Tony Garro, head of trails maintenance for the Southampton Trails Preservation Society, led a hike along the Whiskey Hill Double Circuit in the Brick Hill Preserve this past Saturday.  I joined him and several other people for this lovely short hike that takes hikers to the top of the Ronkonkoma Moraine (219 feet above sea level) and affords beautiful views of the land and sea below.  Other views along this two-mile, figure-eight hike include two kettle hole ponds and an enormous glacial erratic. 

Are you looking for a hike like this?  Here’s how to get there.

Driving from Montauk Highway in Watermill go north on Scuttlehole Road by the Hess Station (where you can use the facilities and pick up some provisions at the little market there).  Stay on Scuttlehole Road for 2.5 miles, then turn left onto Lopers Path.  Stay on Lopers Path for .5 mile, then turn right onto Mill Path and follow it to the cul de sac (.3 mile).  The entrance to this trail is not very well marked but you can see it at the split rail fence.  It would be great if Southampton Town put a sign here to prevent hikers from inadvertently entering someone’s private driveway.  There is another opening to this trail system at the end of Bridge Hill Lane off Brick Kiln Road.  You’ll recognize this entrance to the trail by a split rail fence as well.  If you were to draw a line between the end of Mill Path and Bridge Hill Lane you would find the Yellow Trail to the south of this line and the Blue Trail to the north of the line.  From Mill Path follow a well-groomed grassy path to the Blue Owl Trail on the left.  The Blue Owl Trail is marked with plastic blazes of a blue owl; the Yellow Owl Trail is marked with an assortment of the original yellow painted rectangles and the newer plastic blazes of a yellow owl.  You will enter a hickory and oak forest with lush beds of fern as you travel down the Blue Owl Trail. The blazing is very clear along these trails with the exception of one area as you enter the Blue Owl Trail.  Still you should be able to follow the worn path skirting to the right of a vernal pond.   A blaze has been placed here in the past but of late seems to have been pulled off the tree.  After a short walk, you will enter a dense laurel woods.  The trail tread is soft under your feet and lovely to walk on, but watch out for random stumps and roots.  

Although this is a short hike there is a feeling of being in the inner woods, quite removed from civilization.  I saw several young deer and a large buck leaping through the woods.  Soon you will cut across the grassy path and enter onto the Yellow Trail. Climbing up a slight incline, follow the yellow arrows that say  “Overlook”.  This takes you to a small spur slightly off the trail loop; you will see some “No Trespassing” signs along the way because you are walking near private property, but as long as you stay on the path, you are not trespassing.  The view from the overlook is especially interesting in contrast to the woods; farm fields, Mecox Bay, and Scuttlehole Road all appear in miniature in the distance below.  When you’re ready to return, head back downhill the way you came.  At the first intersection, turn left; when you reach the trail loop again, turn right.  You’ll know that you are at this intersection because you will see the yellow trail going in both directions.  Continue on the yellow loop trail until you come to the grassy path and turn left.  You will pass the entrance to the Blue Trail on your way back to your car. 

Those of you familiar with the Mulvihill Trail will realize that it is very close to this area; just opposite the intersection of Brick Hill Lane and Brick Kiln Road.  The hike through the Mulvihill Preserve is a lovely five (or so) mile walk, while the hike I have described above is just about two miles.