The Sunken Forest
The Sunken Forest
4.5
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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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4.5
86 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
29
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
1
NiceNYer
New York, NY262 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Very low key and filled with truly voracious insects. Not enough to occupy this young couple and four-year-old daughter who begged us to turn around after fifteen minutes. More appropriate for a romantic evening stroll for a couple. But even in that case, the scenery is unchanging, the feel a bit claustrophobic rather than cozy. I can’t believe I’m saying this since I love nature hikes in general, but this walk is boring and brutal in the summer. PS nearby outdoor showers have no curtains and no privacy.
Written July 8, 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.
Cathy S
3 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
We were lucky enough to stumble upon US NATIONAL PARKS Ranger David Raymond. David gave us the most wonderful personal, considerate tour of the unique Sunken Forest. David’s vast knowledge of the Sunken Forest, conservation, nature, flora, fauna, history, impact of climate upon this environment was imparted upon us with tender loving care of his domain. If you are ever lucky enough to find David there....you will have an unforgettable experience with your friends and family. I think, as a multi generational native Long Islander...who somehow, has never visited before....I have discovered what is yet another of the secret treasures Long Island holds. It must certainly be on everyone’s bucket list!
Written October 9, 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.
Lolly’s Look
New York City, NY15,009 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
We live to walk the sunken forest on our visits to Sailors Haven. The boardwalk paths take you on a tour of the lush green forest and lead you to the ocean. You will encounter animals in their habitat-deer, fox, coyote, birds.
Written June 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.
Lolly’s Look
New York City, NY15,009 contributions
Aug 2019
The sunken forest on Fire Island at Sailors Haven is a beautiful protected national park. Its green, lush and a nice diversion from a day at the beach. There are ranger led guided tours or do a self guided tour. Just remember your bug spray!
Written November 18, 2019
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.
Sandy C
Lynbrook, NY212 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
We took the ferry from Sayville to Sailor's Haven. We took the first ferry out, at 9:30. We went on a weekday and arrived about fifteen minutes before the ferry and really could have showed up five minutes before. There is no early boarding, lines, wait for parking, etc. Parking was mid prices for Long Island, I think it was in the 10-14 range for the day.
The ride across was 20 minutes and pretty. The ferry was small, but there are different sized ferries, I guess for different times of day with crowds.
We arrived at Sailor's Haven and the snack bar was telling people that it would be at least 30-40 minutes until opening, which was fine for us as we brought lunch. The menu seemed to be typical beach snack bar stuff.
As this is national park there was a place that had an exhibit with some small (like home sized) aquariums with fish, some shell exhibits, and various things for the kids to touch. I think we spent about fifteen minutes here. They do have junior ranger books which we took and started, but did not complete.
We did the walk through the forest. This was nice. It was a brutally hot day, but the canopy of trees helped.
ONE TIP: If going on a got day in the morning: Go backwards: the ocean side has no cover and gets very hot as it gets closer to noon, while the front part of the tour is under cover. We did the forest part first, from 10:15-10:45, then headed out to the hot part....not smart. GO IN REVERSE of the map. Which means, start at the bathrooms, and head west through the double dunes, and then north back into the forest for the second part of your journey.
We did not do the beach, as we live on Long Island and do the beaches all the time. We did not want to haul all of our beach stuff to fire island for the day. But if you want a beach day, over the hill by the bathroom is a nice beach with lifeguards.
The bathrooms were OK. Not super clean, but not terrible. The showers, however, had curtains, but were outdoors and the curtains were practically see through. You would have to wear a bathing suit if over the age of 5.
We spent about 2 hours touring, which was enough. We caught the 11:30 ferry back, which was perfect. The kids wanted to finish their ranger books, but after that the next ferry was 1:45 and I did not see enough there to fill our time. We ate our picnic lunch on the deck of the snack bar and took the ferry back to Sayville.
We were glad to finally visit Fire Island.
If you are looking for restaurants and nightlife and more to do, you need to look into the other towns and ferry destinations. This is basically a beach and nature walk.
Also, there are no lockers, so I am not sure, if you wanted to store some stuff while you did the nature walk, where you would put it.
The ride across was 20 minutes and pretty. The ferry was small, but there are different sized ferries, I guess for different times of day with crowds.
We arrived at Sailor's Haven and the snack bar was telling people that it would be at least 30-40 minutes until opening, which was fine for us as we brought lunch. The menu seemed to be typical beach snack bar stuff.
As this is national park there was a place that had an exhibit with some small (like home sized) aquariums with fish, some shell exhibits, and various things for the kids to touch. I think we spent about fifteen minutes here. They do have junior ranger books which we took and started, but did not complete.
We did the walk through the forest. This was nice. It was a brutally hot day, but the canopy of trees helped.
ONE TIP: If going on a got day in the morning: Go backwards: the ocean side has no cover and gets very hot as it gets closer to noon, while the front part of the tour is under cover. We did the forest part first, from 10:15-10:45, then headed out to the hot part....not smart. GO IN REVERSE of the map. Which means, start at the bathrooms, and head west through the double dunes, and then north back into the forest for the second part of your journey.
We did not do the beach, as we live on Long Island and do the beaches all the time. We did not want to haul all of our beach stuff to fire island for the day. But if you want a beach day, over the hill by the bathroom is a nice beach with lifeguards.
The bathrooms were OK. Not super clean, but not terrible. The showers, however, had curtains, but were outdoors and the curtains were practically see through. You would have to wear a bathing suit if over the age of 5.
We spent about 2 hours touring, which was enough. We caught the 11:30 ferry back, which was perfect. The kids wanted to finish their ranger books, but after that the next ferry was 1:45 and I did not see enough there to fill our time. We ate our picnic lunch on the deck of the snack bar and took the ferry back to Sayville.
We were glad to finally visit Fire Island.
If you are looking for restaurants and nightlife and more to do, you need to look into the other towns and ferry destinations. This is basically a beach and nature walk.
Also, there are no lockers, so I am not sure, if you wanted to store some stuff while you did the nature walk, where you would put it.
Written July 17, 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.
Ed P
Fort Lauderdale49 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
Because the Sunken Forest is a barrier island, it is necessary to take the Sayville Ferry from Sayville, New York to the Sunken Forest or to Cherry Grove (a short walk to the Sunken Forest from Cherry Grove). Fir trees canopy most of the forest and there is a trail that goes along the Great South Bay area of this attraction. The width of Fire Island is about one quarter mile. It is a peaceful national park donated by the Rockefeller family to be part of the national seashore. Hamlets on each side of it have facilities and restaurants and bars, but the forest is still pristine.
Written June 19, 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.
drugmom666
Brooklyn, NY1 contribution
Aug 2016 • Business
The sunken forest is best approached via the hallways of always. We went on a sunny day, and immediately left our bodies behind to gambol with the local spirits there. The runes on the trees were somewhat difficult to decipher, but in the end, we appreciated the challenge. There was a lot of wildlife there, although some was reluctant to show itself by coming out of the bushes. Luckily, we didn't care what it was. Immediately upon exiting, we saw an evil deer that had likely been hitting the spice and ran so fast. Beautiful and swampy. Many cool sticks. Don't forget napkins. Stay on the path, idiots!
Written August 28, 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.
Andy868
Massapequa, NY15 contributions
Aug 2012
There is a winding boardwalk that meanders through a holly forest that provides a canopy of shade over the forest floor and is well worth the walk through to the high point of the dunes which the trees come up to but not over...
Written July 23, 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.
Sandy S
Orlando, FL15 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
It started off very nice..Appeared this was going to be a nice morning stroll for my family the boardwalk and surrounding are was very beautiful... I am giving it an average only because I think the Rangers should be more diligent in patrolling as my family of four walked up on two individuals having sex and learned from local residents on the island after the fact that is very common activity in the Sunken Forest.
Written September 17, 2014
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.
antiques223
New York City, NY1,289 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
The Sunken Forest is a magical, mysterious hidden gem located in the middle of Fire Island. It’s a 20 minute ($14 Round Trip) ferry ride from Sayville, NY and offers a shaded refuge on a hot summer day. You can walk the meandering boardwalk through primeval trees and you are eventually deposited on a nearly empty beach (even in summer prime time). You can then walk back along the beach to a more crowded life guard protected area for a delightful swim in the ocean. The Parks Department provides clean restrooms, showers, and a snack bar/souvenir shop. There are also guided tours eco tours available. If you enjoy long beach walks, as I do, this is an excellent starting point. Tip: if you have flexibility in your schedule, try to plan your trip around a “low tide”. The sand is firmer for walking, shells and stones are easier to collect, and you can often wade fairly far out into the ocean past tide pools to the breakers.
Written August 30, 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.
How close can one get by car?
Written July 12, 2016
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