This Sunday, the Springwater Trails weekly hike will take place along the western shore of Hemlock Lake, with our social picnic outside the Eagle Crest Winery.

PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME:

Time: Kayak and Canoe 1:30 pm. Meet at North Boat Launch Hemlock Lake
Hike 2:00 pm. Meet at Mission Rd. at north end of Eagle Crest vineyards.

Please RSVP for the social and wine tasting. You may send an email to [email protected]g. We need to give Eagle Crest an approximate head count.

Kayakers and Canoeist will paddle out to the western side of the lake and turn south. Conditions will dictate when to start return to launch. All water activity will be weather dependant.. Strong winds or a storm will cancel or terminate paddling event.

Naturalists (Novice) will start at Mission Road and walk along the north edge of the the vineyard. A ravine borders this edge of the property and the path will enter woods and follows the ravine. The grade gets steeper in the woods will go over fallen leaves, branches and some loose stone. There will be a couple of places where the path levels out before reaching the shore (about 350 feet in elevation below the startpoint). After exploring the beach, the hikers will return up the ravine. Total hike about 1.5 miles.

Tourist (Intermediate) and Climbers (Advanced) will carpool to the park at the north end of Hemlock Lake. They will start on the path along the west edge of the park then travel to the edge of lake. Lake levels are about 5 feet low and much of the travel is over broken shale. Some mud flats and fallen trees will need to be crossed. Continue along the shore to a cairn marker which will point where to enter the woods. Follow the ribbons marking the path up hill to the vineyard.Total hike about 3.5 miles.

The social will be held at Eagle Crest Vineyards and Winery (http://www.eaglecrestvineyards.com/). Will, the owner of Eagle Crest Vineyards, has allowed us to use the tent and pavilion for the pot luck dinner. Winery staff will be on hand in the Tasting Room to offer wine tasting and sell wine to those over the age of 21 years.

The vineyard is the 2nd oldest continuously operated vineyard in the United States. It was started in 1872 by Bishop Bernard McQuaid for producing sacramental wine under the Oh-Nee-Da label. In addition to the sacramental wines, still their leading product, they now produce secular red and white wines including Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Niagara wines.

Directions:

For Kayakers:
From Hemlock: Head south on 15A. At 0.7miles past the intersection with 20A, take the first right onto Rix Hill Rd into the Hemlock Lake Park. Take the first left and follow the east lake road to the boat launch.

From Springwater: Head north on 15A for 10.1 miles. Turn left on Rix Hill Rd and an immediate left on East Lake Rd. Follow this road to the boat launch.

For Hikers:
From Hemlock: Head south on 15A. At 0.7miles past the intersection with 20A, take the first right onto Rix Hill Rd into the Hemlock Lake Park. Continue on Rix Hill Rd past the park and up the hill on the west side. Take a sharp left onto Blank Rd. Blank Rd will become Mission Rd at Niver Rd. Watch for the Springwater Trails sign on the left side about a tenth of a mile past the Mission building.
From Livonia, take NY 15 south. At 4.1 miles south of 20A, Turn left onto Niver Rd. At the end of Niver, turn right onto Mission Rd. Watch for the Springwater Trails sign on the left side about a tenth of a mile past the Mission building.

Just a reminder to RSVP for the social and wine tasting. You may send an email to [email protected]g. We need to give Eagle Crest an approximate head count.