[singlepic id=64 w=320 h=240 float=left]The snow is deep and beautiful to snowshoe on up in the Springwater Mountains. The Springwater Trail is open to the public for weekday, weekend, or upcoming holiday winter recreation opportunities.
The current trail skirts an active maple syrup farm at Sugarbush Hollow in East Springwater and can be accessed just off Pardee Hollow Road and Coates Road. The trail passes through farm fields that feel like the tundra this time of year at the top of the mountain and a sugarbush of over tapped 3000 sugar maple trees. On warm winter and early spring days you can see and hear the sap flowing from the trees. The sugarhouse may be open, bring a lunch and warm up, and watch the maple men and women make maple syrup Feburary-April in the afternoons and evenings.
[singlepic id=65 w=320 h=240 float=right]The Springwater Trail has two winter access areas. Park 1/2 way up Coates Road to the snowplow area. You can park along the side of the road but do not block the driveway on your right. Continue to snowshoe east up Coates Road. If you want a more difficult snowshoe travel an elevation climb of 200 ft. to the top of the hill on Coates Road to the trailhead sign on your right. Continue down and across the field on the CoyoteTrail and watch for the blue blazes that drop down into the Sugarbush. Follow the blue blazes for about 2 miles to Pardee Hollow Road just past the pond to the south of the Sugarhouse for a pick up location. Estimate time 1 1/2 hours. If you would like an easier access route off Coates Road, follow the orange blaze just past the snowplow area on your right. This orange trail connects with the blue trail in the sugarbush area and ends at the same location. Estimate time one hour.
The other winter access area can be accessed off Pardee Hollow Road. You can park at the sugarhouse, walk south past the sign and turn right on our West Trail. This trail is a little more difficult with two 200 ft. elevation climbs to the top of the mountain. It passes through a wild apple orchard, black cherry and sugar maple plantation, crosses a field and then drops down through a dense forest and skirts another sugarbush area. Follow the blue blazes, turn right on the orange blazes for a continuous loop back to Pardee Hollow Road and the Sugarhouse. If you wish you can follow the blue blazes to the south of the white house for a pick up location on Tabors Corners Road. Estimate time two hour.
The view from the top of the return route.
The Springwater Trail is a moderate to difficult trail with it’s elevation climbs and snowshoers should be prepared. Snowshoes can expect colder weather at elevations of 1800 – 2200 ft. and wind at the top of the mountain. Please stay on the trail, follow our rules, and do not touch the maple lines or equipment which will be actively working. For directions to the Springwater Trail contact us at springwatertrails.org.
Ann, Georgia, and Pam have been busy snoeshowing the Springwater Trail at Sugarbush Hollow for the last two weeks. We are attempting to GPS all the coordinates and highlights from which we will prepare maps for our hikers to follow. Today the snow was excellent and perfect for snowshoeing. We have created a visable snowshoe track for anyone to follow on the west hill, from Pardee Hollow Road/Coates Road to Tabors Corners Road and return loop to Pardee Hollow Road. The trip took us 1 1/2 hours round trip. You can expect two 400′ elevation climbs if you start on Pardee Hollow Road south of the pond at Sugarbush Hollow or an easier 400′ climb on your return trip if you start at the corner of Coates and Pardee Hollow Road. This trail is mostly an intermediate and advanced snowshoers experience. Keep an eye out for the blue and orange markers which are sometimes difficult to see on the trees. Cross country skiers could manage part of the trail on the farm roads and fields, but the switchbacks and steepness of the wood trails would be difficult to manage. All you snowshoers out there will not want to miss the top of the mountains and the gorgeous views! Dress warm for the wind and cold temperatures.
the snow is deep and the trails are intense bring your snow shoes