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		The Nature Conservancy in New York New York Home Contact Us Places We Protect   Adirondacks   Central & Western   Eastern   Long Island   New York City News Room Field Trips and Events Young Professionals Internship Program Science Volunteer Ways of Giving

Donate Now! You can help protect Mashomack's wild places for generations to come.  For more information, please contact Rebecca Mundy at (631) 749-1001 or rmundy@tnc.org. Resources You're Invited - Take a look at our events calendar and find something that suits your tastes. Call of the Wild - What kinds of plants and animals call Mashomack home?  Find out here. Take a Hike - With 6 different trails covering over 20 miles, you can spend an hour or four exploring the preserve. Kids Corner - For the under 12 crowd, here you'll find scavenger hunts, word searches, and plenty of other wilderness-inspired fun. Virtual Visit Interested in visiting Mashomack?  Can't get away right now?  Take a virtual visit from your home computer by visiting our slideshow and find out what Mashomack has to offer!

Edged in white by 10 miles of coastline, Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island is considered one of the richest habitats in the Northeast.  Just 90 miles from New York City, the preserve covers a third of the island with 2,039 acres of interlacing tidal creeks, mature oak woodlands, fields, and freshwater marshes and is often referred to as the "Jewel of the Peconic."

Mashomack was purchased by The Nature Conservancy over 25 years ago, in an effort to stop development of this nearly pristine peninsula and to protect one of the most dense populations of breeding ospreys on the east coast.  In the years since, Mashomack has continued to be a favorite nesting place for ospreys, in addition to harboring populations of the endangered piping plover and least tern, as well as a number of rare plants.

A Brief History of Mashomack

The history of Shelter Island dates back to the 1600's, when the island was inhabited by the Manhansets, Native Americans who were part of the wide-spread Algonquin culture.  Over the next 400 years, through a fascinating tale traversing generations of wealthy families, stock market crashes, development plans, and hunting clubs, Mashomack miraculously escaped certain demise time and time again. 

In 1980,  The Nature Conservancy stepped in and was able to secure Mashomack and the rest is history.  You can read the story of Mashomack Preserve here.

Planning Your Trip

Mashomack is open daily in July and August from 9 am to 5 pm (9 am to 4 pm October through March), and is closed on Tuesdays during the rest of the year. A suggested donation of $2.00 per adult and $1.00 per child will help us continue our mission to protect Mashomack for generations to come.

Directions:  Take your best route to Shelter Island.  When disembarking from the Greenport/North Ferry, follow Route 114 south for three miles to the preserve.  If you come by way of the North Haven/South Ferry, follow Route 114 one mile north to the preserve. A large wooden sign on the east side of Route 114 marks the entrance.  You can park just inside the preserve entrance on Route 114 (less than a mile from the South Ferry) and walk in to the visitor center to sign the guest book and pick up trail maps.

For more information, please contact the Mashomack office at (631) 749-1001.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Ed Sambolin (Mashomack Preserve); Photo © Ed Sambolin (cheetah); Photo © Peter Van Hensbroek (Canoeing at Mashomack); Photo © Carl Heilman II (Mashomack Coast).