Orient Beach State Park is located on the eastern tip of the North Fork, right before the the Cross Sound Ferry. The park offers 45,000 feet of wonderful waterfront on Gardiner’s Bay and has a rare maritime forest with red cedar, black-jack oak trees and prickly-pear cactus. The park has earned a designation as a National Natural Landmarkin 1980. Some other attractions in the park, besides it’s great bay views include the salt water marsh, marine wildlife, sightings of Great Blue Herons, Egrets, Black Crowned Night Herons, and Osprey.The park is also recognized as an Auduborn Important Bird Area.   Park visitors can enjoy picnicking, peaceful quiet vista’s, various recreation activities, swim in the bay, fish from the shore, go kayaking, windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding, go hiking, biking or just enjoy a natural hike through a trail.   Programs and special events such as the Spring Egg Hunt and Holiday Tree Lighting, Bike-a-thons, and kayaking tours are held either by the park or in cooperation with partners like the Long Island Paddlers. A map of the kayak trails is available in the park office.