Daniel R. Davis Sanctuary, Coram

About Daniel R. Davis Sanctuary

Daniel R. Davis Sanctuary is a 66-acre nature preserve in Coram, New York, where visitors hike trails through a rare pine barrens ecosystem shaped by Long Island's glacial past. The sanctuary's 1.4 miles of trails wind through distinctive landscapes featuring pitch pines, scrubby oaks, blueberries, and other acid-loving heath plants that thrive in nutrient-poor, sandy soil. Eight to ten thousand years ago, retreating ice sheets deposited the fine, sugar-like sand that forms the foundation of this unique environment. The soil drains quickly, creating dry conditions regularly scorched by wildfires over millennia. Historic boundary ditches within the sanctuary once served as surveying lines and property markers for 18th-century settlers. Visitors encounter evidence of Long Island's geological history while observing the specialized plants and animals adapted to this harsh ecosystem. The trails are open from dawn to dusk for hiking and nature observation.