The Paumanok Path heads northeast and joins the Northwest Path for several miles.  Then, south of Scoy Pond, the Paumanok Path turns east and the Northwest Path runs north to Cedar Point Park.  Bear with me; it’s not as confusing as it sounds.

The Paumanok Path shares the trail corridor with the Northwest Path for 4 miles, from Edwards Hole Road through the Grace Estate.  South of Scoy Pond, the Northwest Path continues north while the Paumanok Path heads east. 

From the new parking area, follow the painted white rectangles, and yellow triangles north to Scoy Pond.  For the most part, the blazing for the Paumanok Path (white) and Northwest Path (yellow) is easy to follow here.The yellow triangular blazing for the Northwest Path was missing in many places, but the EHTPS Trail Crew has restored them.  There is some ATV damage at the beginning of the Northwest Path, but it doesn’t appear to have occurred recently.  A short distance after crossing over Two Holes of Water Road the trail runs along a bluff overlooking Chatfield’s Hole.  A short distance in from the road, the Paumanok Path crosses over the red-blazed Foster Trail (the trailhead for the Foster Trail is where Two Holes of Water Road abuts Chatfield’s Hole). 

The trail surface is comfortable to walk on and the mature white pine forest is beautiful beyond words.  There is a bike bypass around Wilson’s Grove.  The path through Wilson’s Grove is for hikers only.  Too soon, you come to the end of the white pine forest and the trail cuts across the intersection of Northwest and Old Northwest Road.

The next feature to look for along the trail is an impressively deep kettle hole called Samp Mortar Hollow.  This is a natural place to stop and rest.  During the summer the top of the knob offers some breezes and a lovely view.  During the winter, taking the trail to its low point offers some protection from the wind.  Following the trail north, Standing Rock, a large glacial erratic on the edge of a picturesque depression, also offers a great place to rest.  At Five Corners, follow the white rectangular blazes; the yellow triangles are missing. At the southern edge of the Grace Estate I encountered a wooden marker on a wood framed plot; Joseph H. Patrick Brady Sr. 1955-1999.  It is only a few feet off the trail.

After walking a short distance, the blue of Scoy Pond can be seen through the naked winter trees.  It is here, before the Paumanok Path crosses Northwest Road (a short distance south at the Van Scoy trailhead) that the two paths diverge. Here you can follow the yellow blazes around the west shore of Scoy Pond and over a couple of plank bridges.  The Northwest Path crosses over Alewive Brook Road and through a small gate in the fence.  A sign or a marker on the gate would be reassuring.  The trail skirts the east side of Alewive Pond, crosses Cedar Point Road and passes by the Park Office.  The Northwest Path now takes the hiker though some rolling hills, and then a right turn onto a woods road leads north to the scenic Hedges Banks.