For those with an appreciation of nature or a thirst for paddling, hiking, or biking, there are lots of upcoming activities that promise to be interesting.
Saturday is National Trails Day, and the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt invite hiking enthusiasts to a 3.5-mile hike and lunch from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants should take their own food and meet at the Friends' nature center at 1061 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. Dai Dayton will lead the hike, and can be contacted for questions at 631-745-0689.
The South Fork Natural History Museum will host a walk in search of breeding warblers and spring migrant birds with Wayne Whitmore on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in Hither Hills State Park. There is a $10 fee for adults and $7 fee for children. Advance reservations are required. Masks and gloves will be provided. Registration is by emailing [email protected] or calling 631-537-9735.
At noon and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the Quogue Wildlife Refuge will visit the Montauk Lighthouse for shows featuring owls, hawks, and other animals. Admission is $12 for adults, $7 for people 62 and older, and $5 for children 12 and under.
Looking ahead to June 12, the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society plans a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board exploration of the Three Mile Harbor salt marshes, to be led by Laurie Adler. The group will shove off from the Gann Road launch at 9:30 a.m. to catch the incoming tide. Watercraft rentals can be arranged through the Amagansett Beach and Bicycle Shop. Lifejackets are required. More information is available at 631-324-2617.
Also on June 12 at 9:30 a.m., the trails preservation group will host a paddle — by canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board — through the Goose Creek salt marsh in Springs. Also called "the maze" by locals, the area features beautiful scenery and wildlife viewing. Led by Ms. Adler, the meeting place is the town dock at the end of Gann Road. Boards, canoes, and kayaks can be rented from Amagansett Beach and Bicycle, 631-267-6325.
Later that day, in eastern Hither Hills in Montauk, the trails preservation group will lead a three-mile hike through the Redmond’s Path and Riah’s Ridge trails. The meeting spot is the end of Navy Road; detailed directions can be found here. The group leader is Eva Moore, who can be reached at 631-238-5134 or, on the day of the hike, at 631-681-4774.
If on Sunday, June 13, you're down for a 20-mile bike ride through Lazy Point and Napeague, the trails preservation group has just the ride for you. There will even be a guest speaker, Mike Bottini, to talk about the area's history, flora, and fauna. Participants will meet at the Amagansett Library on the hamlet's Main Street at 10 a.m. The leader is Nancy Brody, who can be reached at [email protected] or 646-263-8560. Donations are optional but encouraged to the Long Island River Otter Project, care of the Seatuck Environmental Association, 550 South Bay Avenue in Islip 11751.