Bay · East Hampton
Cedar Point County Park
A long flat bayfront walk that doubles as a winter loon-and-grebe circuit. Bald eagles have returned to the eastern end of the park, and the sandspit at the lighthouse holds oystercatchers into October.
Access & parking
Suffolk County park. A 3.5 mile flat trail runs from the entrance to Cedar Point Lighthouse along the bayfront. Mixed woodland to the south; Gardiners Bay to the north.
Parking: Large paved lot at the main entrance. County parking sticker or day-use fee in season.
Restrooms: Flush restrooms at the main entrance building in season.
Difficulty: Stroller-friendly
When to go
Seasons: Spring Migration, Fall Migration, Winter
Time of day: morning
Target species
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
- Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
- Common Loon (Gavia immer)
- Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
- Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
- American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
Rarities reported here
- Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Photography tips
The light walking out to the lighthouse in early morning is the cleanest on the East End — shoot into the bay rather than back toward the woods.
eBird hotspot
Open this hotspot on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird database →
Nearby birds
Other bay sites worth pairing on a day trip:
- Shinnecock Bay — Ponquogue Bridge · Hampton Bays
- North Sea — Robins Island Viewpoint · North Sea
Looking for the broader fauna calendar (whales, seals, sea turtles)? /wildlife covers every species on the East End.