Skip to main content
Illustration

New York

When to catch Wertheim Refugeat its best

Wertheim Refuge through the year: wildlife by season (2 separate phases, from in the spring and summer months (March – September)) and winter wildlife (local timing: Late October through early April). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

RIGHT NOW · SEP 30

  • Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
  • This weekend (NWS)Sat slight chance rain showers then mostly sunny, 68°F · Sun chance rain showers, 64°F
  • Park alertsCheck the managing agency before you go

When are you going?

Where to go at Wertheim Refuge

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Spring
  • Fall
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

Wildlife by season

  • White Oak Nature TrailA short loop (1.25 miles) and a long loop (2 miles); forest birds, waterfowl and wading birds can be seen from it, and there are restrooms at its startU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Black Tupelo TrailA 3.3-mile trail from the visitor center with a view of the refuge from the east side of the Carmans River; the four Carmans River overlooks are the refuge's hot spotsU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Winter wildlife

  • Black Tupelo Trail and its Carmans River overlooksA 3.3-mile trail from the visitor center along the east side of the Carmans River; the four river overlooks are the refuge's hot spots, and waterfowl can be seen from the trailU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • White Oak Nature TrailA 1.25-mile short loop or a 2-mile long loop; waterfowl and wading birds can be seen from it, and there are restrooms at its startU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Next 7 days at Wertheim Refuge

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodayPartly Sunny70° / 60°–
  • ThuPartly Sunny71° / 64°–
  • FriMostly Sunny75° / 59°33% rain
  • SatSlight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny68° / 53°22% rain
  • SunChance Rain Showers64° / 53°29% rain
  • MonSlight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny64° / 46°19% rain
  • TueSunny58° / 45°1% rain

Today: sunrise 6:48 a.m., sunset 6:37 p.m., light until 7:04 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)

Nearby, and when they peak

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles; each town page has frost dates and its nature year

Wertheim Refuge in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Several paddleboarders and a canoe on a wide, calm river lined with marsh grass and trees
Paddlers on the Carmans River at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge (date not given; a view of the river, not of ospreys or turtles). Photo: Steve Birkeland · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

When is the refuge open?

The trails are open every day from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center, with its Long Island exhibit hall, is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wertheim NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Can I bring my dog or bike?

No. The refuge asks visitors to keep dogs and bikes off, because they disturb wildlife and can be a safety risk to other visitors.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wertheim NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

What should I watch out for in summer?

Mosquitoes and flies can be thick in spring and summer, so bring bug spray. Poison ivy and ticks grow throughout the refuge: staying on the trails limits your exposure.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wertheim NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Can I get there without a car?

Yes. The Long Island Rail Road's Montauk Branch stops at Mastic-Shirley, about a mile east of the visitor center, and Suffolk County Transit buses 66 and 68 run on Montauk Highway, about a mile north.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wertheim NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 30