Walks in the Woods: Northport Rail Trail

We’re one month into the official start of spring and, as was the case this time last year, outdoor space is in high demand. Like many of you, my go-to the past year to decompress, exercise, and escape from seasonal affective disorder (hi, Covid-19!) was taking walks through the woods.

Can we as a community rebound from spring 2020, when Covid reintroduced people to nature in such great crowds that many local parks had to turn away visitors, limit access to trails or close altogether?

I think we can. And I want to help us do it. I say this spring, let’s spread ourselves out. Instead of flocking to high-traffic areas like Sunken Meadow State Park, where both the boardwalk and the trails can crowd easily, why not reacquaint ourselves with the less traveled trails in and around Northport?

The Town of Huntington (TOH) lists over 40 locations in its Trails Guide (https://huntingtonny.gov/trail...), from parks and preserves perfect for walking, hiking and biking to waterways for kayaking and canoeing. This column will take a close-up and personal look at our community’s wooded areas, with a jaunt or two to shorter paved trails, as well as other scenic strolls in the TOH. I’ll explore the history of the trails, and include tips of how, when and why to go. (As if you needed a reason.)

Let’s begin with the simple and serene, a walk on the Northport Rail Trail.

Spanning from Laurel Hill Road on the south to Elwood Road on the north, the rail trail is a flat, linear walk through the woods suitable for all ages and abilities. I have found great moments of calm on this trail, jumping in for a walk in between errands, as a quick nature fix and a reminder to slow down. The trail begins on Laurel Hill Road, right next to and parallel with Maplewood Drive, before becoming a quieter stroll under a canopy of trees. Private houses line some parts of the trail but, for the most part, you’ll feel away from it all, a major perk considering the trail’s location between roads and residences – an area once intended for a train track.

Some history of the line: In the 1860s, a railway was constructed to extend the existing train lines from Syosset to Northport. While these trains were widely used by residents of the Northport area, this particular stretch was abandoned as a result of geographic interference with further extension plans.

Influenced by the Rails-to-Trails movement, an increasingly popular push to preserve America’s irreplaceable rail corridors by transforming them into multi-use trails, the old railway was granted to the Town of Huntington by the Metropolitan Transit Authority “for public trail purposes” in 2008.

The Northport Rail Trail is now a lightly traveled trail, used by pedestrians, equestrians, and bicyclists. I have never run into more than a handful of people while on the trail and often seek it out for that reason. It’s an easy stroll for my kids, who like to scurry up and slide down the dirt embankments found as you head further north. Personally, I like it because it’s quick and quiet - doable on a whim, even on a busy day.

Length: 0.5 miles (about a 20-25 minute walk round-trip)
Terrain: Flat and easy
Noise levels: Minimal (passing cars on Maplewood and as you approach Elwood)
Parking: Street. Though the trailhead is on Laurel Hill Road, town access is on Orchard Court, off Laurel Hill. You’ll notice a green town trail sign just past the private horse stable on your right. Follow the path alongside the white fence until you get to a sandy opening, then proceed left to the rail trail, where you’ll make another left to head north. You’ll miss the part of the trail that runs parallel to Maplewood Drive this way, but it’s a short distance you can always visit on the way back. When parking, be mindful of the residents who live in the court.
Tips: Go during the week, you may get the trail all to yourself.
Did you know? According to the TOH’s guide, the rail line used to extend past the trailway and across Elwood Road to what is now Riverhead Building Supply, to make freight deliveries. To the north, Champion Car Wash lies on a segment of the rail line, as does the former King Kullen (now Guinta’s Meat Farms) shopping center.
Up next: Fuchs Pond Preserve

Send suggestions, tips or feedback about your favorite walks in the woods to joanne@northportjournal.com.