Wooden boardwalks are prone to produce splinters and may become slippery when wet. The park is gradually covering wooden surfaces with recycled plastic lumber to help improve safety.

Many of the park's paths and trails are marked by established boardwalks. By staying on these boardwalks, you can help protect native plants and animals, and help keep some of the native flora and fauna away from you.

Poison Ivy is abundant on Fire Island. Ticks are often encountered on the tips of grasses and other vegetation.

By staying on boardwalks, you help protect the plants that hold the fragile dunes together. Never walk on the dunes.

When and where dogs are allowed, always keep your pet leashed. You are required to pick up your dog's waste and dispose of it properly.

After rain, some boardwalks may be slippery so watch your step.

Always wear shoes on the boardwalks to avoid splinters and cuts from nails.

The Watch Hill Nature Trail was repaired during the autumn of 2005.

We're gradually upgrading the surfaces of the boardwalks from wood—which is prone to weathering and splintering—to recycled plastic sheathing, which reduces potential for splinters.