Hearth Island Lighthouse Loop
April 11, 2023 – Bay Shore, NY
Problem: Simple
Size: Roughly 2 miles
Max elevation: 12.5 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 7 ft.
Route kind: Circuit
Free Internet Map: Fire Island National Seashore Map
Trailhead parking: Field 5, Robert Moses State Park
Charges: Robert Moses State Park Subject 5 costs a $10.00 per automobile Day Use (in season) – Empire Pass Accepted
Please Notice: The Hearth Island Lighthouse Tower will likely be closed till additional discover.
Overview:
The Hearth Island Lighthouse is situated on the Nice South Bay, in southern Suffolk County, NY on the western finish of Hearth Island, a barrier island off the southern coast of Lengthy Island. The lighthouse is situated inside Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore and simply to the east of Robert Moses State Park. It’s a part of the Hearth Island Gentle Station which incorporates the sunshine, keepers quarters, the lens constructing containing the unique first-order Fresnel lens, and a ship home.
Hearth Island Lighthouse
Lengthy Island boasts greater than 20 lighthouses, all completely different shapes and sizes however standing at 168 ft. The fireplace island lighthouse is the tallest!
Hearth Island Lighthouse
Historical past:
The primary lighthouse constructed on Hearth Island was accomplished in 1826. It was a 74-foot excessive, cream-colored, octagonal pyramid fabricated from Connecticut River blue break up stone. The tower was constructed on the finish of the island, adjoining to the inlet. This tower was not efficient as a result of its lack of top. It was nearly totally eliminated and the stone reused to construct the terrace for the current lighthouse. Right this moment a round ring of bricks and stone are all that stay of the unique lighthouse.
Web site of first lighthouse.
In 1857 Congress appropriated $40,000 for the development of a brand new tower, 168 toes tall. It was lit for the primary time on November 1, 1858. This tower was fabricated from crimson brick, painted a creamy yellow shade. The tower was modified to the current day-mark of alternating black and white bands in August 1891.
Hearth Island Lighthouse – 1858
The Hearth Island Lighthouse was decommissioned as an assist to navigation on December 31, 1973. Between 1974 and 1980, personal residents grouped collectively in an effort to “save the Hearth Island Lighthouse.”
By 1981, the empty and decaying tower was declared unsafe and never value repairing, and was scheduled to be torn down when the Hearth Island Lighthouse Preservation Society was fashioned in 1982 to lift funds to avoid wasting and restore the lighthouse.
Hearth Island Lighthouse circa 1982
The Lighthouse was restored to its 1939 situation, which is when electrical energy was first put in. On Memorial Day, Could 25, 1986, the Hearth Island Lighthouse was relit and reinstated as an official assist to navigation.
In 1984, the Hearth Island Lighthouse was placed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.
The lighthouse is operated by the Hearth Island Lighthouse Preservation Society below a cooperative settlement with the Nationwide Park Service.
In March of 2023, the Nationwide Park Service (NPS) issued a press launch that the Hearth Island Lighthouse Tower is briefly closed as a result of current damages. On the morning of March 4, 2023 an exterior panel on the northeast facet of the Hearth Island Lighthouse separated from the construction. Out of abundance of warning half of the terrace will likely be closed on the north facet and boardwalks resulting in the north facet of the lighthouse will likely be closed till additional discover and the lighthouse construction will stay briefly closed till additional discover, NPS stated.
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Trails Overview:
The lighthouse will be accessed by a brief stroll from Robert Moses State Park – Subject 5. A nature path, consisting of raised boardwalks, guides guests from Subject 5 in Robert Moses State Park to the Hearth Island Lighthouse in Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore. There’s a small space of sand the place it crosses Burma Street.
Begin of Nature Path at Subject 5, Robert Moses State Park
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
The raised boardwalk to the lighthouse, gives a pleasant stroll via the windswept dunes, providing a number of vantage factors for photograph alternatives of the lighthouse.
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
From the lighthouse, the return journey is a nice stroll alongside the seashore.
Hearth Island Seashore
Stroll Overview:
Seeking to get out to the seashore earlier than precise seashore season begins, I made a decision to pay this spot a go to. Having been right here years earlier, I used to be conversant in the world and needed to revisit it.
There isn’t a parking inside Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore, so that you’ll have to make use of Robert Moses State Park’s Subject 5, the place there’s a charge in season.
It is a pretty tame stroll utilizing boardwalks and a sandy seashore to type a clockwise loop, with nearly no elevation acquire.
Hearth Island Lighthouse Loop
The hike will be prolonged by strolling east or west if one chooses, however on at the present time we stored the stroll quick and relaxed a bit close to the ocean.
The Stroll:
This quick loop begins on the east finish of the Subject 5 car parking zone. The boardwalk path meanders its manner via the dunes because it heads east in the direction of the lighthouse.
Begin of Nature Path at Subject 5, Robert Moses State Park
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
As you stroll the character path, you’ll get quite a few views of the lighthouse.
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
There’s a break within the boardwalk because it crosses Burma Street, the boardwalk resumes after crossing the sandy street.
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
In about 3/4 of a mile from the beginning, the path reaches the Hearth Island Lighthouse.
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
As you strategy the lighthouse advanced, the primary constructing you come to, which seems to be like a barn, homes the unique Fresnel Lens used within the second Hearth Island Lighthouse, the one standing at this time.
Fresnel Lens Constructing
All that continues to be of the primary lighthouse is the round basis, which might nonetheless be considered at this time beside the brand new Fresnel Lens Constructing. The present lighthouse is 200 toes northeast of this website.
Web site of first lighthouse.
The lighthouse tower is presently closed as a result of storm harm on March 4, 2023. The museum and reward store are open.
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
The outside brickwork of the tower was coated with a strengthened concrete coating in 1912. This coating is as a lot as three inches thick in some areas.
Hearth Island Lighthouse
A view of the Nice South Bay from the again of the Lens Constructing.
View northwest to Nice South Bay
Towering over the keeper’s dwelling is the freestanding, 168-ft. black-and-white striped lighthouse. Initially, the lighthouse related with the keeper’s dwelling, to its south, through a coated passageway. This passageway was demolished circa 1950.
Hearth Island Lighthouse
Beginning on the backside, the diameter of the tower is 32 toes and narrows to fifteen toes close to the lantern. On the base of the tower, a formidable residence was constructed for the top keeper and his two assistants utilizing New York minimize granite.
Hearth Island Lighthouse
The Hearth Island Lighthouse observatory gives wonderful views of Lengthy Island, the Atlantic Ocean, the Nice South Bay, and Hearth Island seashores. On a transparent day, the Hearth Island Lighthouse offers views of the New York Metropolis skyline.
Hearth Island Lighthouse
The primary lighthouse at Hearth Island was 74 toes tall. About as excessive because the flagpole that’s subsequent to the present lighthouse.
American Flag – Hearth Island Lighthouse
Proceed east on the raised boardwalk, turning round to view the lighthouse from a special angle.
Nature Path – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Hearth Island Lighthouse
In about 180 yards, the boardwalk ends on the Ranger Station. Stroll via the car parking zone in the direction of the entrance of the Ranger Station and head west on Burma Street.
Ranger Station – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Ranger Station – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Ranger Station – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Burma Street – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Alongside this sandy street, you’ll encounter extra views of the Hearth Island Lighthouse.
Hearth Island Lighthouse
Hearth Island Lighthouse as considered from Lighthouse Driveway
Hearth Island Lighthouse
Flip left on the Pedestrian Seashore Entry and head towards the ocean. While you attain the shore of Lighthouse Seashore, flip proper and stroll the seashore for about 0.6 mile, again to Subject 5, the place the hike started.
Pedestrian Seashore Entry – Hearth Island Nationwide Seashore
Hearth Island Seashore
Hearth Island Seashore
Hearth Island Seashore
Hearth Island Lighthouse
Hearth Island Seashore
Assessment:
A stunning stroll on the raised boardwalks and alongside the southern shore of Hearth Island. This space is finest visited within the off season to keep away from the huge summertime crowds.
Professionals:
Hearth Island Lighthouse, Atlantic Ocean, ocean views.
Cons:
Hearth Island Lighthouse tower is presently closed, Lengthy Island visitors.
Take a stroll!
Hearth Island Lighthouse Loop
Sources:
