A New Year Winter Walk

Big Reed Nature Trails, Montauk County Park

Saturday, January 3, 2026 | 11AM-1:00PM

co-hosted by SOFO and Third House Nature Center

Join us on a winter walk through Big Reed woods, the jewel of Montauk County Park. The hike will pass through vulnerable ecological communities including a red maple-black gum swamp, coastal oak-hickory forest and a coastal oak-beech forest. Along the way we will point out and learn to identify 15 native trees by their winter characteristics. Crossing a footbridge to an island we will have the opportunity to see Big Reed pond, a pristine 57 acre coastal plain pond without a house, building or road in sight. The area was the last ancestral home of the Montaukett tribe.

Directions:

Take Montauk Highway Rt. 27 east through Montauk town continuing east toward the lighthouse for 3 miles. Turn left (north) onto East Lake Drive, follow ~2 miles north, see sign for the Montauk County Park, Big Reed Nature Area on right, follow a short dirt drive back to the parking lot. If you come to the airport you’ve gone too far.

Special instructions:

Sturdy boots and binoculars are recommended. Plan to bring water, lunch and/or a snack.

Note:

There are no bathrooms in the park, so allow for time to stop in downtown Montauk

beforehand and find one of the public bathrooms in town Kirk Park ball field, one behind Fort Pond Native Nursery, one attached to the Montauk Police sub-station, one before Gosman’s Dock.

Trip Leaders: Victoria Bustamante & Ed Johann.

Contact: vickibustamante@gmail.com, (631) 747-8273