BETHPAGE BIKEWAY:
MASSAPEQUA-WOODBURY, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: June 14, 2014
Length: Bethpage Bikeway; 13.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate. Paved hilly trail.
Directions:
To Start from Merrick Road (Massapequa); From the Southern State Pkwy take exit 28A S to Route 135 south. Take exit 2E to Route 27 (Sunrise Hwy) for 1.4 miles and turn right on Ocean Ave. Follow Ocean Ave to Merrick Rd. Trail begins to your left. Parking is located alongside Ocean Ave.
To Start from E Bethpage Road parking lot (Plainview); From I-495 take exit 48 to Old Country Rd and turn right. After 0.7 miles turn right on E Bethpage Rd. The parking lot will be on your left.
The Bethpage Bikeway travels north from Merrick Rd in Massapequa through Massapequa Preserve, along the Bethpage State Pkwy corridor, through Bethpage State Park, along a greenway corridor and finally northwest along the Long Island Expressway to Woodbury Rd in Woodbury. You can park in Bethpage State Park but there is a fee.
Starting from Merrick Road (Massapequa); A map board is located here. The paved trail heads south between Ocean Ave and Massapequa Lake before heading into the woods. You'll come alongside Massapequa Creek which takes you out to the Sunrise Hwy. Head right to a cross-light that will get you across this busy road. Trail then heads left past the Massapequa Preserve parking lot, next to the highway at 1.1 miles. (There are 0.1 mile markers painted on the trail from here through the preserve). You travel underneath the Long Island RR and enter the Massapequa Preserve. The trail travels left alongside a pond and brings you to a spur trail on your left at 1.3 miles.
Note; The spur trail will bring you to the Long Island RR: Massapequa Station .
The trail continues straight around the pond and over Massapequa Creek on a small bridge. Come to an intersection at 1.7 miles.
Note; Right brings you to the Lake Shore Drive parking lot.
Continuing straight you cross Clark Blvd and pass by a fishing bridge. Here the trail follows the creek which is full of ducks and swans. Come to an intersection and a small pond.
Note; Left takes you along a preserve trail (hard packed dirt?) roughly paralleling this trail.
Continue straight past the pond and back into the woods. You'll pass by another pond and intersection at 2.4 miles.
Note; Again, left takes you along a preserve trail.
Continue straight. Pass by some playing fields and come to a bridge at 3.2 miles. The Walker Street parking lot is on your right.
Note; Again, left takes you along a preserve trail.
Head right and you'll soon cross Linden St at 3.5 miles where you'll find a map board. Here you leave Massapequa Preserve (which is about 2.4 miles in length). A slight hill takes you up alongside a ramp, then over the Southern State Pkwy. You come to another intersection next to a pond at 3.8 miles.
Note; Right leads to 11th Ave and access to Farmingdale High School.
You'll quickly come to another intersection. This is as far as I traveled. I did however pick up the trail again at Bethpage State Park further north.
Note; Left takes you over Bethpage State Pkwy to N Albany Ave and Albany Ave School.
Continuing straight the trail follows a wooded corridor between the Bethpage State Pkwy on your left and residential to your right. You cross an off ramp and travel underneath Merritts Rd alongside the highway at 4.7 miles before re-entering the wooded corridor. Another ramp and underneath Hempstead Turnpike at 5.4 miles. Travel underneath a RR bridge and Merritts Rd before coming to the end of the Bethpage State Pkwy. After a couple of more ramp crossings you'll come to Bethpage State Park at 6.2 miles. I picked up the trail again from here heading north. The trail winds through the woods with slight hills before crossing the park road at 6.8 miles. The trail now travels alongside the road with the Bethpage State Park Golf Course on the opposite side. A long steady climb awaits as you follow the transmission lines.
Note; A spur trail on your left at 7.5 miles leads to the Bethpage State Park parking lot and picnic fields.
Cross the park road again (A 0 mile marker begins here heading north every 0.1 mile) and continue along the transmission lines for a short distance before heading into the woods. Cross Haypath Rd at 8.9 miles where you'll find map boards located on both sides of the road. Sign says your now entering Trail View State Park. The trail travels alongside Colonial Rd briefly before heading into more open woodland. More map boards as you cross Old Bethpage Rd at 9.7 miles (cross-light). Another cross-light and map boards over Old country Rd before you come to the E Bethpage Road parking lot at 10.4 miles. This is as far as I traveled. The trail continues north paralleling E Bethpage Rd. Cross Washington Ave at 11.1 miles where you'll find the Washington Ave parking lot. Here the trail travels alongside Washington Ave and underneath I-495. It banks left and travels alongside N Service Rd paralleling I-495. You turn right alongside Sunnyside Blvd, passing by the Holiday Inn. The trail crosses to the opposite side of the road before traveling underneath the northern State Pkwy. Finally you follow alongside Sunnyside Blvd Extension out to Woodbury Rd where the trail ends after 13.2 miles.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR NORTHERN SECTION MAP
CLICK HERE FOR SOUTHERN SECTION MAP
CLICK HERE FOR LONG ISLAND BIKE MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT