Watch Hill is located on the western edge of the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, across the Great South Bay from Patchogue, Long Island. The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness area contains a variety of barrier islands ecosystems in a relatively natural condition. It is the only federally designated wilderness area in the State of New York. At 1,363 acres (5.52 km2), it is also one of the smallest wilderness areas managed by the National Park Service. Privately owned Bellport Beach splits the wilderness into two zones.