Fall asleep to the sound of ocean waves at Hither Hills State Park, a beautiful oceanside campground with good facilities and access to swimming, fishing, hiking, and biking. The grounds offer beautiful sandy beaches, as well as woodland hikes.

The Walking Dunes of Napeague Harbor make for an easy hike nearby, located near the eastern edge of the park. This short, unique hike is a one-mile loop (40 ft elevation gain) through beautiful sand dunes with an interesting property – they walk! Blown by the wind, the dunes “walk” as much as 3.5 feet a year, slowly swallowing up the neighboring forest. As you tour the dunes you will see the branches of some of these trees, buried alive, sticking out of the sand.

The hike also takes you past freshwater wetlands and a cranberry bog, and has beautiful lookouts over the forest and coastline, including Napeague Harbor, Napeague Bay, and Goff Point.

Once you get on the trail from the parking area, keep onto the center trail at the first divide, then to the right when the trail divides one more time. Also keep an eye out for poison ivy along this route.

Finally, make sure to book your reservation at Hither Hills early in the season – they go fast! To make a reservation, visit Hither Hills State Park Reservations.

Photos: pixonomy, john, pixonomy