Blydenburgh County Park
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Park Overview:
Hike five miles around Long Island’s second largest lake, with plenty of other attractions, including a historical mill district
Park Description:
Blydenburgh County Park
Around 1800, the Blydenburgh family dammed the headwaters of the Nissequogue River just north of the union of three streams to create an early industrial/commercial center. The dam flooded the river's original banks to form a pond. Blydenburgh County Park now surrounds this body of water, known primarily by the name “Stump Pond.” By some historical accounts, the name derives from the tree stumps left remaining after the land was flooded. It is Long Island’s second largest lake and also one of its least developed and most picturesque.
The Blydenburgh Farm and New Mill Historic District at the park’s northern end -- featuring a gristmill and other historical structures -- is one of many attractions. Among others are camping, freshwater fishing, rowboat rentals, a network of bridle paths, a playground, a dog run and blazed hiking trails.
Trails Overview:
Viewed on a map, Stump Pond (sometimes identified as New Millpond or Weld’s Pond) can be imagined as a human arm reaching upward from south to north, bent 90 degrees at the elbow, with the upper arm extending in an eastward direction. A 5.4-mile loop trail circles the pond, traversing forested hills, flat lands, undulating terrain, a boardwalk and occasional wetlands.
The Long Island Greenbelt Trail (white blaze) runs along the north end of Stump Pond. The Stump Pond Trail (blue blaze), which starts and ends at the Greenbelt Trail, makes a loop around the west and east sides of the pond, with short side trails leading to viewpoints over the pond. Occasionally, the blue-blazed trail is co-aligned with a bridle path segment. The trail along the east side of the pond is nearly flat, while the trail along the west side features varied and more interesting terrain.
The Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, with headquarters located in one of the historic district houses, regularly schedules organized hikes through Blydenburgh. Contact the Greenbelt office at (631) 360-0753 for details.
- Click for a detailed description of a 5.4-mile circuit hike in the park by an experienced hiker-writer for the NY NJ Trail Conference.
Park Acreage:
627.00 acresMunicipality:
SmithtownHike five miles around Long Island’s second largest lake, with plenty of other attractions, including a historical mill district
Blydenburgh County Park
Around 1800, the Blydenburgh family dammed the headwaters of the Nissequogue River just north of the union of three streams to create an early industrial/commercial center. The dam flooded the river's original banks to form a pond. Blydenburgh County Park now surrounds this body of water, known primarily by the name “Stump Pond.” By some historical accounts,...
Park Acreage:
627.00 acresMunicipality:
SmithtownContact Information
Web Link:
Suffolk County, Dept of Parks, Recreation & ConservationPhone:
(631) 854-3713Fees:
NoneDogs in park:
Dogs on leash
Directions to Trailhead
Public TransportationDirections to Trailhead :
North End: Take the Long Island Expressway east to Exit 42 (Northern State Parkway east). Proceed east on the Northern State Parkway for 16 miles to its terminus, where it merges into NY Routes 347/454 east. In 1.8 miles, where the two routes diverge, bear left to stay on NY 347. Follow NY 347 for 0.4 mile and turn left onto Brooksite Drive. Follow Brooksite Drive for 1.7 miles to a parking area on the left for Blydenburgh County Park.
South End: Entrance to the park is on the north side of Veterans Memorial Highway, opposite the H. Lee Dennison County Center in Smithtown. GPS Coordinates: 40.824707, -73.221348
TRAIN TRANSPORT :
To north end entrance: Take the Port Jefferson branch of the Long Island Rail Road to the Smithtown station. Head south from the station platform and cross to the south side of West Main Street (NY 25). Proceed west on Edgewater Avenue, which forks off of West Main Street just east of the railroad overpass. Follow Edgewater Avenue for three blocks and turn left onto Juniper Avenue. Follow Juniper Avenue to its end and continue on a footpath to Brooksite Drive. Cross Brooksite Drive to the northern entrance parking area. The distance from the station to the trailhead is about one mile, and the walk is on quiet residential streets with little traffic.
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