avalon park & preserve

Right outside of historic old stony brook there is a maze of trails, gardens forests and fields known as Avalon. If you want a peaceful hike or a trail run you can get lost and come across epic views of the Harbor, the village and the duck pond. Perfect place to picnic

We have walked to Avalon on many occasions in all seasons. Great for all fitness levels. There are benches scattered about. It is a wonderful place to see everyone out enjoying themselves. Peaceful, beautiful. Spotless landscape. You can take your time strolling or bring lunch and relax.

It has nice trails that you can take a leisurely walk with friends and family. The duck pond is nice especially around spring when the new ducklings arrive. Every once in a while you can see the turtles. They offer guided tours, which I think is nice.

Wonderful trails to explore year-round. Just a great, clean, walk-friendly park. Plenty to do, and great for all fitness levels.

Lowers the blood pressure. Gentle hiking, a picturesque pond, rolling hills, and wildlife await here. Parking is dicey when the weather is nice, so be prepared to hunt around. Great place for parents to take the kids. Tell them to stay away from the swans, though. They can be nasty. The Grist Mill is nearby too. It's old Stony Brook at its best here.

My son and I went to the pond and trails with two other Mommies and their kids. The pond is nice and the Ducks so peaceful (there is another pond near by where the ducks and geese are very aggressive because they expect/ want to be fed, which is not the case here). We each had a stroller and were able to walk the trails without much difficulty. The leaves were changing and it was beautiful. It is a very nice place to visit on an autumn day.

Absolutely beautiful park. Peaceful, gorgeous, free. It's a big park with lots of paths that will lead to nice surprises. Bring duck feed to feed the ducks and enjoy this beautiful park!

I have nothing bad to say about it at all. Very nice walk, very nice area. I loved it. Go during the week if you have the time, way to many people there on a weekend.

Actually located in Stony Brook this is a great place to visit. Donated by Jim Simons this preserve is 80+ acres and is dog friendly (must be leashed). Lots of great spots to hike, walk, relax, and enjoy. Fields of flowers, benches, etc.. You should bring some water as the hikes are long but not too difficult. There are some stairs involved too. Lots of wildlife from ducks, to turtles, etc.. Enjoy and please keep it clean so others can as well.

We are so lucky to have this beautiful park in our town. My girlfriends and my family and I walk here on a regular basis. Starting from the parking spots on harbor road you can do a three mile walk going from the street all the way to the back through the woods and back down to the pond area. In the summer there are fields and fields of wildflowers that have paths going through them. It is so well maintained and absolutely beautiful that it is our favorite place to go. It's also very safe to walk there by yourself. It's nice to go here anytime of year.

A wonderful setting on a fresh water pond with a winding uphill trail into idyllic setting. Fits in quite nicely with other outdoor things to do in Stony Brook Village. Requires some exertion but there are numerous rest points with lovely views. Just a nice place for adults and families to spend an hour or two. Near the Grist Mill and Stony Brook harbor .

With an entrance across the road from a working 18th century Grist Mill, alongside the Mill Pond and a block from the heart of Stony Brook Village, Avalon Park offers a quiet, beautiful counterpoint to the antiques and boutiques that surround it. Once you pass the gate, the walk meanders through mass plantings of native shrubs and perennials where songbirds and butterflies abound, along the pond with its frogs, turtles and 2 foot carp, over a timber bridge across a shallow wetland then uphill over dozens of shallow steps to a beautifully designed stream and pond. The steps continue up to a simple labyrinthine path of bluestone flags alongside a jagged boulder reaching 12 feet in the air, in tribute to Paul Simon, a local resident who was killed in a tragic traffic accident while bicycling through his beloved roads in Old Field. The serenity and restorative power of the park is palpable, even when crowded, as it usually is on the weekends and holidays. The trails are wide and well maintained by an excellent staff headed by up by the dedicated and talented Kathy Griffiths. Wear good walking shoes and be prepared for some mildly strenuous stair climbing on soil and small gravel.

What a great place that exists right here in suburban St James. Once you're on the hiking paths, it's hard to imagine that you're so close to home. Between the dense woods and hilly terrain, it's like being upstate, without the drive.

This park is a trail that winds through the woods behind the Stony Brook Mill Pond. The trail climbs gently in elevation, crossing part of the pond. It ends at a labyrinth It is beautiful. It's free and worth a visit.

When I first went to this park, it was such a pleasant surprise! I now go here often with my children. It's absolutely beautiful and my kids LOVE the labyrinth. The park is 100% free. Sometimes on the weekends, finding parking can be a pain. Pets and food are welcome! No bathrooms, but not a big deal.