Watch Hill (New York) facts for kids
Watch Hill is a fun place to visit on Fire Island. Fire Island is a long, thin piece of land called a barrier island. It sits just off the south coast of New York. Watch Hill is a campground and a place for boats to dock. It's located across the Great South Bay from a town called Patchogue. This area is part of the Fire Island National Seashore.
Watch Hill is also next to a special natural area. This area is called the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness. It covers about 1,363 acres (5.5 square kilometers). It's the only wilderness area in New York State that the government protects. Here, you can see many different types of plants and animals. They live in a natural environment that hasn't been changed much by people.
Exploring Watch Hill
Watch Hill offers many cool things to do outdoors. You can swim in the ocean or hike on trails. It's also a great spot for watching birds. The park has a place for boats to dock, called a marina. There's also a small store where you can buy things. You can grab a snack or a drink at the snack bar and tiki bar. There used to be a restaurant too. In 2019, a building with the restaurant, snack bar, and tiki bar was damaged by a fire. But the general store and visitor center were fine.
Camping at Watch Hill
If you like camping, Watch Hill has good facilities. There is running water, grills for cooking, showers, and bathrooms. The campground has 27 sandy spots for tents. One of these spots is easy for everyone to use. There's also a large campsite for groups. Since 2019, you can even try "glamping" here. This means you can stay in special platform tents. They are already set up for you, making camping more comfortable.
How to Get to Watch Hill
You can't drive your car to Watch Hill. It's open only during certain times of the year. Most people get there by taking a ferry boat. The ferry leaves from The Watch Hill Ferry Terminal in Patchogue. You can also get there if you have your own boat.
