Beaches at the east end of the Otis Pike Wilderness, part of Fire Island National Seashore

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Otis Pike Wilderness Home Page

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The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness makes up the majority of Fire Island National Seashore. It runs from Watch Hill near the center of the park to the eastern boundary at the Wilderness Visitor Center, a 7.5-mile stretch of land that is only interrupted by the privately owned Bellport Beach located near the mid point. I explored the beaches nearest to the Visitor Center because they are accessible by vehicle. Getting to Watch Hill requires taking a boat or a long walk, and while I did visit Watch Hill, I spent my time on Watch Hill activities and did not enter the Wilderness beaches from that end. However, I have no reason to believe that they are any different from those on the east end.

The only parking on National Park Service property at the Otis Pike Wilderness is at a free 15-minute parking lot next to the Visitor Center that you can use to drop off gear or to run inside to get a park brochure or other information. For long term parking, visitors must use the Smith Point County Park parking lot, an enormous lot a half-mile long and a tenth of a mile wide that is capable of holding over 3,000 vehicles. There is a fee to enter the park, but this includes the use of its beaches, bathhouse, concessions, and other amenities. If you want easy access to a beach, just use the Smith Point beaches. If you want to get away from the crowds, start walking into the Otis Pike Wilderness and you’ll leave everyone behind within a quarter mile. Keep in mind that there are lifeguards at Smith Point during the summer but not at the Wilderness beaches. Swimming is allowed (though not encouraged) from any of the beaches that flank the Otis Pike Wilderness.

View towards Smith Point County Park from the Fire Island National Seashore eastern boundary

View towards the Otis Pike Wilderness from the Fire Island National Seashore eastern boundary

If you walk far enough down the Wilderness beach, most likely you will run into nude sunbathers. Some of the more remote beach areas at Fire Island National Seashore have been turned into unofficial nude beaches. Though technically illegal, the National Park Service tolerated the practice and never enforced the anti-nudity laws, which are state, not federal laws. However, people started to complain after Hurricane Sandy leveled many of the sand dunes that provided seclusion for the nude bathers, and the National Park Service is now attempting to put a stop to it. Of course, not everyone follows the rules, and I encountered a few nude bathers during my hike to the breach. Some bathers had the courtesy to put up privacy fences so they could not be seen, and they do walk a good ways from the populated areas before settling down. Those not behind fences quickly covered up with a towel when they saw me approaching.

Privacy fence used by a nude sunbather in the Otis Pike Wilderness, part of Fire Island National Seashore

I walked along the beach from the Visitor Center for two miles. There is nothing special to report about the quality of the beach, as it is comprised of excellent sand and very clean, just like all of the beaches on Fire Island.

Beach in the Otis Pike Wilderness of Fire Island National Seashore

I highly recommend walking down to the beach via the boardwalk that starts at the Visitor Center. This allows you to see the actual wilderness without having to venture into the brush with the poison ivy and ticks. You get to see the wilderness. You get to see the beach. You get to see the bay. And you might even get to see some naked people.

Short boardwalk gives visitors a look at the Otis Pike Wilderness without the ticks and poison ivy, Fire Island National Seashore

Remote beach flanking the Otis Pike Wilderness at Fire Island National Seashore

The bay side of the island is covered in the thick vegetation common to the Wilderness, much of which runs all the way to the shoreline. Thus, ocean-side swimming is all that is practical within the Otis Pike Wilderness.

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