The Genesee Valley Greenway State Park is a 90-mile open space corridor that follows the route of the Genesee Valley Canal (1840-1878) and the Pennsylvania Railroad Rochester Branch (1882-1963) from the Erie Canalway Trail in Rochester’s Genesee Valley Park to the Village of Cuba in Allegany County. The Greenway will eventually extend to Hinsdale in Cattaraugus County. This Sunday’s hike will start at the Erie-Attica Trail parking area on Farmers Rd in Avon, as parking is limited at the road crossings of the Greenway itself.

All groups will do a 2 hour out-and-back hike or ski, depending on conditions.  The trail is flat for almost the entire distance, with minor hills at the trail intersection and a farm road crossing.  The Greenway is often popular with snowmobilers, which can create a rough skiing surface.

All groups will head west on the Erie-Attica Trail across the Genesee river bridge and continue for 1.1 miles to the Greenway intersection.  Several sets of bridge abutments are visible along this stretch, with the largest marking the bridge which carried the Erie-Attica Railroad over the Pennsylvania Railroad. Interested hikers may find the planning study report for the Erie-Attica Trail of interest.

All groups will turn right (north) on the Greenway and continue until the turn-around time.  The views in this area are at risk from the proposed Horseshoe Solar Array which will likely start construction soon in Caledonia and Rush.

Following the hike, join us for a social hour at The American Hotel in Lima, famous for their soup selection.

Directions to the Farmers Rd Parking Area

From Springwater: Head north on NY-15A for 18.8 miles to Lima.  Turn left at the light onto 5 & 20 and travel 7.6 miles west (through the traffic circle in Avon) to Farmers Road on the right just before the Genesee River Bridge.  Follow Farmers Rd for half a mile, passing through the underpass under the trail. The underpass may have a pool of water under it. The parking area is on the north side of the underpass.

From Naples: Head west from Naples on CR 36 for 14 miles to Route 20A in Honeoye.  Turn left and travel 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Big Tree Rd, travel 3.5 miles to Route 15A.  Turn right and continue to Lima, following Springwater directions to trail parking.

From all points north: Take Route 390 to Exit 10 (Avon).  Turn left onto Route 20 west and continue through traffic circle in Avon and to Farmers Road (3.5 miles)

The American Hotel is on the corner of Route 20 and Route 15A in Lima. Turn left at the exit from Farmers Rd and continue for 7.6 miles to the light in Lima.