Explore The Sunken Forest
Unlike the science-fiction world of Dune, Fire Island is not all sand. A 1.5-mile boardwalk snakes its way through Fire Island's 300-year-old Sunken Forest. The nature trail penetrates deep into a forest of holly, sassafras, and shadblow. Along the way, you will also traverse other Fire Island ecosystems, including saltwater marshes, dunes, and the tidal flats of the Great South Bay. The pervasive suburban myth is that the forest is"sunken" below sea level: Not true, it is so named because it is sunken amid the dunes.

Spy Raptors At The Lighthouse
Birders will no doubt want to migrate to the Hawk Watch near the Fire Island Lighthouse. Osprey, sharp-shinned hawks, northern harriers, peregrine falcons, and American kestrels show up in record numbers during the month of October. The bald eagle also makes the occasional guest appearance. The 168-foot brick lighthouse near the Hawk Watch was first lit in November 1858. It was the first glimmer of light seen by many immigrants arriving in the New World.