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The Fire Island Wilderness

Although all of Fire Island is subject to one or another degree of environmental protection, the highest level of protection, "wilderness," is assigned only to the High Dune area between Watch Hill and the Smith Point Visitor Center.

The legal concept of "federal wilderness" dates from 1964, when Congress passed the Wilderness Act, pursuant to which the National Wilderness Preservation System was launched. NWPS overview. The Wilderness Act describes a wilderness as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." Such land retains its "primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation." Such a tract can qualify only if it "(a) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable; (b) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation." Some wilderness areas lie within National Parks, others do not. US Law Code governing NWPS.

"Wilderness" is not absolute. The act providing for wilderness areas allows for the control of fire, insects, and diseases. In the case of Fire Island, "Wilderness designation shall not preclude the repair of breaches that occur in the wilderness area, and in order to prevent loss of life, flooding, and other severe economic and physical damage to the Great South Bay and surrounding areas." Public Law 96-585 (d).

The Fire Island Wilderness was established in 1980. Congress acted in reaction to a citizens' drive to head off NPS plans for development of the area. Comprised of 1,360-acres, it is the smallest wilderness area located within any national park. It is the only wilderness area in the northeast managed by the National Park Service, and the only federal wilderness area in New York State. Its geology is somewhat different from that of the western half of Fire Island; it has flood-tidal deltas and outcrops of tidal-marsh sediments. Over the centuries this part of Fire Island has crept northward.

Although the original act establishing FINS appears on its face to preclude driving anywhere near what is now the Wilderness area,* the legislative history of the act establishing the Fire Island Wilderness (representatives' dialogue in the Congressional Record) indicates that the expectation on the part of at least one Congressman that driving would be permitted on the adjacent beach. This is an apparent contradiction which still has not been resolved. Driving on the beach adjacent to the Wilderness is restricted by FINS, which is trying to reduce it. At any rate, there can be no driving in the actual Wilderness, which is defined by law as all lands "north of the toe of the primary dunes." Ibid, (a).

"Wilderness" still means that there are supposed to be only trails, not boardwalks. The National Park Service has gradually been removing the boardwalks as they fall into disrepair.

The Wilderness Area is bisected by the 18-acre Bellport Beach tract, which is not owned by the federal government.

To reach the area, take ferry from Patchogue to Watch Hill, and walk east. Or you can drive to the south end of the William Floyd Parkway (Route 46), and walk west.

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*"Access to that section of the seashore lying between the easterly boundary of the Ocean Ridge portion of Davis Park and the westerly boundary of the Smith Point County Park shall be provided by ferries and footpaths only, and no roads shall be constructed in this section except such minimum roads as maybe necessary for park maintenance vehicles." (U.S. Code, Title 16, Sec 459e-6.)

Updated 26 Apr 2004