The Paumanok Path is a regional initiative.  It runs between Rocky Point in Brookhaven, and the Montauk Light House.  The approximately 128-mile route is secured except for a few miles in eastern Southampton.  Periodically I do a survey walk of the entire trail to monitor areas of issue and beauty. Members of the hiking community are always welcome to join me.  The westernmost trailhead of the Paumanok Path is in Rocky Point on Route 25A, 0.4 mile west of Rocky Point Road.  It is on the south side of 25A, diagonally opposite the Waldbaum’s Shopping Center.  The trail begins at the northern- most entrance to the Rocky Point Resource Management Area.  Call 444-0273 for a free permit to hike DEC properties.  Look for the kiosk upslope from the eastern side of the parking area.  It was built by Eagle Scout Eric Mokarry of troop 44.  I was thrilled to see that the vandalized Plexiglas in front of the kiosk is repaired. I will work with the NYS DEC to post land manager, trails, and trail group information there.

The Radio Corporation of America sold this 6150-acre property to NY in 1978.  Begin the hike by following the blazes painted on a paved road that leads to where there was once an administrative structure. (For a map, contact the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference  631-360-0753).   If it snows, the blazes will be covered.  If no adequate trees are available to blaze, blazed posts need to be erected along the trail. After a short distance, take a right turn into the woods.  This is a shared trail corridor; along with the white-painted rectangles of the Paumanok Path, you will also see the plastic disks for the blue DEC trail.  RCA Corp. cut an infrastructure of firebreaks and woods roads, and the DEC created a network of trails on this property.

Soon, you will cut across a firebreak, a horse trail, and another firebreak.  As you continue along the trail, the woods become less disturbed.  The trail now enters into the rolling knobs and kettles of the Harbor Hills Moraine.  Note the large glacial erratic 0.3 miles into the trail. You will cut across another horse trail and bicycle trail before you cross Rocky Point Road.  There needs to be signs along the road to alert drivers to hikers.

The trail cuts through the ’95 burn area.  After the fire, the pine seeds were freed from their cones by the heat of the fire and fed by the nutrients in the ash.  The seedlings are now 10 feet tall.  They are closing in on the trail and need to be pruned back and blazed.  This should be done with care so as not to hurt the young trees or mar their beauty.  Cross over another horse trail.  The trees killed by the ’95 fire have fallen across the path.  Since this is a hiking trail, if you can step over the trunks they should remain there so as to discourage illegal ATV use.  If you’re alert, you may notice a firebreak that was planted with pine seedlings.  The woods are closing in on it like a healing wound. Walk across another horse trail and bike trail.

At about 5.5 miles, cross Whiskey Road. There is a DEC parking area here.  Look for the “Welcome to the Pine Barrens” kiosk.  Beyond Whiskey Road, the trail follows a narrow corridor originally purchased by Suffolk County for Route 111.  The highway north of Route 495 was never built.  This corridor is a County Park known as the Pine Trail Preserve.

Cross Woodlots Road where someone blazed the trail with silver spray paint.  When you cross over Raynor Road, follow the trail though some disturbed land that was once a plant nursery.  When you cross Ridge Road note the Ridge Elementary School to the right of the trail, and Leisure Village to the left.  You can see the backyards of private residences from the trail here. Some huge holes have been dug in the Paumanok Path, with ramps for mountain bike jumps.

After crossing William Floyd Parkway (CR 46), there is almost a mile of lovely secluded trail before you reach the Pine Trail Preserve parking area on the south side of Middle County Road. This trailhead is 0.6-mile east of CR 46. Check out the trails information bulletin board located beyond the split rail fence.

Paumanok Path blazes are being repainted here, but no one seems to know who is doing it.  A NYS DEC Forest Ranger is investigating this unsanctioned trail maintenance.  It is illegal to do trail work without permission from the land manager.  If you wish to work on one of the trails, please contact a trails group; they will speak with the land managers, provide necessary guidance, and be glad to have your help.