Avalon Nature Preserve

This is a beautiful place for a casual day trip in Stony Brook. The natural scenery is so breathtaking that photos look like your computer desktop pictures lol. It’s quite kid-friendly. We also ran into a few deer. They aren’t afraid of humans, so you can get really close for nice wildlife photos and videos. I took some that I share here. Great park! Parking is free and plenty. No ticket needed.

Avalon Nature Preserve is a nice place to go hiking. I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, taking in the scenery, listening to the birds, and meeting others who share my love for mini adventures.

Upon arriving, my husband and I parked in the Forest parking lot, which had ample parking spaces and a map, laying out available trail options. We began with the Hilltop Meadow, which we completed fairly quickly. After, we thought we’d challenge ourselves a bit more by taking on the Forest Sanctuary.

We enjoyed this trail, although we sometimes had to look over our shoulders to investigate the noises around us. Everything kept us on our toes, from squirrels to deer, chipmunks, and other wildlife. The terrain may be difficult for some, due to the tree roots and the uphill climbs, but other than that, it was manageable.

We appreciated that there were several signs posted throughout the park, helping us to keep track of our location. Additionally, there were warning signs reminding us of the possibility of tick exposure. One thing is for sure: we kept it moving and thoroughly checked our clothing afterwards.

My favorite trail of the day was The Mill Pond. I loved the well-paved paths and the overall layout. I could’ve spent hours here.

This is a very nice park that I highly recommend for those who enjoy the outdoors.

It is so very sad that Avalon Nature Preserve is not repaired or seems untouched since it’s natural disaster, I visited the area on Monday May 19th 2025 and sadly it is no longer what it once was.

I hope as a community we can find a way to repair it.

*I took a star off rating to bring to light the need for support! Perhaps this will help ensure this preserve gets the love it needs. 🌳🌿🦆💚*

Great park for a hike or a stroll. Way more to this place than meets the eye. We were very pleasantly surprised with all there was to see! Definitely drop by if you are in the area.

Beautiful park. When my "baby dog" was alive he LOVED this place, you never saw a dog more excited to take a stroll through the woods as this little guy was. The sights and sounds area tranquil. It's a quiet park even on the weekends. Most people stay by the duck pond feeding the ducks so the trails are very quiet. The park is large enough to find a quiet space to picnic or to just stroll on your own. Keep in mind there are NO public bathrooms here.