Hunter Island — Local services in New York

Outstanding place to go hiking and nature exploring. The main trail makes a loop around the outer perimeter and always leads back towards the parking lot. Therefore difficult to get lost, but always found someone disoriented. Best not to hike alone, and in the summer, mosquitoes are dreadful. Again, spectacular especially for bird watching. Many woodpeckers, swallows, merganser, egrets, herons, hawks, ospreys and yes owls. (Even great Snowy Owls, but only in extreme cold winter time conditions.)

Common for at least three species (of owls) saw-wets and long ear owls in the winter. And great-horned owls all year. Also one of the best known great-horned owl nest, the chicks (owlets) usually visible in February.

And of course, the deer herds have grown tremendously. Many fawns, sometimes two at a time will approach you. Because they are babies, quite friendly and unafraid of humans. Therefore, please be extremely kind to them. Fortunately the male bucks are growing rather large, and will protect their herds.

Henceforth, if you have a malicious heart, best to back away. Also always remember hunting is illegal in NYC. And there are always eyes watching you in this forest, seen and unseen. Here there be Dragons.

Also, in the evenings/nights very small flying squirrels with large eyes. They are...

Great local trail run for OCR runs. You can get at least 6 miles of loops, with decent elevation and down hill runs. MAJOR ISSUE... The mosquitoes are out and about during the months of June until September. The parks department does not stay on top of it as they should. Off peak beach Season, you do not have to pay to get the parking lot. I run in the morning, so because you are under shade and close to the water, if it's 70 outside, it's 50's in the trail. They is wild life there! I've seen multiple deers and fawns, Chipmunks and homeless people. They is also three entry points. One is by the parking lot, very small Avenue to find. Next is by the science center towards the end of the beach. Final is vehicle access close to the BBQ areas by the gravel....

Really awesome area to hike with a part of #nativeamerican #history located on it (the grey mare). *For us we made it a quest to locate the grey mare and see all of the surrounding islands: twin, Russian, two hat 🎩 it was extremely fun. The rock formations are very unique so bring your camera & Make sure you wear your timberlands because the trail is very...