The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Piping plover on North Lake Huron shoreline in Michigan, United States, North America. © Betty Darling Cottrille

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Plants and Animals View All

Plan Your Visit

Location View All

Get Directions

One of East Hampton's most scenic and diverse tidal marsh systems, Accabonac Harbor is a bird-watcher's paradise.

Accabonac was donated to The Nature Conservancy in 1968 by one of the founders of the South Fork-Shelter Island Chapter, Frederic E. Lake, and his wife Muriel.  The 29-acre Merrill Lake Sanctuary at Accabonac Harbor is one of the chapter's first preserves.

Waterproof shoes are recommended when visiting Accabonac. Please be sure to read our guidelines for enjoying and protecting Long Island preserves. Parts of the preserve are closed during osprey nesting season (May through July); please contact the Center for Conservation ahead of time to find out if the preserve is open.

Things To Do

Mammals include white-tailed deer, raccoon and red fox. Birds include federally threatened piping plovers, state threatened least terns, nesting osprey and abundant wading birds and waterfowl.
The preserve is dominated by salt marsh cord grass and salt marsh hay, but other wetland plants here include saltwort, sea lavender, black grass and marsh elder. In the driest area of the marsh, Canadian burnet, shadbush and the beginnings of an upland forest can be found.

Plan Your Visit

This 200-acre preserve is located in East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York.

Directions

• From Main Street in East Hampton (Route 27 eastbound), bear left at the Windmill onto North Main Street.
• Continue under the railroad trestle, past a shopping area, through the light and bear right at the fork onto Springs Fireplace Road (Route 41).
• Proceed 5.5 miles, passing a white church, to The Nature Conservancy sign on the right.
• Park on Springs Fireplace Road, enter the meadow and follow the trail around the marsh.
• Please close all gates behind you when visiting the preserve.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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