Explore the best rated trails in Merrick, NY. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Norwalk River Valley Trail and Ridgefield Rail Trail. With more than 76 trails covering 512 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The trail was originally a tow path...in its early days mules would walk along it towing barges through the canal, usually carrying coal from Pennsylvania to the New York area. The canal is seventy-five feet wide and eight feet deep. It was dug in the 1830s by hand - mostly by laborers brought in from Ireland. They worked under brutal conditions from sunup til sundown; some of them had stonemason skills and their cobblestone spillways still survive.
So how long did it take 3,000 Irish laborers to dig the canal? Only three freaking years! Next time you ride this trail, mentally drink a toast of fine Irish whiskey to the good folks who labored so we can ride!
I’ve completed the Wilton trails in Lovers Lane, Entrance near Orem’s Dinner and Mathews Park. All are great. My favorites are the Wilton Trails, you enter and your engulfed in nature. Absolutely beautiful. I also love walking In Mathews park although that is more of a city trail to me not as much nature as these are concrete paved and you pass near traffic and such. So grateful to all the hard work put into to providing these trails thank you!
Yes the path is new, surrounded by greenery and tuck back from the main road. My biggest complaint is the amount of crossroads at the beginning in smith town. Too much interruptions AND You really need to be careful even when you hit the rider alert button for crosswalks The ride itself is nice, but no facilities on path.
This trail is well marked and is a great combination of climbing steep rocky sections and walking flat sections with decent views. For someone out of shape, this hike is a great workout with plenty of resting spots.
This trail is great despite the middle aged men speeding past you at 90 mph on their LeMonds. I’m not sure if they are bike messengers or just “has beens” trying to live out their dreams of being in the Tour De France, but their speed and shrill shouts of “Left, Left, Left!” piercing the crisp fall air can really ruin what is otherwise a beautiful and relaxing family outing.
Nice trail for running, and it wasn’t too crowded. There were a few scenic areas but I was expecting more. Also if hilly around the start. And decent parking.
This is a great trail to get out in the woods and enjoy nature. If you are riding a bike, there can be a good amount of people on these trails, even on a weekday.
There are a couple of narrow sections where you may have to stop and let people pass.
Has a visitor center with indoor bathrooms.
All in all a great time!
Went on OCT 6 on an absolutely beautiful fall day. The trail is easy but there are so many side trails and that you keep riding through Sea Breeze that we put in 18+ miles in two hours. Lots of access to virtually empty beaches on both sides of the peninsula for relaxing and fishing. No swimming though. We plan to come back to not only ride again but to bring the beach and the fishing gear. It is a gem in one of the most highly populated areas of the US.
Paved trail, it’s clean, 10+ miles long. Well maintained. Great views and you may see turkeys, deer and ground hogs/ gofer not sure what they were. There are bugs out that will hit you in the face and stick to your body will riding
There are too many street crossings to safely take a bike on this trail.
Very nice fully paved trail. Saw some gophers and deer along the way. Maybe an eagle too but not sure. Might have been a hawk or a vulture. Parked at senior center as recommended in the trail information section.
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