Gilgo Beach State Park 4x4 Trail

Trail Overview

This trail is part of Gilgo State Park, located on a barrier beach along the south shore of Long Island. It offers expansive access to the Atlantic Ocean with gorgeous views, a relaxing beach atmosphere, and breathtaking sunsets. With just under two miles of 4WD-accessible shoreline, this trail can become fairly busy on nice summer weekends. Access to this trail requires a valid NYS Parks Beach Vehicle Access Permit and is restricted to 4x4 vehicles only. This trail runs entirely along the beach, and the terrain consists exclusively of deep sand, so airing down tires is highly recommended. The sand is very soft, creating a high risk of digging in and getting stuck if not driven properly. This risk is exacerbated by deep ruts that are often present in the most heavily traveled portions of the trail, making maneuvering more difficult. The beach is roughly 200 feet wide, but this varies significantly depending on the tide, which can create hazardous situations. Although it is possible to drive up to the waterline, doing so is strongly discouraged and dangerous. Vehicles that become stuck near the surf are at serious risk if the tide begins to rise. The beach also slopes downward toward the water, which makes it more difficult to regain traction and drive away from the shoreline when combined with the deep sand. Because of this, extreme caution should be used when turning the vehicle perpendicular to the shoreline. There are also occasional steep drop-offs in the sand created by erosion, as well as debris such as driftwood that washes ashore, so drivers should always assess the terrain ahead. The beach typically has reliable cell service and is open to various recreational activities such as fishing and surfing, with the appropriate permits; however, there are no on-site facilities.

Photos of Gilgo Beach State Park 4x4 Trail

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Difficulty

The terrain is exclusively soft, deep sand, so inexperienced drivers may easily get stuck for a variety of reasons, such as failing to air down or accelerating too quickly and digging the tires in. Spinning the wheels with little or no traction will quickly cause the vehicle to bottom out, at which point a recovery is required. The constant battle for traction makes this trail significantly more difficult to navigate than trails with compacted sand. The presence of deep ruts can make maneuvering more difficult as the sand within these ruts is often deeper and looser. The beach also slopes downward toward the water, which makes it harder to regain traction and drive away from the shoreline when combined with the deep sand. The tide can rise surprisingly quickly, which can create dangerous situations, so drivers should use extreme caution when turning the vehicle perpendicular to the shoreline. There are also frequently steep drop-offs due to erosion, as well as debris such as driftwood that washes ashore.

Technical Rating

Gilgo Beach State Park 4x4 Trail can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV