Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association – Launch site directory

Driving Directions:

• Long Island Expressway (I-495) to Exit 68.
• Follow William Floyd Parkway South to it's southern terminus at Smith Point County Park on Fire Island.

Address:

Smith Point County Park

Shirley, NY ??Zip, Suffolk County

Land owner: County

GPS Coordinates: L 00^o 00.000' N    Lo 00^o 00.000' W

Water: Salt

Water type: Bay, Ocean

Launch area is: Beach, Rocks

Launch area surface is: Sand, Rocks

Facilities: Rest Rooms, Change Area, Shower, Fresh Water Rinse, Food

Launching considerations / restrictions:

Beware of sport fishing casters, surfers, etc. on the ocean side.

Parking fee applies in summer months. If camping - a backcountry camping permit needed with limitation of places to camp and number allowed.

Parking situation:

If wilderness camping at the Fire Island National Seashore, you can ask the NPS rangers to park in the small locked parking area right by the park office which is located on the right of the traffic circle (two story wooden buiding with deck on it). This is free, might not be possible in the summer though due to usage. Otherwise, day trips and stuff, you can park in the large paved parking lot for Smith Point Park. Fee charged in summer. Car/RV camping is available at the park too.

Comments:

You have the choice of launching from the bay and exploring the salt marshes or the various inlets (Watch for boat traffic in the summer months) or play in the ocean.

Part of Fire Island is federal land while part is city beach property. There is no camping on the primary dunes or within sight of the beach. Beware of deer ticks. The friendly rangers will describe all this anyway. Nice camping can be found in the pines too.

Related Links:

Link to Smith Point County Park site.

Link to Fire Island National Park site.

Last Update: 10/15/2004

Copyright © 2008 by Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No warranties are expressed or implied.