Babylon · US

Carlls River

Carlls River is a quiet, winding waterway that threads south through the Town of Babylon on Long Island, connecting a chain of lakes and ponds to the Great South Bay. Formed from underground springs to the north, this modest river passes through several beloved public parks—Belmont Lake State Park, Southards Pond, and Geiger Park—offering trails, fishing, paddling, and a surprising diversity of wildlife just steps from suburban life. At roughly 4.2 miles from Belmont Lake to the bay, Carlls River (sometimes called Carll's Creek) is short in length but rich in what it offers a visitor: multi-use trails along its banks, spring-fed trout fishing, osprey nesting overhead, and a botanical garden that celebrates the river by name.