Where to hike past abandoned ruins on Long Island

For outdoor enthusiasts, hiking through abandoned properties offers solitude, mystery and a glimpse into history. 

Long Island is home to several such sites, with forgotten ruins offering an eerie look at the past.

Nora Cebulski, 54, of Fort Salonga, a former ambassador for the Facebook group Hiker Babes LI, has been hiking through abandoned sites in the area for decades and said she loves imagining what these places were like back in the day.

“I think my favorite is probably the Kings Park Psychiatric Center property/Nissequogue River, since I’ve been going almost daily for 15 years,” she said. “We’ve seen them demolish so many buildings over time. But there are still some standing, though you’re not allowed inside. The morgue is actually still there.”

Cebulski suggests using the AllTrails app to navigate these abandoned sites, which gives you their difficulty levels, coordinates, comments from fellow hikers and other information.

The following properties allow public access, with certain marked areas prohibiting trespass. Take caution near sites in disrepair, and check property restrictions. 

Kings Park Psychiatric Center

Nissequogue River State Park, 799 St. Johnland Rd., Kings Park, bit.ly/3VxTYMB

Now one of the most popular haunts for Island explorers, this state-run mental hospital closed in 1996 after 111 years. Today the grounds are overseen by the Nissequogue River State Park staff. The property is strewn with decrepit buildings adorned with graffiti, all in various states of disrepair.

A representative from the state Parks Department said: “Park visitors can enjoy the public areas, but no one is allowed inside any of the buildings. They are simply unsafe. There are also some areas that are fenced off near the buildings, again due to safety concerns.”

Welwyn Preserve

100 Crescent Beach Rd., Glen Cove, bit.ly/4hPRMaA

A 204-acre preserve, Welwyn is the former estate of the oil heir Harold Irving Pratt. The grounds and Georgian-style mansion have since fallen from grace, leaving traces of their past in decaying structures and weed-covered gardens.

Camp Hero State Park

1898 Montauk Hwy., Montauk, bit.ly/4rQRNQc

The subject of conspiracy theories about an alleged government cover-up dubbed the Montauk Project, this former military base inspired the Netflix series "Stranger Things." Sights include dramatic bluffs, called the Montauk hoodoos, boarded-up structures and a massive radar tower.

King Zog’s Estate

Muttontown Preserve, 25A west of Jericho-Oyster Bay Rd., Muttontown Lane, East Norwich, bit.ly/3TREOB8

This Gold Coast-era estate was once owned by King Zog of Albania — though he never set foot inside. The 60-room mansion was originally built for steel tycoon Charles Hudson. Today visitors can see crumbling walls, the remains of a double staircase and an overgrown formal gardens.