Lighthouses of Long Island, New York

Last May 1999, I discovered the true meaning of lighthousing. We arrived at Cedar Point Park (Long Islands best kept lighthouse secret) at 1:30 pm and virtually had the park to ourselves. After talking to an attendant and getting a map to find the LH, we took the route to a small dirt parking lot from which you cannot see the LH. The trail along the water took us over very rocky beach, then a small strip along protected "piper plover" nesting areas, and finally to open beach. (This was at low tide so going at another time probably will mean slippery rocks and wet feet. I would not suggest doing this barefoot, we both wore sneakers.) It seemed like we walked 15 minutes before we could see the top of the LH. The adventure was about 35 minutes of brisk walking to the lighthouse.

Cedar Island LH is not an operating light; a steel tower and light are adjacent to the lighthouse at the point of the peninsula. It is still very impressive, with its granite structure rising out of the dune on the point. My earlier comparisons to Old Field or Great Captains' Island were premature as the structure is very different even though it is granite. All the windows are sealed with cinder blocks but the structure is still beautiful and majestic as it claims its place on the point surrounded on 3 sides by the bays it oversees. This remote location is rarely visited by foot a this time of year as evidence by the abundance of fist sized scallop shells and thousands of those nautilus type shells.

Our adventure took about 2 hours from the gate of the park. The hike is about 35 minutes each way walking briskly. (I guess it was about a mile and a half each way.) Bring a lunch to eat (on the rocks that prevent erosion at the point), and your camera. The view and is quite outstanding. If you’re into seashells, bring a pail - this is heaven for a Long Island beach!!