Kings Park Unique Area - Kings Park, NY
Kings Park Unique Area: Dog-Friendly Trails in Kings Park, New York
The Kings Park Unique Area in Kings Park, NY offers dog owners access to pet-friendly hiking along moderately maintained wooded trails. This area is popular with locals looking for dog-friendly outdoor activities near Smithtown and Kings Park. The park features a 1.1 mile loop trail with some hills, soft and sandy/rocky spots, and trail markers on trees. There is a good-sized parking lot, making it convenient for visitors.
While not a traditional fenced dog park, Kings Park Unique Area allows leashed dogs to explore together with their owners. The setting is natural and rustic, with minimal grooming and occasional overgrown trails or fallen signage. Reviews emphasize the importance of safety during hunting seasons and note the trail’s accessibility challenges, especially for those using mobility aids. Shade from the wooded area, parking, and a quiet atmosphere make this park unique for dog-friendly hiking on Long Island.
FAQ
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? No, dogs must be leashed while on the trails.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? No, there is no fenced dog run at this park.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? There is a handicapped trail, but it is very small and not well maintained, with soft spots and overgrowth making accessibility challenging.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there is a 1.1-mile loop trail with moderate hills and some natural obstacles.
- Where is the best place to park? There is a good-sized parking lot available for visitors.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? The park is only moderately maintained; trails can be overgrown or slippery depending on the season.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, the wooded trails provide natural shade.
- Are ticks or other pests common in the area? As with many Long Island parks, be aware of the possibility of ticks, especially in wooded sections.
Reviews
You will not catch me anywhere near this “Unique Area” this time of year. Smithtown allows bowhunting there and I have seen many “hunters” in camo parking there cars at the Meadow Road entrance and entering the grounds
Handicapped trail is poorly kept. Terribly neglected park, footpath signs have fallen down, so trails are not marked. It’s small, but still easy to get lost. Bow deer hunting is allowed in this tiny area. Make sure you wear orange hat or vest to keep from getting shot. There is no way to tell if you’re in the hunting area. Kings Park should have disallowed hunting after the first year. No deer have been taken ever. It’s a pass through area, no water for deer.
I’m also posting some photos I took on 12/23/21. Some idiot painted over the handicapped trail markers within the last week.
UPDATE 2022: When I wrote the original review, I was able to walk the trails after a second spine surgery finally allowed me to abandon my electric, 6 wheel wheelchair. We’ll, I’m back in the wheelchair, and the handicapped trail is really small. You have to travel around in a “fascinating” circle to travel a mile. I take my dog with me and luckily he doesn’t get too bored. I want to mention that the trail needs upkeep desperately. It’s very soft in spots, my wheelchair gets stuck, and I have to run it backward and forward to get out of the soft spots. Also, in the fall, there are so many downed leaves, it becomes very slippery. In the spring and summer, weeds and vines overgrow the path. Just a disaster. And as always, watch out for the hunters and other weirdos who hang out in the area. I travel alone, and disabled people are particularly vulnerable.
The only good thing about KP besides Reel Kitchen, the meat shop and the laundromat. Great place to smoke herb now that its legal, though we all did it before anyways lol follow me on insta and buy my art @liquid imagination.
1.1 mile trail. Moderately maintained, well marked…but no piggies like some guide posted in the pictures.
Pretty good trail but not great. Definitely not particularly well maintained but there are blue bile and yellow foot trail markers on trees. Sandy and Rocky in spots. Good size parking lot. Som moderate hills. Not too buggy. Didn’t see much wildlife or any other hikers during our 2 mile trek. Will probably return to finish area we didn’t cover. Happy hiking?