaford, to the Jones Beach Theater at Jones Beach State Park. From October to March, you can also bicycle the boardwalk.

Long Beach Boardwalk
There's nothing like a leisurely ride with ocean vistas along the beach. The boardwalk runs for about 2 miles and entry is possible from any street between Neptune Boulevard and New York Avenues.

Valley Stream State Park
Here, close to New York City, you'll find 2 miles of heavily treed flat paths and another 2 miles just to the south in Arthur A. Hendrickson Park. Take the Southern State Parkway to Exit 14or Exits 15S (westbound) or 15A (eastbound).

Wantagh Park, 1 King Rd., Wantagh
This is a 5-mile trek over an extensive network of paths and walks through the waterfront park's 111 acres. Take Southern State Parkway to Exit 27 South (Wantagh Parkway). Exit off the Wantagh Parkway at Sunrise Highway East. Make a right onto Wantagh Avenue. Take to the end and make right onto Merrick Road. At first light make a left into park.

FOR ROADIES

Club Cycling

Riding with a club is a great way to get to know the ins outs of Nassau County's less traveled roads and provides cyclists with opportunities to challenge themselves on the region's varied terrains.

The Long Island Bicycle Club, for example, offers a standard ride every Saturday,

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