Heckscher State Park
Heckscher State Park
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
92 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
29
Average
14
Poor
5
Terrible
10
Johnny-Deeeeee
United Kingdom27 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
We’ve just wrapped up a wonderful week of peace and calm at the Hecksher State Park cottages. We stayed in Cottage 1, a 2-bedroom unit, which is on the far right of the lot.
Prior to our arrival, the Philip in the park office provided great help and information. Once we checked in the, the welcome was warm and appreciative. It was a great start to our visit.
Our cottage was spotlessly clean and there were no surprises. We had packed comprehensively for our trip and were well set for cooking as needed, or eating out at the good local restaurants, Teller’s, Shandon Court, etc. The local food market, Pat’s, was surprisingly good and very close to the park. It had everything we needed for the week. We popped over there each day depending on appetite and mood. It would be easy to minimize cooking by ordering the wide selection of ready prepared fresh food at Pat’s. We had some friends to visit and re-heated their excellent catering trays.
We truly enjoyed the calm, the sunny days, and incredibly dark nights. During the day, we walked long walks, napped, listened to music, read, and embraced the silence. Even though we had not traveled far, it was a true getaway and a disconnect from the daily routine at a very reasonable price. As a post-pandemic getaway, this was a perfect choice.
Highly recommended. Thank you to Philip and to the cleaning crew for a great job in creating a special experience. Well done!
Prior to our arrival, the Philip in the park office provided great help and information. Once we checked in the, the welcome was warm and appreciative. It was a great start to our visit.
Our cottage was spotlessly clean and there were no surprises. We had packed comprehensively for our trip and were well set for cooking as needed, or eating out at the good local restaurants, Teller’s, Shandon Court, etc. The local food market, Pat’s, was surprisingly good and very close to the park. It had everything we needed for the week. We popped over there each day depending on appetite and mood. It would be easy to minimize cooking by ordering the wide selection of ready prepared fresh food at Pat’s. We had some friends to visit and re-heated their excellent catering trays.
We truly enjoyed the calm, the sunny days, and incredibly dark nights. During the day, we walked long walks, napped, listened to music, read, and embraced the silence. Even though we had not traveled far, it was a true getaway and a disconnect from the daily routine at a very reasonable price. As a post-pandemic getaway, this was a perfect choice.
Highly recommended. Thank you to Philip and to the cleaning crew for a great job in creating a special experience. Well done!
Written April 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael S
East Meadow, NY61 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
First of all I think some reviewers are missing the primary type of location Heckscher State Park is. It's lush Deciduous forest is the home to an abundance of wildlife ranging from Owls and Hawks to Cardinals and Robins you'll see in backyards. The Spring brings the parks breeding migratory Osprey back to their breeding grounds of which there are at least 7-12 active Osprey nests ( as of 7-7-22 multiple nests have confirmed nestlings ).
This park is the ideal birding habitat slotting nicely alongside nearby Bayard Cutting and Connetquot. It's well worth the entry fee, but I'd strongly advise purchasing an Empire Pass. The Empire Pass is good for parking at all NYS parks and pays for itself over multiple visits.
This park is the ideal birding habitat slotting nicely alongside nearby Bayard Cutting and Connetquot. It's well worth the entry fee, but I'd strongly advise purchasing an Empire Pass. The Empire Pass is good for parking at all NYS parks and pays for itself over multiple visits.
Written July 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳
Long Island, NY16,136 contributions
Nov 2020 • Solo
It was a chilly, gloomy Sunday afternoon. I needed some fresh air. This was the place to walk. Very and calming. The bay was very choppy, a heavy rain and wind is on the way. Not much of a beach. The sand is very rocky. The area is much cleaner than it was a few months ago. Very relaxing spot to take in the Great South Bay.
Written November 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳
Long Island, NY16,136 contributions
May 2020 • Family
We took a nice walk by the bay along the trail. The beach is very small and rocky. There are pathways for walking and bike riding. Definitely worth a drive to check out. It's hard to believe I've been here only twice in 8 years. My home is less than 10 minutes away.
Written May 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stan Tecza
Connecticut11,314 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I drive to Hecksher park with my dog today and couldn’t find anywhere to park my car that allowed dogs. Every parking section says no dogs allowed. Supposedly there is a field 5 where dogs are permitted but I couldn’t locate it. Wasted 15 minutes circling around. Did see some pretty deer at least.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳
Long Island, NY16,136 contributions
Jan 2023 • Solo
I am very lucky to have this park/beach only seven minutes from our home. The boat ramp area is a place I have never been to. Most of my neighbors have boats and this is where they launch them. Plenty of space to maneuver your vehicle to get the vessel as close to the water as possible. There is even an area with running water to wash your boat when you are finished.
Once your boat is in the bay, you can access the ocean or Fire Island in minutes.
Once your boat is in the bay, you can access the ocean or Fire Island in minutes.
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLDSETTER
East Hampton, NY935 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
I must be missing something here ! First there is no camping . And it’s been closed for many years so I have no idea what previous reviews are talking about ! The parking lots that people talk about are never crowded and have not been since they closed the wonderful pool on the bayside ! One beach is all rocks and the other is for busses from the city . Other than that what beach ? I grew up here / this place is just a piece of land with bike paths . That’s it folks . It’s run down and it’s got amenities like camping and a pool but are closed for the foreseeable future . I did see where the model airplane guys got there own new parking lot at the rocky beach all to them selves . In the mean time no rest rooms until like July ! The deer population has been culled to next to nothing . So let’s recap a nice place for the state park police to hang out and do nothing - no camping - no pool - and one beach ( the second rocky beach is currently a private air field for amateur flyers . Go anywhere but here . And oh yes the dirty great South Bay is your bathing option . Summers are short go elsewhere !!
Written May 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLDSETTER
East Hampton, NY935 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
This use to be the Gem of the south shore , they have slowly abandoned this State park . As of this moment the pool is slated to be demolished one of the main reasons folks went here - 2nd the camping area has not been open since they shut it down some 6-8 years ago ? The beaches are Disgusting with sand that looks like it came from a rock quarry ! And yes folks they trucked this garbage in for your enjoyment . As of late something has been missing ,As if the above was not enough reason not to spend 8.00 to go there . The deer population seems have disappeared ??? This is suppose to be the home of the white tail Deer ? I have not seen one in my last 4 visits there to do my weekly check on the migrating osprey . Well there you have it . Unless you are looking for a rocky beach in the great South Bay or looking not to swim in a demolished pool or maybe you would like to camp out in a park which closed its camping area over 5 years ago , or maybe it's the non existent deer population your after . I really would like to know how the deer in the thousands just vanished ?????? Go any where but here !
Written April 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tradervic21
142 contributions
Jun 2016 • Friends
There are good and bad reviews for this park. I think part of that is because some people have the wrong expectations for this place. Let me help you.
If you want a nice beach to swim or take your kids for a family day at the beach you will most likely not like this park.
If you want to go somewhere where you can grill burgers or want some solitude on the sand to read and don't care about the water this will be good for you.
The beaches all have swimming prohibited signs. The beach is very narrow and mostly gravelly rocks. There is a lot and I mean a lot of seagrass washed up at the waters edge. There is also quite a bit of garbage washed up too. The water is pretty mucky as well.
When I went the place was mostly empty even though it was a warm sunny day. This is probably because people would rather go to a swimming beach.
Now you know
If you want a nice beach to swim or take your kids for a family day at the beach you will most likely not like this park.
If you want to go somewhere where you can grill burgers or want some solitude on the sand to read and don't care about the water this will be good for you.
The beaches all have swimming prohibited signs. The beach is very narrow and mostly gravelly rocks. There is a lot and I mean a lot of seagrass washed up at the waters edge. There is also quite a bit of garbage washed up too. The water is pretty mucky as well.
When I went the place was mostly empty even though it was a warm sunny day. This is probably because people would rather go to a swimming beach.
Now you know
Written June 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLDSETTER
East Hampton, NY935 contributions
Jul 2013
Today was a hot humid day on Long Island . My wife and I decided to see if all the calls we made to the state would make a difference , This Park has not had any work done to it in yrs / the pool is closed again for the 3-4 th year. The Campgrounds are still closed going on 5 yrs ! So what's the 10.00 entry Fee for ? Surely not the beaches , that's not even Sand in field 8 . It's gravel ! I have now given up on this forgotten park I have visited for most of my life . Shame on you NY state dept of Parks . I Give it 1 star for the deer population .
Written July 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am a resident of Huntington. Do I need an Islip town ID to get into the park? Is parking free? Also, is the playground and picnic area a good place for a low key meet up with friends and kids? We are traveling from opposite sides of the island and this park seems like a nice middle ground to have a picnic lunch and lets the kids play. Any advice?
Written August 19, 2018
No you do not need a Huntington pass or a town of Islip pass it’s a state park . So you will have to pay the fee 8.00 I believe per vehicle . And yes there are plenty of picnic areas mist of which will be very quiet . I suggest going to the one next to the superintendents office or park office , I’m not sure of the number but you can get it from the toll personal . Very quiet / bathrooms/ new playground area and plenty of parking .
Written August 19, 2018
Can you rent a kayak at this state park and if yes. How much would it be?
Written May 7, 2018
muttsrus94
Brooksville, Florida
does the park still have daily deer feedings and if so at what times
Written July 15, 2016
In the winter I believe since the foraging is so good for them in the better weather. Check the park web site to be sure.
Written July 16, 2016
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