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Sunken Meadow Trail of Tears
9 reviews
3.44 of 5
First half of the ride is on deep sand with root obstacles and treacherous rollercoaster type terrain. The Long Island Sound is on your left and the trail runs along a sharp escarpment offering a great view of the beach and water way down below. The second half of the trail is the easier part of the ride. You'll know it's upon you when you turn away from the cliff and the terrain becomes more stable. Still more ups and downs than level ground. The ride culminates with a short flat well groomed downhill that will have your speedometer hitting over 30 mph. There is a sharp right at the bottom of the trail however, so end with a bit of caution or you'll end up making tracks through a strangers potato salad as this trail ends up at a family picnic area of the park. Get out early and you won't have to contend with too many hikers and mountain joggers. Be especially courteous others here or they will eliminate our access to this trail.
Take the Sunken Meadow State Parkway North to the end. Go through the toll plaza and follow the road over the bridge. Make a right onto the two lane park road and follow until the last parking lot on your left. Look for a wooden bridge on your right while heading for the lot; you'll be crossing that later. Park your vehicle and head back too that bridge and cross it. After crossing the bridge, turn left and you'll be on asphalt for 2 minutes climbing uphill when it turns into a wood chip path. At the top of the hill you'll see a chain link fence on either side of the trail head.
Summary: Someone told me that this was a beginner bike trail. Me and my 13 year old brother went out on this as our first trail rides ever. Needless to say we crashed like 4 or 5 times and had to walk sections of it because it gets to sandy. Alot of the hills are impossible to climb, including the famous cardiac hill. Just walking up the hill had us exhausted. The whole time we were busy crashing I was thinking there was no way this is a beginner trail, and it is not, but I have to say the down hill portions are a blast, it'll only take half an hour to an hour to ride the whole course. I wish I would have known that this trail was known as the trail of tears. :(
Recommended Route: not sure
Other recommended trails in the same area: not sure
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Summary: I'd rate this one of the best trails on the island. 70% for the awesome view of the sound and the meadow. Takes about half an hour or so to ride, and although it may be a bit sandy on the back stretch, and rooty on the northern stretch, it really doesn't matter. It just makes this trail more challenging, which makes it more fun in a way. Great views, but there are a lot of sudden drops, so don't go rediculously fast. The views are amazing, and I never encounter a problem with population on the trail. There are also some exits to lead you to Sunken Meadow Road, near St Johnland Road in Kings Park / San Remo.
Recommended Route: Take the Sunken Meadow Parkway north past the toll booths. There's plenty of parking, a large north shore beach, parks, picnic areas, and a few golf courses.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Makamah - take 25A west from the parkway, about 5 miles. Just past IGA, make a right onto Makamah Rd. It comes up fast. If you hit Northport, you've gone too far. Also, the Nassau - Suffolk Greenbelt.
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I have two four letter words to describe this place -- "sand" and "root"! (I'm talking about what you'd constitute the "real" trails we mtn bikers would like to ride ; the narrow trails in the east and north east of this park)
I read the postings of others long ago, and remembered the warnings of being careful along the ridge paralleling the beach. (US Geo Survey says it's around a 130 - 140ft ridge). When I saw it and rode it, I thought to myself how right that was. When my tires dug into the sand going up one of the hills and I rolled down the ridge with my bike still clipped to my feet and was only stopped by sticker bushes, I can say I know the risk intimately!
I can honestly say, even before this event occurred, that I'd never walked my bike as much ever before on a ride. The sand in the trails up on the 140ft ridge is simply ridiculous and basically unridable. Certainly shouldn't have gotten back on the bike and tried that one hill that got me. ...looked ridable @ the time.
If you're going to ride here, stick to the inland trails in the raw narrow northeastern trails ; or stick to the matrix of wide, soft, well maintained (by the state?), wood mulch covered, white chalk-marked cross country trails ; or ride the boardwalk. Doubt I'm ever going near that ridge again.
Rode down the famous cardiac hill ... there was a woman rounding the corner coming up as I was approaching the bottom so I felt obligated to be a kind and thoughtful citizen and hit the brakes and took the turn wide on the other side of the trail, only to find a huge sand pit making up the whole junction/turn and dug in and fell.
If I were rating just the north eastern MB trails, I'd give it 1, maybe 2 chilies. But 3 Chilies for the cross country routes that can give you a good workout if your want to do circles and loops (and of course some great downhills) or ride the boardwalk for a pleasant change.
Recommended Route: Lock out your suspension if either your front and/or rear locks-out and stick to the manicured, wide, and well maintained cross-country trails ; or ride the boardwalk. Stay away from the ridge along the water. Pure aggravation at minimum ; threat to your life if you dig into all the sand and can't unclip in time to put the correct foot down at the wrong place (not kidding ; I have the scratches and serious limp to prove it) Ride the inland trails.
Other recommended trails in the same area: In the area, still like Crab Meadow the most ; then the trails behind the VA hospital (though looking on the USGS maps, I see some of the trails are sewage run offs for the VA Hospital ... eewh)
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Recommended Route: start at the kings park bluf you will see a restront caled the old dock make a left and go up a small hill park your car and take your bike up the tral behind you ther are klifs and hils and good vews take the trail to the end at a camp sight cross the bridge to sunken meto beach and park go to the end of the parking lot to your right and you will see the end of the nesiquag river and a small water fal and a pond that goes in the sound
Other recommended trails in the same area: closed down sike senter and bridel path to get to bridel path go down cherch street past the schools on the wright go up until you se twin oakes but do dont go on twin oakes there will be a path on your left go strate until you see a road with do cars go down until the park way go on the side walk until you hit the beach
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Review Date May 22, 2003
Overall Rating 1 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: BalcieC
, from Kings Park
Summary: This trail is not good for riding. Don't waste your time. Its too short, its too sandy and its multi use. A lotta dogs and people. You can't get up any speed and there's a lot of roots. Great views but it's not for riding. The erosion there is taking a toll on the bluffs anyway so you might as well not bother. Its a lot more fun to just take a slow ride or a walk on the boardwalk at Sunken Meadow. Beleive me, don't go here expecting to get in a good ride - you'll just realize you wasted your time when you could be out at RP.
Recommended Route: Go somewhere else
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3.44 of 5
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