Dan's Papers - May 30, 2008 - Take a hike with Ken Kindler

In the last article, we experienced a pleasant re-route around what had been an awkward section of the Paumanok Path (PP). We continue our PP thru-hike from Harrison Avenue. Traveling east, Harrison is a right turn off of Noyac Road.

Cut across Harrison instead of walking north from the Highway Department and then turning right. Look for the post with the white rectangular blaze of the (PP) in front of what looks like an empty lot. Follow the fence and continue in that direction, through a thin line of trees, into the Firemen's Memorial Athletic Field. Walk on the field that runs along Johnson Ave. The end of Johnson Avenue points across the street at the PP. Unfortunately, there's no easement between those houses. The alternative isn't bad; a short road loop through a pretty, quiet residential neighborhood. Turn left onto Straight Path, and right onto Old Fish Cove Road. After about 0.2 miles, the trail follows a narrow easement, on the right side of the street, between two houses and enters into an open space corridor between clustered groups of residences.

The trail first crosses North Sea Drive, then cuts diagonally across Spinnaker Way, and straight across Cove Neck Lane. Cross over Majors Path, and follow the Path along the south side of the entrance road to the Southampton Youth Services Town Recreation Center. The trail runs along the edge of the woods, then angles into the woods as it approaches the building and comes out onto an overlook with the North Fork and Bay in the distance. The rolling fields of the transformed landfill are in the foreground. Damage caused by illegal ATV use between Majors Path and Great Hill Road has accelerated over the last year. There are red and green arrows nailed to trees; I don't know what they are for.

To protect the SYS playing fields from the damage caused by the ATVs, a chain link fence was built around the property. This is why the trail is routed through two gates in the fence. While walking this winding, woods trail look for the yellow owl-blazed trail that leads west, to the Barrel Hill network of trails. A short distance beyond this split the PP turns left, onto Split Rock Road. Follow this wide dirt road, posted with Split Rock Gun Club No Trespassing signs, until a left turn blaze leads you to Split Rock. In the book, South Fork Place Names; Some Informal Long Island History, author William Mulvihill explains that this huge glacial erratic was split when it was quarried as material to be used for the foundation of the Presbyterian church in Southampton Village.

After crossing Great Hill Road, the path alternates between footpaths and woods roads. As you approach a T intersection, look for the left turn blaze before the intersection, it leads you onto a narrow trail running upslope. Come out onto Old Sag Harbor Road and make a right, continue walking, across Water Mill Towd Road. The turn blaze on the telephone pole leading you left onto Broadway is painted over, as are a few other critical blazes near here. The trail cuts into the woods and travels parallel to Broadway, then crosses Tree Lane and soon cuts across a driveway, turns left around a portable toilet, and crosses the road just before a cul-de-sac. Note the wetland plants shortly after the trail enters a wooded area. The trail leads you across Turtle Cove Road and once again, back into the woods.

Walk over an erosion control net onto Wiedner Road. Bear right; there are no blazes in evidence until near the end of the road, where a turn blaze indicates to follow the curve of the road instead of walking into a house. Be alert for fast traffic as you cross over Roses Grove Road. After a short distance, cross a driveway and bear left onto a woods road. The woods are changing from oak / pine to oak / laurel woods. The mountain laurel leaves are discolored by disease. Walk a while in the woods; follow the PP blazes across the end of Glenview Drive. Travel up Laurel Valley Drive, cut across Northside Drive and bear left into the woods. Landscaping debris is being dumped on the trail here. The PP winds through a lovely knob and kettle terrain, covered in mountain laurel and towering oaks. Turn right onto Rolling Hills Court West, then west onto Deerwood Path. Deerwood Path leads you across Deerfield Road to the Laurel Valley County Park trailhead.