The Hamptons

Flanders Bay/ Southhampton

The following was written by Bob Nugent, a former nationally ranked distance runner who used to live in the Hamptons (an upscale vacation spot for New Yorkers located on Long Island). This is truly one of the most idyllic places to go for a run. Fortunately, it is east of the area where the August, 1995 fires occured.

Directions:

Take Sunrise Highway to Exit 65. Go South on Route 24 to Montauk Highway. One mile west is the entrance to Munn's Pond (if closed, park at lot 1/4 mile south of entrance).

* The area is owned by the Suffolk County Parks Department.

Many hiking trails criss-cross the Sears-Bellows Parkland, all are worthy of exploration. Head north from Munn's Pond sand parking lot and onto the heaviest sand encountered on the run. The mixed oak and pitch-pine forest supports a large amount of wildlife, all of whom make their way across the trail to drink and feed at Munn's Pond.

* While on the opening stages of the traiil always bear left. Unique to this run is a series of tunnels running under Sunrise Highway 1/2 to 3/4 miles into the run. You are running in the intermediate zone between the terminal moraine and the outwash plain - the furthest southern reach of the last great glacier. You will be running up and over both sides of the terminal moraine. However, this is the lowest elevation the morraine reaches on Long Island.

* Continue across a fire trail/ power line into Sears-Bellows Park. When you hit pavement you are one mile into the run.

* Cross the parking area, keeping the lake on the left. The trail is very seldom open for auto traffic,and I've never seen a single car in 10 years of running. Horses and interesting horse-drawn carriages may be present in the fall. Relax, they move slowly.

As you move along the trail/road the forest alternates from open to brushy. Wood grouse, turtles and an occasional deer can be spotted along the trail as it rolls past Bellows Pond.

*One mile from the entrance to this trial, the road rises and swings left or southwest. Continue right heading north on an old fire trail. Duck under the barrier and enjoy the next 3/4 mile of a particularly pristine path. Several kinds of lichen and heather grow throughout. Because lichens do not grow in polluted air, their presence may attest to clean atmosphere 80 miles east of New York City.

* The trail intersects Route 24, a fairly busy road, 60 yards west of the famous "Big Duck" [a well-known Long Island landmark]. Be careful crossing directly across the road. Now marks 1 1/2 miles of gradual downhill running into Flanders Bay.

The narrow road to Penny Pond winds through a mixed-oak and pitch-pine forest. In summer, ferns abound. The fine gravel sparkles on sunny fall days. The soil is slightly richer than the the poorest Long Island grapes. Here black, white and scarlet oaks prevail.

* Through the heaths, pass the ranger house. Continue under the metal barrier and follow the main trail. Penny Pond is an unspoiled representative of a kettle pond left on Long Island by small chunks of glacial ice melting in depressions. The pond is shallow and sandy and is populated by large-mouth bass, pumpkinseed and pickerel. Deer are abundant here as well.

* Continue on the trail down to the marsh. Hubbard Creek Marsh is a classic example of the transition from pine-oak upland to salt-marsh. Cruising through the pines, you suddenly are out onto the salt marsh surrounded by sea lavender and salt-meadow cordgrass. Look for the osprey stands erected by the county to the left. Twenty-five feet in the air, these platforms are intended to increasee the osprey (eagle family) population. Look out for red fox, sea turtles and deer on the marsh, particularly at sun-up and sun-down. Continue to the water and take in the view. Thats Aqueboque across the bay, Flanders to your west and Red Cedar Point just east. If you miss any sights on the way out, don't worry - you will be retracing your steps on the way back!

Distance: 7 3/4 - 8 miles; flat to slightly graded - out and back - sand hard-packed (except soft in one section).

P.S. Flies can be bad in early summer. Beware of deer season.

Ponguoque Bridge Run

The following was submitted by Bill Hughes who can be contacted at jollyg@bellatlantic.net

From the Elementary School which is on Ponquogue Ave. to the beach and return is about five miles.

The best way is to check the Hagstrom map and chose your own route, but is basically South down Ponquogue Av. left on Bay Av. East., right on Foster Av.a quick left on Shinnecock Rd, a right back to Foster Av., a left on Lighthouse Rd., this will again merge with Foster Av., you will pass the Coast Guard station and go over the bridge.

The public beach which has a pavilion is just south of the bridge. There is no potable water at the pavilion, unless it is summer and you have a buck in your pocket, if you do they have a snack bar, and I'm assuming they have bottled water.

The run described is nothing out of the ordinary until you get to the bridge. The view here is incredible, and you can see something different all the time. If you run to the east over the bridge you will get to the Shinnecock Inlet after about a mile, again the views are great. If one is so inclined they can also run the beach.

If you live in the hamlet of Hampton Bays this is a convenient and scenic run. The bridge gives a incline and decline to an otherwise fairly flat terrain. The wind in the winter months is sometimes painful, but in the summer its like turning on the air conditioning. I usually run from my home to Ponquogue beach which is just over the bridge from the mainland, or if your looking for greater distance you can go to the east or west when you hit Dune Road. Have a great run.

Red Creek Park, Hampton Bays

by Bob Beattie

Bob Beattie is the founder of the East End Road and Trail Runners Club. He organizes and times races with all over Long Island with the club and his timing company, Fit Results. Bob is also the Chairman of the Hamptons Visitors Council.

Directions : Sunrise Hwy to exit 65N (Rt 24); Make first right on to Old Riverhead Rd.

The second left is the entrance to Red Creek Park.

This is a small 2 mile loop through the park. Once you know the area, there are other trails you can loop in and out of within the park, and other trails outside the park to make this as long as you want to go. More on that later...

Red Creek Park is owned by the Town of Southampton. The Town Park area has bathrooms and water available, always a good way to start a run. Picnic areas, ball fields, playground, basketball courts, and skateboard area all makes for a great place to bring the family while you head for the trails for a run. The trail is maintained by the Southampton Trails Preservation Society.

The Trail starts on the right side of the first baseball diamond on the right. At the entrance of the trail is a box with maps. Take one, it’ll help. This first section of trail is also an exercise path with places to stretch, do pull ups, sit ups etc. As the path meanders over some small but rolling hills, you will come to a dirt road. turn right and stay on the dirt road for about 30 yards. On the left there is a bench and a marker, post #1. There is a wide path and a narrow path. Take the narrow. About a hundred yards in is a sharp downhill, don’t take it, make a left instead. This will take you down into a kettle hole and out the other side. You’ll here the bullfrogs as you go by. As you climb a small hill on your way out of the hole, you’ll make a sharp left. Post # 2. Follow this trail as it widens to a bench and make a left. Post #3.

You are now on the Pinebarrens white trail. The Pinebarrens trail is blazed with white square markings on the trees. When you see two markings on a diagonal, It’s time to make a turn. You should turn toward the direction of the top square. If it’s to the right of the bottom square you turn right, and left, you turn left. If you followed these white blazes to the end, you could run to Rocky Point, about 50 miles away. If you followed them in the other direction, you would run to Montauk. About 75 miles. I hope you ate your Wheaties. If not, follow my directions and I’ll get you back to Red Creek Park.

Keep going straight when you come to an intersection of trails. You should head between the two stumps, straight ahead. Soon the trail will dead end at another trail. Follow the markings to the left. About 25 yards down that trail you’ll find park post # 5 Turn right up a small hill. (All hills on this course are small, there just one after the other that makes this so challenging). After a while you’ll come to another trail crossing. Park post # 6 and a bench. No time to rest here but make sure you turn left. Straight will take you into county land. This is where if you make a wrong turn, you could end up in Rocky Point. Making the left will bring you back to the dirt road. Make another left here. In about a quarter of a mile you’ll find the trail back to the ballfields to the right. Take it back if you want a short run, or go straight and pick up the trail again on the left and do another lap.

You can also zig zag up and down the cross trails to vary your workout.

The East End Road and Trail Runners Club uses this trail for our cross country membership runs in the fall and spring. In the summer we use it for The Hampton Bays Cross Country Classic to benefit the Hampton Bays High School Track Team. See our websites at www.eerunner.hamptonsinfo.com and www.fitresults.com. Or www.hamptonsinfo.com for hiking, biking, kayaking, and running and other Hamptons Info.