When you want to get out on the water without making much of an effort, it’s lucky to have a haven not too far away. These 12 escapes are places to raft up with friends, picnic, paddle to the beach, waterski, or just relax.
Cedar Island Cove The southeast part of Coecles Harbor is one of the protected areas around Gardiners Bay. On the east side of Shelter Island, this cove is easily accessible from East Hampton, Sag Harbor, and Greenport. The land forming the cove’s beach line is part of the Mashomack Preserve.
Fort Pond Bay This destination offers a spectacular view of the bluffs with an underwater attraction for snorkelers and divers. Located just west of Lake Montauk and east of Hither Hills State Park, the entrance to the bay is just opposite Gardiners Island in Napeaque Bay. On the east side entrance to the bay is Culloden Point, where the H.M.S. Culloden, an English frigate that sank in 1871, sits about 150 feet offshore. Be careful — the deep water drops off quickly, so pay attention to depth and don’t get too close to the shore.
Great Gun Beach, Fire Island Great Gun Beach is located just west of Moriches Inlet on the north side of Fire Island. This Town of Brookhaven beach is open to non-residents to drop anchor or find a spot in the first-come, first-served marina.
Hemlock Cove This gem is the third cove east of Tobay Beach and just west of Cedar Beach Marina. It’s accessible through the New York State Boat Channel. Most of the cove is deep, but check the depth as you get closer to land. The southeast corner fills up with anchored vessels as those aboard take it easy, swim, and play.
Garbage Cove If Hemlock Cove was your intended destination, but you arrive too late to beat the crowd, head west to the next cove. Also accessible from the State Boat Channel, Garbage Cove is a well-protected anchorage with deep water.
Little Bay Located under the southern side of the Throgs Neck Bridge, just west of Willets Point, this cove can be easily accessed from Manhattan as well as western Long Island Sound. While this may not be the calmest place to drop anchor, the view of the bridge is quite impressive.
Lloyd Harbor This spot on the western side of the entrance to Huntington Bay has a great view of the Huntington Lighthouse. There is a designated anchoring area as well as an area for water skiing and tubing.
Pirates Cove Located on the eastern part of the entrance to Port Jefferson, this is one of the north shore’s most protected coves. Surrounded by higher land, the cove is usually calm even when the Long Island Sound is a bit choppy.
Sand City Just south of Eaton’s Neck is an area designated as West Beach, though locals refer to it as Sand City. It’s a thin beach just off Sand City Island and south of Hobart Beach and Price Bend at the northwest entrance to Northport Bay. It’s a pleasant place to swim, relax, and take in the sights of Northport Bay (the curious can carefully explore the ruins of a long-closed sand mining facility).
Short Beach Tucked into the northwestern side of Jones Beach State Park, adjacent to the Short Beach Coast Guard Station, is a small basin located just between Jones Inlet and Bascule Bridge on Sloop Channel. The eastern side of the Short Beach Boat Basin is a great place to drop anchor and spend the day. The Coast Guard Station is near, but drop-ins are not welcome. Instead, view the Coast Guard vessels at dock from a secure distance!
West Harbor One of the most protected bodies of water, West Harbor is in the northwest part of Oyster Bay Harbor, to the west side of Centre Island. Drop anchor, but before you drop off for a nap, spend some time gazing at the mansions and mega yachts.
Zachs Bay This is an easy anchorage to reach from points east and west. Located just off the State Channel and east of Wantagh Parkway (where Sloop Channel meets the State Channel), the bay is well protected and usually calm. It does fill up with boaters seeking tranquility or the opportunity to raft up and socialize, so plan on getting there early. Jones Beach Theater is in the northeast section of the bay — it’s a landmark, not usually a free listening site.
Water and weather conditions are always changing. Consult the forecast and the local chart before setting out each time.
