Cumming Nature Center Hike, Ski or Snowshoe, Naples - Sunday Jan 25, 2026 @ 2:00 pm EST (42.7056, -77.4556)

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Please join us for a hike, ski or snowshoe at Cumming Nature Center, (https://rmsc.org/cumming-nature-center/) in the hills above Naples. Conditions are good for a hike on trails with about 2″ of snow over a compacted base. Cummings is a branch of Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC); if you are not a member of RMSC, there is a $5 access fee to the Center; this provides access to their rest rooms, birding platforms, along with impressive exhibits on local wildlife. Equipment rental is also available at the Center.

We will meet at 1:45pm inside the Visitors’ Center (6472 Gulick Road Naples, NY 14512) and split into groups to enjoy a nice walk. Trails of various lengths extend north and south from the Visitors’ Center. Note-planned hike areas may be subject to change based on hike conditions.

Naturalists and Tourists will follow the Beaver Trail through the Cathedral of Pines to the Beaver Pond and return by the Salamander and Conservation Trails for a distance of about 2.5 miles.

Climbers will head for the Beaver Pond and Salamander Trail and then make a larger loop on the Logging Road, and the Conservation Trail, for a total of about 4 miles.

Social: There is an open area at the lower level of the Visitors’ Center available for the social. The space is cozy with tables, chairs and an area to plug in crockpots etc. Please bring a dish to pass or a small monetary donation. Note, food can be brought to the center before the hike and left downstairs. The Center closes at 5 PM.

Directions

From Rochester and points North: Take 390 South to Routes 5 & 20, proceed to Rt15A in Lima. Head South on Rt15A to Route 20A in Hemlock, Head East on 20A to East Lake Road in Honeoye. Proceed South on East Lake Road a short distance to County Road 33, (there are signs pointing the way from the junction of East Lake Road and County Road 33). Turn East on County Road 33, then Southeast on Pinewood Hill Road, which becomes Gulick Road. After 5.6 miles the CNC entrance will be on the right.

From Springwater: Go North on Rt 15A to Route 20A in Hemlock, Head East on Rt 20A to East Lake Road in Honeoye. Proceed South on East Lake Road to County Road 33 (Signs point the way from the junction of East Lake Road and County Road 33). Turn East on County Road 33, then Southeast on Pinewood Hill Road. This becomes Gulick Road. After 5.6 miles the CNC entrance will be on the Right, about 1.5 miles past the Wesley Hill parking lot. OR, go to Naples and follow the directions below. They are both about 23 mile routes.

From Wayland, Naples, and points South: Follow NY 21 East from Wayland, thru N.Cohocton to Naples (11.4miles). Turn Left onto Clark Street (County Rd. 36), heading North (Next to Middletown Tavern). Take first Right onto Gulick Road. Follow Gulick Road for 6.6 miles. CNC will be on the Left.

News for this season

Posted on Jan 29, 18 by JohnL

A Mid-Week Hike to Camel's Hump in Vermont

Once again Bill Cooke and Pam Masterson have invited us to Vermont for some camping and hiking; the dates are 20th – 24th August 2018 – that’s a Monday through Thursday. Bill and Pam will organize hikes on the Tuesday and Wednesday – though everyone is free to hike separately, kayak on the nearby lake, and spend as little and as much time in Vermont as they want to.

The Camel’s Hump hike is fairly hard, and it is suggested that only those who are toughened up by regular hiking should attempt it. Bill is asking for advance sign-up for this hike.

The camp site we have chosen is the Little River State Park. This is a very popular park, and if you plan to come and you haven’t already arranged lodging then you should book something as soon as you can. Please get as close to the balsam lean-to as you can; we already have the Elm and Balsam lean-to’s booked. A lean-to is allowed 2 additional tents.

Please bring as much food and drink as you need. We’ll be arranging some communal meals but everyone will be asked to contribute to the cause.

This is still early days as far as planning goes. I’ll fill out with more information as things develop. It will help us in our planning if we know who is coming; there is a sign-up sheet here – please use it to let us know if you plan to come.

Melissa Cohen says:

April 7, 2018 at 5:58 pm

I think I signed up when you first posted this. I still plan to go, but want to know if there is a spot for one more tent at the lean to or should I book another campsite for my friend Teri who wants to join the group.
Rick. Henchen says:

May 1, 2018 at 4:23 pm

I believe I signed up for this trip also when you first posted it. I think Marty and I were on the same site. Also, I think Bill reserved a site for us at that time. Not sure how to verify this? Also, I think Nannette and Julie asked me if the could also share the site. Nannette said we can have four people per site.

Also of Interest

Posted on Mar 10, 13 by Gene

comet visible this week

Ever see a comet before? You’ll have a chance, this week, to see a bright one, with a long tail For 3 nights, Tuesday to Thursday, if any of those nights are clear, the waxing crescent moon will help you find it. Go to a spot where you have a clear view of the western horizon, not later than 45 minutes after sunset. On Tuesday, it will be close to a tiny sliver crescent moon. On the next nights, the moon will be bigger and higher and the comet will be below it. There’s lots of information about comets, in books and on the internet.

Overhead, and slightly to the west, is the constellation Orion, and the big planet, Jupiter. On Sunday, Jupiter will be big and bright, and close to the moon.

From our Archives

Posted on Apr 28, 14 by happiness-in-hiking

Durand Eastman

It was a beautiful day Sunday – just right for an early spring tour of Durand Eastman park.

Turns out the hike & sun gods favored 20 Springwater Trails hikers at Durand-Eastman Park Arboretum on Sunday April 27th, and many other hikers at the CCE-Master Gardener led Arboretum tour as well. Sunny & nearly no winds, and the ground was fairly dry for the most part. Yes, there were blossoms of varying types although still a bit early for blossoming prime-time due to our “extended winter” and later season cold temps, and still no substantially warm days in succession to coax out more blooms. Three weeks later than initially planned for and two hike postponement dates later S/T had a great hike (two great hike routes in fact.)

A discussion during the tour of the Arboretum.

The Springwater Trails Naturalists hiked as part of a larger Interpretive led Tour/hike through part of the Arboretum centered around Zoo Rd & Pine Valley Rd. That group was led by three Cornell Coopertive Extension Master Gardener volunteers as part of the Sundays in April – Tours of the Arboretum. A very informative Interpretive Tour indeed, many blossoms, exotic trees both deciduous and evergreen, and so much more all were topics covered in the Arboretum tour, and a bit of hiking too for this Naturalist group.

Climbers (9 of ’em) set out on their own. Climbers, at a Tourist pace, toured through contiguous parts of the arboretum adjacent multiple lakes, climbed up & down numerous hills, navigated downed trees, and followed several trails. As they wandered, they found one control point for the orienteering course set up at Durand Eastman.

The march to warmth.

Climbers crossed paths with the Naturalists a bit after midway in the hike. Climbers did some looking and a bit of group cooperative self-interpreting thanks to the Arboretum guide each was handed out at the initial hike meet point, and did a lot of appreciating along the hike. And while one day later than the officially organized date of “Clean Up the Parks Day” S/T hikers did our part on the effort of removal of stray bottles/cans, papers, and trash.

About a dozen hikers availed themselves of the after-hike social where a sweeping view of Lake Ontario high above Lakeshore Blvd at Three Lakes Pavilion afforded plenty of open space and facility. Grillin’ at the Pavili’n on a portable Propane Grill with fare of more than a dozen of both hot & cold potluck dishes-to-pass all set up along the stone wall of the pavilion worked well with nearly no winds. And for those of us not already schooled in the art of keeping a “hot dish” hot when bringing it to a social, …a couple of thick towels wrapping the dish or pan works fantastic for heat retention. Thanks to all for the fantastic cookin’, bakin’, salad makin’, and Grillin’ !!

If you did not make our first potluck picnic after-hike social of the Spring Season here’s what you missed: Zweigle’s Sausage, Hots, Chilidogs, Kosher dill pickles, lasagna, baked beans, veggie tray & dips & chips, many types of salads, two cakes (one being Char’s legendary Pineapple upside-down cake), and fresh cut watermelon. Toss in some non-alcoholic libations, some brews, wine glasses and vino & a view, … and it worked quite well. Truly a fantastic variety of food was served, sound good? Take notice, Sunday May 4th at the S/T Sonyea State Forest hike hikers not only have an opportunity to hike a new locale for S/T but also to enjoy the second Potluck Picnic of the Spring Season.

Specifically in our Arboretum hike discussions whilst among the conifers at varying points was how our S/T Evergreen aficionado and owner of All Western Evergreen Nursery would have appreciated the arboretum and contributed to the group if she had been able to attend this hike.

Time will tell if perhaps our joint hike efforts on this hike will result in a few new hikers to S/T, as some non-S/T hikers asked about the S/T hiking group. Many thanks to all who helped make this hike and social a great experience, and THANKS ESPECIALLY TO THE CCE MASTER GARDENERS!

Below are some more pictures from Char and Pam’s cameras.