Sunken Forest, NY

The Sunken Forest on Fire Island is a unique natural community. From New Jersey to Massachusetts, this species of maritime holly forest can be found behind well-established sand dunes. The Sunken Forest is classified as "globally rare" by the New York Natural Heritage Program, which means that there are only a few extant occurrences of this assemblage of plants around the world.

What happened to the Sunken Forest?

Sayville, New York is located across the Great South Bay. The Sunken Forest on Fire Island is a unique natural community. From New Jersey to Massachusetts, this species of maritime holly forest can be found behind well-established sand dunes.

What is the best way to get to Sunken Forest?

The Sunken Forest Nature Trail begins near the ferry pier, on your right as you exit the boat. This route takes you around the loop in a counterclockwise orientation, beginning in the maritime forest and ending in the maritime forest, which is how the trail was designed to be hiked.

What is the origin of the name "Sunken Forest"?

The name Sunken Forest comes from the fact that it is sunken under the sand dunes that protect it from the severe Atlantic winds, although it is frequently mistook for being below sea level.

What is the age of the Sunken Forest?

What is the age of the Sunken Forest? The process of succession leading to climax forest stage can take thousands of years, but in the Sunken Forest, it most likely took roughly 300 years. The Sunken Forest was once an expanse of bare, windblown sand, perhaps between 200 and 300 years ago.