WestchesterTrails.com

Sag Harbor: Northwest Trail

From Sag Harbor or East Hampton, there is a great trail. It is pretty narrow with a lot of ups-and-downs and quick slalom-like turns. I bought a map at BikeHampton in Sag, but it’s at my sister’s place there. I’m doing this from memory. One caveat: this is a heavy-tick area, and thus has Lyme Disease potential. At peak periods, wear high socks and use a tick repellant; I got it at BikeHampton. Also search for ticks when you finish.

The trail ends just at Route 114 south of Swamp Road, but there’s no place to park there, so I turn onto Swamp Road, take the first paved right – Two Holes Water Road – and shortly thereafter you see a small lake to the left, with a parking area to the left for three or four cars. This is where you park.

You actually start on one trail, which is marked (on trees) with colored arrows. When you get to the top of the lake, the trail you want crosses, and you turn left. I think that this trail is marked with white diamonds. Just follow it up. When you get to the first paved road (Bull Path), the trail is across the road and slightly to your right. I had real trouble finding it. You continue on and cross Old Northwest Road. The trail continues across and to your left, right to left side of where Old Northwest and Northwest Road meet. (There’s parking here too.) You continue on. There’s one place where you can make a wrong turn where there are several paths running into one another. When you get to that intersection (you’ll know it when you see it), turn to the left to continue. But if you take the wrong turn, you’re OK; you’re on more of a unpaved service road and just shorten the run.

A nice stretch is actually when you come back. Where you turned onto this trail at the beginning, you can stay on it instead of turning towards that small lake. You cross Two Holes Water Road, and just follow it all the way to Route 114, and then double back. This stretch is full of quick up-and-downs and turns.