CANOE THE CARMANS
Long Island is filled with waterways, but there's some days where you just don't want to be sitting in a cove with 40 other boats blasting Jimmy Buffet (we're not saying that's a bad thing). Luckily, Long Island is home to four State Scenic Rivers, so a quiet day on the water is never too far away.
Carman’s river is a 10 mile stretch of wild waterway that has its source in Cathedral Pines County Park, near Middle Island, and if flows south until it reaches Bellport Bay.
The portion that is accessible to canoe and kayak traffic runs through Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,550 acre sanctuary that is home to more than 200 species of migratory birds as well as other local fauna, such as foxes, deer, and muskrat.
The main access point is a tiny floating dock behind Carmans River Canoe & Kayak. Rentals are available through the store, but any self-respecting adventure seeker owns their own canoe, right? Park and make your way inside, as out of town residents (that is, those who don’t live in the town of Brookhaven) have to fork over the $5 launch fee.
Make sure you pack a cooler of (good) beer. Maybe water. And sunscreen. As you paddle south, you encounter three bridges, two of which are pretty low. One of those 2 has a slight chance of decapitation, if you aren’t too careful. This is an adventure, after all.
Once the bridges are passed, you are in the quiet, solitary refuge, where chances are, you are boating alone. Paddle slowly, sip those beers and enjoy the scenery. It’s not every day that you can be alone on this island.
pro tip: when you come to the fork in the river, go left. a more secluded route that’s away from the wind that winds through tall brushes.
You can paddle all the way down to the Great South Bay, or pull up at Indian Landing and take the short trail through the woods (approximately 1 mile). Watch out for ticks.
When you start heading back, paddle through the two tunnels to the north that run under Sunrise Highway. You’ll come to a dam that separates you from Southaven Park and the upstream continuation of the Carmans. You can get out (even though the sign says not to) and walk across the top of the dam and get some pretty spectacular views of osprey flying overhead. Make sure you tie your boat up though, or you’ll have to find some riskier way back to your car.
