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As a
tribute to Ms. Gronlund, a native of
Sag
Harbor,
Barcelona Neck was rededicated
as the Linda Gronlund Memorial Nature Preserve. Linda
Gronlund was aboard the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania
during the 9-11 attacks. The preserve was dedicated by New
York State DEC, owners of the property on
Saturday, September 11, 2004.
I had
last visited this peninsula in the Northwest Harbor several
years ago, but when I returned this week I found that the
awesome harbor view and huge beds
of cinnamon fern nestled
between upland forest and lowland swamps were just as I had
remembered them. In order to avoid the golf traffic, I parked
on the shoulder of
Swamp
Road (where it intersects with Edwards Hole Road and becomes
East Side Road) instead of in the Sag Harbor Golf Club lot
located within the preserve.
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After walking a short distance north on East Side Road, you
have a choice of either staying on the woods road or taking
the road less traveled. I tried both. First I turned left
where I saw a blue DEC disk on a tree. I started
following these discs, but because many of them had popped
off the trees, I lost the trail and walked several arcs
through the woods until I found it again. I then found a
large segment of trail that could be followed, but it took
me into wetlands. My feet sank into the bog in some places;
in other places I found planks to walk on. This southern
section of the DEC Barcelona loop is rarely used; plants are
closing in on the tread, but it is quite lovely and
deserving of some attention. When this trail crossed over
the golf club road I followed it for a while but saw no blue
disc blazes. I needed
to use dead reckoning to get around the outer
edge of
the golf course and end up on the West Side Road. I thought
that my readers might not welcome such an excursion, so I
walked
back to where I made my turn and tried
a different route. This time I turned to the right off East
Side Road, and saw two white painted
dots on a tree; then as I followed
the path I noticed some blue disks marking the trail. This
took me through enchanting white pinewoods by Northwest
Creek. The trail looped away from the golf course and
brought me out by the back of the clubhouse. Here I found
another woods road to my right marked
by a sign that read “Road Graded:
Drive Slowly” and a DEC sign saying “Access by Permit Only”.
I followed this road for quite a distance until I saw the
blue DEC blazes again. I eventually came upon a spur trail
leading to the right that took me to a place with a view of
the Creek. Continuing on
East
Road,
I made my way to the channel that opens into the harbor,
then got back on the East Road only to come upon a “No
Trespassing” sign. I turned
around and headed
back until I found a trail to my right marked
by upright logs and a sign showing a no bikes symbol. I
followed
bike tracks to Third Road and then to the northern edge of
the Neck where coastal winds blow sand up over the bluffs.
When you come upon these “blow-outs” your first impression
is that you are in a construction area, but if you climb up
the mounds, you are rewarded
with a breathtaking view of the Harbor from a height of 80
feet. The accompanying photograph was taken atop the
blow-out. I used
a telephoto lens so I could get a better view of the Cedar
Point Lighthouse.
As
you head back (on West Side Road), there are a number of
left turns you can take to visit the lovely inner hardwood
forests. If you continue along the shore on West Side Road,
eventually you will find yourself walking through the golf
course, past the back of the clubhouse and back towards
Edwards Hole Road.
If
you wish to walk on DEC property, you need
a DEC Access Permit. For more information call 631-444-0273.
If you are caught without a permit, you could pay a fine as
high as $250. The permits are free, and they are used
as a research tool to monitor recreational uses of the DEC
properties.
For
more information about this and many other hikes contact
your local trails groups and ask them about Hiking Long
Island by Lee McAllister and Trail Guide to the South Fork
by Mike Bottini.
Directions: Take Montauk Highway east to Wainscott and make
a left (north) onto Stephen Hands Path. Proceed for 1.3
miles to State Route 114, turn left and travel 2.4 miles to
Swamp Road. Turn right, travel 0.3 miles to Edwards Hole
Road. Park on the left (north) shoulder near the unmarked
woods road. |
