Home Destinations USA New York Hamptons and Montauk Sights Sunken Forest

Sunken Forest Review

Read our Hamptons and Montauk sights reviews. Or post your own.

Sunken Forest

Map It

Category: Beaches, Forests
Location: Fire Island

Write a review

Fodor's Review:

Protected by big dunes and stunted by the wind and the salt air, the Sunken Forest actually does look like it's sunken. Some of the trees here, which include sassafras and pine, are thought to be more than 200 years old. A 1½-mi boardwalk winds through flora, marsh, and swamp, offering viewing spots and benches at various points. Twisted trees form a canopy overhead. The area is protected, so you must stick to the marked trails. (Doing so also decreases your chances of encountering poison ivy and ticks.) Guided tours are an option in summer; call for tour times. The Sunken Forest is part of Sailors Haven (631/597-6183 visitor center. www.nps.gov/fiis), which is near the middle of Fire Island and has a beach with lifeguards, on duty from late June through Labor Day; picnic areas; a snack bar; a marina; changing rooms; and a visitor center. Sailors Haven doesn't have lodgings, however, so you can't overnight here.

Cost: Free
Open: Mid-May-mid-Oct.

Find more sights in Hamptons and Montauk »