8. Udalls Cove Park Preserve
Udalls Cove Park Preserve as seen from Great Neck
Udalls Cove Park Preserve is perhaps one of Queens’ best-kept secrets. The 31-acre marshland and wetland area is situated between Douglaston and Little Neck Bay and can be easily seen from Great Neck in Nassau County. The preserve was formed in 1972 to preserve the habitats of northeastern Queens, and the area features an oblong ravine with plenty of wildlife.
The salt marshes are home to clapper rails, snowy egrets, and osprey, while Aurora Pond in the middle of the preserve houses dragonflies and wood ducks. The preserve’s tall reeds can be seen from the Douglaston peninsula and along Northern Boulevard, and the preserve also features rather obscure walking trails.