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Entrance Fee - or better still - Empire Passport

WINDSURFING - Field 7

****Thermal Hotspot****

If Kalmus, MA is a grade A++ thermal hotspot, Heckscher is Grade perhaps B++ to A. Often the only place on Western Long Island that's going off when everywhere else, especially the Ocean is calm.

The great equalizer on L.I. Heckscher has been the formative ground for thousands of local windsurfers, several professional windsurfers, and regional Men's Amateur Champion, Mike Burns.

Weedfins usually mandatory
Summer - Fall

Effectively the only designated windsurfing beach for the 25,000,000 folk of New York City Metro Area. It's a lamentable situation that there aren't more true public access places to sail, but without this beach we'd have to move to New Jersey.

Oh yes, there's Plumb Beach Brooklyn too, but few people have the course of vaccinations necessary to sail there safely.

Sailing "season" dates April - Halloween, force off-season sailors to potentially more dangerous locales.

Heckscher State Park has more than a million visitors a year. Twenty miles of trails attract hikers, bicycle and cross-country skiers. Swimmers can use the Great South Bay or the swimming pool complex. There are picnic areas, a boat launch ramp, playing fields, playground and 69 camp sites. Only vehicles under eleven feet high can come into the campgrounds. Pavilion is by Permit Only. Directions: At the end of the Heckscher State Pkwy, 50 miles from Manhattan on the south shore of LI, within the East Islip/Great River Area in Suffolk County. Seasons/Hours: Open year round, seven days a week, sunrise to sunset. Pets: Dogs only. Access in undeveloped areas only, on a leash not more than 6 feet. Not allowed in camping, bathing and picnic areas. Not allowed in buildings or on walkways.