Sands Point Preserve — Fall Mansion Tours + Trail Walks
Sands Point Preserve is the Port Washington-adjacent peninsula with three Gilded Age mansions, 5 miles of trails, and Long Island Sound shoreline. Fall mansion tours run Friday-Sunday September through November. The Hempstead House mansion is famously the supposed inspiration for Gatsby's mansion.
Sands Point Preserve is the Port Washington-adjacent 216-acre Gilded Age estate complex — three historic mansions (Hempstead House, Castle Gould, Falaise) and 5 miles of trails reaching down to a Long Island Sound shoreline bluff. The Hempstead House mansion served as the supposed inspiration for Gatsby’s mansion in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel.
The mansion tours:
- Hempstead House (the Howard Gould mansion, 1912) — Tudor revival, the main draw, $15 self-guided
- Falaise (the Harry Guggenheim mansion, 1923) — Norman château style, guided tours only, $25
- Castle Gould — exterior viewing only (under restoration)
The trail system:
- 5 miles of marked trails, family-friendly
- Sound bluff trail (north end) — dramatic views over the water
- Beach access (limited to specific permitted areas)
Practical:
- $15 grounds admission (mansions extra)
- Free for Preserve members
- Parking included
- LIRR Port Washington station + 10-min Uber to the gates
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Other Outdoor events
Caumsett State Park — Fall Hike + Private Beach Day
Caumsett is the Lloyd Harbor peninsula state park reached by a 1.5-mile walk through mature forest to a private (no parking, no crowds) beach on Long Island Sound. Free, family-friendly, dog-leash-allowed. Fall foliage peak is mid-October. The 'private beach' aspect is real — most visitors don't make the walk.
- When
- Where
- Caumsett State Park, Lloyd Harbor
Shinnecock Inlet Sunset Paddle
Guided kayak + paddleboard sunset tour of Shinnecock Inlet. 90 minutes, all levels welcome (instructor on every trip), launches from Ponquogue Beach. The inlet at sunset is one of the prettiest stretches of Long Island shoreline.
- When
- Where
- Shinnecock Inlet (Ponquogue Beach launch), Hampton Bays
- Price
- TBD
Sunken Meadow State Park — Saturday Morning Trail Run
Free public trail loop, 5K and 10K options. Volunteer-organized, not a race — pace your own. Meet at the Lot 3 pavilion 8:30 AM, head out 9:00 sharp. Park admission is $8 vehicle (free if you walk in). Trail is mixed flat sand + light hills, dog-friendly on leash, kids 12+ with adult.
- When
- Where
- Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park