The Best Long Island Bike Trails

Long Island has lots of excellent bike trails for riders of all levels. Here are a few, starting with my two favorites:

1- Jones Beach Bike Path - Between Seaford and Wantagh, Nassau County's south shore

This is one of the most well-known bike trails on Long Island. It runs next to the Wantagh Parkway between Cedar Creek Park, off Merrick Road in Seaford, to the Jones Beach Theater in the Jones Beach State Park. In-line skaters, bikers and joggers all use this bike trail which is about 4.5 miles long, according to painted markings on the path and a local newspaper's website.

I like it because the scenery is beautiful, and it never crosses a road. (Although some people worry that the bike trail is too close to the parkway.)

You have to pay to park at Jones Beach during the summer season. I always park at Cedar Creek Park.

2- Bethpage State Park bike trails - Between Bethpage and Massapequa Park, eastern Nassau County

There are actually two bike trails here. According to the local newspaper website, the mountain bike trail is about four miles long. The paved trail, which is also for runners and hikers, is about 9 miles long. I enjoy it because I like going longer distances. Also, part of it goes through the Massapequa Preserve, which is very peaceful.

To avoid paying to park at the Bethpage State Park (unless you have a parking pass) - you can park for free in a neighborhood along the bike trail or at the train station on weekends.

3- Trail View State Park - Between Bethpage and Cold Spring Harbor, Nassau-Suffolk Border

According to the park's website, the state acquired the 7.4 mile-long property in the 1960s to build a parkway, but never did. Now there's a hiking and bike trail there. This Long Island path connects the Cold Spring Harbor State Park in Suffolk County to the Bethpage State Park, where you can ride the bike trails mentioned above. The Trail View path is free and is accessible from many roads - including Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury.

Several other state parks across Long Island also have bike trails, from Valley Stream in the west to Orient and Montauk in the east. Click here to check them out.