Northeast - Waterside Routes on Long Island?

When I tell people I live on Long Island, their reaction is often "Wow! That's so cool that you have a whole island of coastline riding available to you." Little do they know that most of Long Island's coastline belongs exclusively to the privileged few and that water views are pretty rare if you're just a middle class schmoe like me!

Yes, it's awesome that we have the Wantagh, Cross Island, and Belt Bikeways, but there MUST be other places to ride along the water -- perhaps routes that are not beside noisy highways. I recently discovered Shore Road in Sea Cliff, which passes by some very refreshing water views and beach areas. I've also found some out-of-the-way routes in Oyster Bay and Bayville that do the same. While these windows onto the water are generally very small, the impression they leave on me and the people I ride with is huge.

Can anybody pass along some other Long Island routes that include good stretches of waterside riding?

Can anybody pass along some other Long Island routes that include good stretches of waterside riding?

Lake Ronkonkoma? :D

I can give you routes, but you will be biting off small chunks of water everywhere. One of the fun facts about water is that people want to have houses on it.

The best stretch I can think of is I can think of is Oyster Bay to Bayville via shore road, after the bridge to Bayville make a right towards Centre Island, once you hit Centre Island you will have had water to your right most of the trip. It is short, and shore road is not to be trifled with when there is traffic, and you will love the head-wind.

An interesting ride is lattingtown road to the end (easy way to get there is to ride west through bayville and stay on that road until it ends at lattingtown road then make a right). Follow all the way to the end and stay to the right. Take the hill down to Morgan's Island (it is called something else now I think). Stay on the main road on the island until it ends and make a right, then follow that road until it ends. Ride up the dirt path at the end of the road and through the gate (short, unpaved path) and you will come out on the water again. Ride that to the end and you will end up turning right (south) and end up back on lattingtown road again.

>>>>Lake Ronkonkoma?<<<<

Got a specific route? Lake Ronkonkoma was one of the places I was thinking of!

>>>An interesting ride is lattingtown road to the end....<<<<<

This sounds cool. I will check it out on the Google satellite map. Is Lattingtown Road as hilly as the rest of the north shore?

By the way, the ride from Oyster Bay to Bayville definitely fits the bill; however, it's way too dangerous to bring my wife or any less-experienced riders along. I wish there was money in the budget to build a MUP along Shore Road. You can almost get from Oyster Bay to Bayville now using the grass/dirt/concrete strip on the side of the road, but it involves a bit of walking and a bit of lifting your bike over the guard rails. I also like riding out to Centre Island when I'm in Bayville - and doing that little quiet stretch just off Stehli Beach that goes through some type of preserve.

One other ride that takes in a little bit of water is the old MS Bike Tour route out of Oakdale. This ride included a stretch of Brown's River Road that took in a piece of the Great South Bay. Not worth the trip all the way out there, though.

>>>>An interesting ride is lattingtown road to the end<<<

Hmmm. That looks even better on the map. I think what you are describing is Lattingtown Road north/west to Danas Island Road, which becomes Danas Highway. Go over the bridge and the name changes to Southland Drive. Make a left onto Westland, follow it all across the west side of the island, and bear right onto Eastland. At the end of Eastland, bear right onto Southland and ride the east side of the island back to the bridge.

Would you know the terrain here? Also, are these private roads?

>>>>An interesting ride is lattingtown road to the end<<<

Hmmm. That looks even better on the map. I think what you are describing is Lattingtown Road north/west to Danas Island Road, which becomes Danas Highway. Go over the bridge and the name changes to Southland Drive. Make a left onto Westland, follow it all across the west side of the island, and bear right onto Eastland. At the end of Eastland, bear right onto Southland and ride the east side of the island back to the bridge.

Would you know the terrain here? Also, are these private roads?

Yes and no. Stay on Southland and when it hits eastland, make a right. Take that to the end. At the end you will see a chain-link fence with an opening (like you would expect to see a gate on, but there is none). Go through that opening and along a short dirt path (suitable for road bikes) and you will come out with water on your left and right and the golf course to your far right. This will lead you to East Beach Drive, which will lead you back to lattingtown road. This is a very short, but scenic, route.

You might also try the south side of bayville, again, a short, but scenic route. Both Creek and Shore (as opposed to W. Shore that goes from Oyster Bay to Bayville) roads run along the water on the south side. You can also try getting to Bayville from OB the back way over Robert De Graff Causeway (takes you to Factory Pond Road or Feeks Lane). If you look at W. Shore Road on the map and follow up cleft road it will take you to what I am talking about. There are some safer ways to get there than W. Shore Road.

Nothing too steep that you can't avoid easily, some rollers, none of the roads are private.

The best part is that I had to look at a map to figure out the names of all of these roads. If I told you to that the road over beaver dam you would have been checking a map for about 100 years and found nothing, but if I told anyone who grew up around here, they would know instantly.

Same with Morgan's Island/Dana's Island. I probably more than most, have no idea what the roads are, but I can tell you 500 different ways to get from A to B around there. You might check out the rides that Huntington Bike Club and the LIBC do, they often haunt these same areas.

By the way, if you want to try hills, I can recommend a few short but steep ones in and around this area.

>>>>Lake Ronkonkoma?<<<<

Got a specific route? Lake Ronkonkoma was one of the places I was thinking of!


No specific route, but I did ride past the north section while in transit and noticed that the waterside view looked nice. Be warned that there's fast traffic and from looking on the map, it doesn't appear that one could ride all the way around the shoreline, maybe half.


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>>>>An interesting ride is lattingtown road to the end<<<<<

I wasted no time and did this ride last night. Just to check it out, I parked at the school on Dosoris Lane in Glen Cove, rode north to Lattingtown Rd, made the left, and proceeded onto East/Morgan/Dana's Island. It was a short ride, but a great destination. What a beautiful beach at the end of Eastland. I just wanted to hang out there all night. FYI, the 240-acre island was purchased by JP Morgan, Jr in 1909, hence the name "Morgan's Island." Previously, the island had belonged to a Martin Dana, who was Asst Secretary of War to Abraham Lincoln and was by Lincoln's side when he died. That explains "Dana's Island."

The return trip was a little tricky, so I ended up just backtracking. My wife will never be able to handle that hill leading back up to Dosoris, but I think it's worth a walk for her.

Afterwards, I tried to find a road out of Glen Cove that leads to Tappen Beach, but I was unsuccessful. Any tips?

Afterwards, I tried to find a road out of Glen Cove that leads to Tappen Beach, but I was unsuccessful. Any tips?


How about this? :)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Dosoris+Ln&daddr=Woolsey+Ave+to:Charles+St+to:The+Blvd+to:Tappen+Beach,+Sea+Cliff,+NY+11579&geocode=FRvpbwIdXnic-w%3BFeyobwIdwGqc-w%3BFTyEbwIdfGSc-w%3BFepTbwIdziuc-w%3B&hl=en&mra=mr&mrcr=0&via=1,2,3&sll=40.853488,-73.647494&sspn=0.017139,0.026951&ie=UTF8&ll=40.865887,-73.616982&spn=0.068544,0.172863&z=13



.

You might also see if anyone has old cue sheets from the Mansions Tour, the Gold Coast Century, or any other of the north shore rides they might be willing to post. I would be interested in them as well as I am always on these roads, and have generally done those rides, but have lost the sheets.

One thing to keep in mind - to paraphrase another member - there is always a price to be paid for riding along the water on the north shore... or, what goes down must come back up... you get the point.

>>>>How about this? :)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.172863&z=13<<<<<< (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Dosoris+Ln&daddr=Woolsey+Ave+to:Charles+St+to:The+Blvd+to:Tappen+Beach,+Sea+Cliff,+NY+11579&geocode=FRvpbwIdXnic-w%3BFeyobwIdwGqc-w%3BFTyEbwIdfGSc-w%3BFepTbwIdziuc-w%3B&hl=en&mra=mr&mrcr=0&via=1,2,3&sll=40.853488,-73.647494&sspn=0.017139,0.026951&ie=UTF8&ll=40.865887,-73.616982&spn=0.068544,0.172863&z=13)

I figured the key was Shore Road. I've only ridden it as far as the beach adjacent to the Sea Cliff Yacht Club, though. Next time, I will climb that hill at the end and continue on toward Prospect. Or perhaps, coming from Syosset, I will just approach it via Glen Head Road/Glenwood Road and skip downtown Glen Cove altogether.

Regarding "what goes down must come back up," I don't mind the hills when I'm not riding with my wife. She grew up in Queens and got started with cycling late in life. Often, when a destination is worth it, we'll ride downhill toward the water together and I will ride back alone, get the car, and pick her up. It's worth it to see the pure joy on her face.

What about Dune Road, between Westhampton Beach and the Ponquogue Bridge? The water views are intermittent, and generally toward the bay rather than the ocean, but still... lovely ride.

Noyac Road has occasional water views, and the Noyac-Long Beach road has water views to both sides, very nice though not terribly long.

Riviera Drive in Mastic Beach is only partly paved, but goes right along the water. It's not continuous, but altogether it's longer than you'd think.

>>>>What about Dune Road, between Westhampton Beach and the Ponquogue Bridge? The water views are intermittent, and generally toward the bay rather than the ocean, but still... lovely ride.<<<<

Done it, and it's very nice...but I'm not a Hamptons lover. Also, I prefer to stay closer to home, in Nassau County. (cont'd)

>>>Noyac Road has occasional water views, and the Noyac-Long Beach road has water views to both sides, very nice though not terribly long.<<<<

Is this Noyac, as in Shelter Island? The "Cross-The-Forks" ride from Greenport through Shelter Island and on to Sag Harbor is one of my favorites, though the water views and breezes are limited. I've never taken that detour to Noyac, though. (cont'd)

>>>>Riviera Drive in Mastic Beach is only partly paved, but goes right along the water. It's not continuous, but altogether it's longer than you'd think.<<<<

Gotta look that up and check it out. Thanks!

>>>>Riviera Drive in Mastic Beach is only partly paved, but goes right along the water. It's not continuous, but altogether it's longer than you'd think.<<<<

Looks like you can do a bit of a loop around Sheepen Creek on Riviera. About how long would you say this is? And is the water blocked by houses 50% of the time, 25% of the time, or 100% of the time?

I figured the key was Shore Road. I've only ridden it as far as the beach adjacent to the Sea Cliff Yacht Club, though. Next time, I will climb that hill at the end and continue on toward Prospect.


Yes, it looks like a nice climb from Shore Road up Cliff Way to Prospect.






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Well, the all time classic "Ocean View" has to be the stretch of Montauk Hwy, from E Hampton to the Lighthouse, with maybe a detour up to Montauk Harbor and back down to Rt27, about 36m RT.

This is, BTW the route of the Tour of the Hamptons century that Massapequa BC runs, now in September.

Another great route is the 50 miler of the Bike-Boat-Bike route run by SBRA in June. From Mattituck, taking local roads south of Rt25, then portions of 25 to the ferry to Shelter Island, then a loop of SI, back to the north fork, then out to Orient, than back to Mattituck via Sound Ave and other alternatives to 25. Also very pretty.

Steve B.

>>>>Well, the all time classic "Ocean View" has to be the stretch of Montauk Hwy, from E Hampton to the Lighthouse, with maybe a detour up to Montauk Harbor and back down to Rt27, about 36m RT.<<<<<<

From what I can remember, it seems the road is very far from the water at this point. Am I wrong? (cont'd below)

>>>Another great route is the 50 miler of the Bike-Boat-Bike route run by SBRA in June. From Mattituck, taking local roads south of Rt25, then portions of 25 to the ferry to Shelter Island, then a loop of SI, back to the north fork, then out to Orient, than back to Mattituck via Sound Ave and other alternatives to 25. Also very pretty.<<<<<

I do Greenport to Sag Harbor at least once a year, sometimes throwing in Greenport to Orient Point. Really nice rides. My mission these days, however, is to find waterside rides that don't require a two hour drive to get to. The ride out to Morgan Island in Glen Cove is ideal because I can leave on a bike from my driveway and be there in no time -- yet, it feels like another world. Same with Jones Beach and parts of Bayville.

Keep these ideas coming. This is a rough summer for me. Family issues and underemployment are pounding away at my spirit. But put me on a bike near the water and everything is just awesome!

>>>>Riviera Drive in Mastic Beach is only partly paved, but goes right along the water. It's not continuous, but altogether it's longer than you'd think.<<<<

Looks like you can do a bit of a loop around Sheepen Creek on Riviera. About how long would you say this is? And is the water blocked by houses 50% of the time, 25% of the time, or 100% of the time?

Sheepen Creek is a marina. The loop of Riviera Drive south of there is not paved. There are a few run own houses down there, probably grandfathered in but should mother nature take them away the authorities will not allow them to be rebuilt. It's a nice enough walk, but hard to ride a bike down there.

Still, let's just say you parked your car at that marina, and took a spin around the town on the bike... followed Riviera Drive east from there, following it onto Ducky, Bayview, Neighborhood, and West Drive until you're back on the next bit of Riviera Drive, and again followed that east as far as possible... well, you'd have a few detours away from the water, eventually ending up back at Neighborhood Road at Old Church Road; now follow Neighborhood back to Cranberry and take that back to Iris to Riviera to your car... well, now that I look for numbers, I think that would be about 9 miles of riding, of which maybe 6 are near the water.

Now, when you're close to the water, the water is not generally blocked by houses; I can only think of a half dozen houses between the Riviera Drive and the water. Take a look at the satellite picture on Google Maps or Google Earth or whatever program you like. No houses doesn't necessarily mean you can see the water; the phragmites gets pretty tall. As a general rule, Riviera Drive has a beautiful view of the water, but where your route strays onto other roads (because Riviera doesn't exist there, or isn't paved) the phragmites blocks the view. Another problem is that the parts of Riviera Drive that are not paved are basically soft sand, where your tires can easily dig in and you'll find yourself walking every now and then. Near high tide the road can be flooded; don't ride your Colnago down here.

Worth doing? Sure, if you're in the neighborhood anyway. Worth driving there from Nassau County? No. Mastic Beach is ... uh ... well ... okay, it's a bit of a slum. Pristine wetlands, yes; upscale [anything], no.

I've been looking at Lake Shore Road around Lake Ronkonkoma on Google Maps. Having misjudged the views available from many routes that appear to be "scenic" on maps, I'm getting the impression that I'd be riding in a circle looking at houses and boat trailers for that whole ride. Am I right? What about the Lake Ronkonkoma County Park itself?

I often ride down Walnut in Glen Cove to the end, make a left and go over the bridge to East Island.
After a stop at Prybil Beach we leave, make a left on Lattingtown Rd and take it to Factory Pond. At the end of Factory Pond you make a left on Feeks and go over one of the nicest roads with a pond/lake on either side. This route makes me happy to live on Long Island.

Cold Spring Harbor is another great area, Northport Harbor, Huntington Harbor and Cow Meadow, Oyster Bay, Center Island.
Feel free to come join some group rides in the Bethpage Library parking lot any Saturday or Sunday at 8:30, or Tuesday-Thursday at Borella Field in Plainview off Plainview Rd.
http://www.massparkbikeclub.org/ridelist/current_ride_event_listlist.php

Edited to add there are also links to cue sheets on our site.
But feel free to show up at the parking lot or our meeting this coming Monday.
I'm Barb btw :)

>>>>After a stop at Prybil Beach we leave, make a left on Lattingtown Rd and take it to Factory Pond. At the end of Factory Pond you make a left on Feeks and go over one of the nicest roads with a pond/lake on either side.<<<<<<

I'm having trouble tracing that route. Do you mean Lattingtown to Horse Hollow to Bayville Road to Factory Pond? And then, is the road with the water on both sides Cleft Road? (cont'd below)

>>>Cold Spring Harbor is another great area, Northport Harbor, Huntington Harbor and Cow Meadow, Oyster Bay, Center Island.<<<

Great suggestions, every one of them; but I'm looking for some fresh, new destinations. (cont'd)

>>>Feel free to come join some group rides in the Bethpage Library parking lot<<<<<

Thank you. I will consider that! (cont'd)

>>>Edited to add there are also links to cue sheets on our site.<<<<

Didn't see any links to cue sheets. Thanks, anyway, for your response. TM

>>>>After a stop at Prybil Beach we leave, make a left on Lattingtown Rd and take it to Factory Pond. At the end of Factory Pond you make a left on Feeks and go over one of the nicest roads with a pond/lake on either side.<<<<<<

I'm having trouble tracing that route. Do you mean Lattingtown to Horse Hollow to Bayville Road to Factory Pond? And then, is the road with the water on both sides Cleft Road? (cont'd below)

>>>Cold Spring Harbor is another great area, Northport Harbor, Huntington Harbor and Cow Meadow, Oyster Bay, Center Island.<<<

Great suggestions, every one of them; but I'm looking for some fresh, new destinations. (cont'd)

>>>Feel free to come join some group rides in the Bethpage Library parking lot<<<<<

Thank you. I will consider that! (cont'd)
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>>>Edited to add there are also links to cue sheets on our site.<<<<

Didn't see any links to cue sheets. Thanks, anyway, for your response. TM

Here is the links to the sheets
[url]http://www.thebicyclesite.com/databases/bikerideslist.php?cmd=resetall (http://www.massparkbikeclub.org/ridelist/current_ride_event_listlist.php)

And yes Clefts, not Feeks.

>>>Here is the links to the sheets
http://www.thebicyclesite.com/databa...p?cmd=resetall<<<< (http://www.thebicyclesite.com/databases/bikerideslist.php?cmd=resetall)

Thanks, Barb. These are awesome. But should I feel guilty for stealing them?

>>>Here is the links to the sheets
http://www.thebicyclesite.com/databa...p?cmd=resetall<<<< (http://www.thebicyclesite.com/databases/bikerideslist.php?cmd=resetall)

Thanks, Barb. These are awesome. But should I feel guilty for stealing them?

They are free for the taking Tom, enjoy!

Have you done the Nissequoqe River Road (sp)? You can take that really nice rolling hills and then ride to Long Beach in Smithtown which is a really great park with plenty of water views. If there isn't a sheet for that in there let me know I have one somewhere.

>>>Have you done the Nissequoqe River Road?<<<<

I looked at the cue sheet for that one. Usually, I like to do these "waterside rides" with my wife, who definitely can't do 51 miles. Is it worth doing 10-12 miles along the River Road? If so, can you suggest WHICH section to ride?

>>>Have you done the Nissequoqe River Road?<<<<

I looked at the cue sheet for that one. Usually, I like to do these "waterside rides" with my wife, who definitely can't do 51 miles. Is it worth doing 10-12 miles along the River Road? If so, can you suggest WHICH section to ride?

If you can find a place to park on Main Street right near where River Rd starts take it down to the end, make a right and then a left on to Long Beach Rd. Take that down to Long Beach and back. At the beach go past the parking area to where the boat yard is. There are bathrooms there. Gotta know where the bathrooms are I always say :)

If any of you are interested in riding on river rd or around Lake Ronkonkoma PM me and we can go together. I live right next to lake ronkonkoma. And its not anything interesting. The lap you can ride around it is only 3 miles so you can see for yourself.

I saw this book at the Borders in Syosset:



http://www.amazon.com/Short-Bike-Rides-Long-Island/dp/0762702087


It looked pretty good with route suggestions.


LIBC cuesheets.

http://www.bicyclelongisland.org/libc/


.

>>And its not anything interesting. The lap you can ride around it is only 3 miles so you can see for yourself.<<<<<<

Crazyskillz:

I hope you are not in sales for a living! :) I am now convinced that Lake Ronkonkoma is not worth the drive from Syosset!

If you want to go for a ride this sunday morning I'm probably headed past most of the water on the North Shore between Oyster Bay Cove and Roslyn. I'm probably going out about 7am.

"And its not anything interesting."

would tend to agree with crazyskillz07 . . . did some scouting around Lake Ronkonkoma for a tweak on the L.I. Harbors route. Let's say that scouting ride didn't last long . . .

>>>>If you want to go for a ride this sunday morning I'm probably headed past most of the water on the North Shore between Oyster Bay Cove and Roslyn. I'm probably going out about 7am<<<<

Thanks for the offer, Island Rider, but I was out of town all weekend. Just got back after 9pm Sunday night. Was the weather as ferocious here today as it was in Pennsylvania?

Yeah, bad. Skipped Sunday and slept in for a change.

My group went to Commack on the Service Rd then back and only saw a few drops. The other groups that went more North got wet.