The Dunes and Gun Batteries of Fort Tilden

At the western end of the Rockaway peninsula, a former Army post has gone back to the dunes. Fort Tilden was named in 1917 to guard the approach to New York Harbor, and in 1924 Battery Harris received two 16-inch guns, the largest caliber used in American seacoast defense. During World War II the guns were sealed under massive concrete casemates. The guns are long gone; what remains is a landscape of dunes, maritime forest, freshwater ponds and graffitied bunkers, now part of Gateway National Recreation Area.

Follow the sandy paths through the scrub to the observation deck built on top of Battery Harris, which looks out over Jamaica Bay, the harbor and, on a clear day, the Manhattan skyline. Then walk out to the beach, which is quieter than the Rockaways to the east. There is no admission. Come on a weekday or out of season for the emptiest version, bring water and sun protection since shade is scarce, and check the Park Service's Gateway pages for beach rules and any closures before you go.