Click for weather forecast
Boughton Park is located in the northern part of the Town of East Bloomfield, Ontario County.  From the 1920s to the 1980s Fairport used the two reservoirs at this location for their water supply.  We will have three hikes around these old reservoirs (now often referred to as “ponds”), one of which will be “accessible” to hikers on a scooter.    The trails are good with very mild elevation changes.

Weather:  This morning, the weather report direct from the park is 17° with a slight breeze. There is an inch of new snow on the ground and new snow is falling lightly. Not enough snow for skiing, but a great day for bundling up and hiking the Park! Some trail mileage is open and subject to windchill so plan to dress warmly and in layers easily opened and secured (button, zipper, Velcro), for changing conditions. GLOVES & HAT are a hikers friend with temps in mid 20s and winds.  More than one pair of socks also helps insulate, keeping the feet warm.  Perhaps extra pair of socks & shoes for after the hike, in case you get wet during.

Carpooling:  Parking (by permit only) is available at the trail head, but we are limited to 10 parking permits.  Please plan to carpool, to preserve both gas and parking spots. Unsupervised carpools will start from the Springwater Town Hall or from the Sandy Bottom parking area at the north end of Honeoye Lake.  Plan to arrive at Sandy Bottom at 1:15 to leave promptly at 1:25 for the hike.  Or meet at the Springwater Town Hall at 1:00 to leave promptly at 1:10.  You may leave a comment on the website to arrange carpools ahead if you would like.  (Click the quotation bubble at the top of the hike description to read and add comments).

Hike Meet Location: All hikers will meet at the  Stirnie Road parking lot.  Please park on the west side of the lot near the utility pole with the “Streetlight” affixed to it.  We will have parking permits when you arrive – so please be on time!  For clarity there is another parking lot off Boughton Rd, which we are NOT using as our “hike meet location”.

Optional After-Hike Social: After the hike, Springwater Trails has been invited to the home of one of our hikers in Bloomfield, just 3 miles from the park on the way back to Honeoye and Springwater.  (Dogs are asked to stay in the car during the Social). Maps will be available after the hike.  Please bring a dish to pass and your beverage or make a donation to the Social fund.

Some Hike Location Descriptors, Backround, History, and Further Hike Info: The Village of Fairport purchased land in 1923 and built two reservoirs to provide water to the village.  Two creeks were dammed up, creating two finger shaped reservoirs. In 1989, Fairport decommissioned its municipal water supply and started to utilize the Monroe County Water Authority.   The Towns of Victor, East Bloomfield and West Bloomfield, in a joint cooperative, purchased the land to create a park for their respective residents

Boughton Park consists of 330 acres and 5 miles of designated trails. The area has some rolling hills with perhaps 50-100 foot max elevation change.  The park is reserved for residents of the three towns and their guests.  On Sunday, Springwater Trails will be guests.

The Stirnie Rd parking lot overlooks the west side of the west reservoir (near the reservoir’s northwest corner) with a clear view of the reservoir, levy/retaining dam and spillway threshold with a crossing bridge, truly picturesque!  A scenic point (peninsula) extends into the west reservoir and the picnic pavilion is between the parking lot and the tip of the point.

Boughton Park maintains a year-round no hunting policy, though hunting season orange is suggested based on hunting in adjoining lands.

One additional historical note – The Town of East Bloomfield is where the Northern Spy Apple was originated by Oliver Chapin on Boughton Road in 1800.

All hikers should check for a possible update of weather conditions on the morning of the hike via the S/T website.  Any necessary update will be posted on the website by noon Sunday.

There are additional vista points from which some hikers may wish to use Binoculars.  There are year-round porta-potty facilities adjacent to the Stirnie Rd and Boughton Rd parking lots and on the “Driveway Trail” between East Pond & West Pond.  There is no available running water or electricity in the park.  Some benches and picnic tables/benches exist at various locales in Boughton Park.

Hike Routes:   For a larger map, click on the map or check the board at the trailhead.

Climbers:  Climbers will follow the West Pond Trail south to the Inner Pond Trail.  After going out to the pond along the Peninsula Trail, they will follow the Peninsula Trail to the Driveway Trail, then north to the upper North Trail and the Pumphouse Trail.  From the Pumphouse, it is south along the Driveway Trail to the East Pond Trail, around the pond to the Boughton Rd parking area.  We will head north on the Driveway Trail to the Fisherman’s Trail and back to the cars. (5 miles) — If Climbers are feeling extra energetic, there is more trail available, the Seneca Trail heads north from the Pumphouse Trail.  Just remember there is an after-hike social and sunset is 4:39PM. Plan to make the after-hike social with the other carpooling hikers.  Hint: If there is no sun and the half moon is up, you’ve been hiking too long!

Tourists:  Tourists will head north from the parking lot on Fisherman’s Trail, around the north end of the West Pond.  A left turn on the Upper North Trail will lead to the Pumphouse.  From the Pumphouse, reverse, and then it is south along the Driveway Trail to the dam (levy) of East Pond where you will then hike East Pond Trail to the Boughton Rd parking area, then west on the West Pond Trail and back to the cars. (3.3 miles)

Naturalists/Flatlanders:  The route taken by the Naturalists will depend on the hikers who are able to come on Sunday.    a)  One route will involve car pooling to the Boughton Rd parking lot.  The Driveway Trail will be taken North with a side trip to the Boat house and the East Pond.  At the north end of the Driveway Trail, a side trip to the pumphouse is possible.   Then we will return south on the Driveway Trail with a side trip along Peninsula Trail to the West Pond.  The Driveway Trail continues back to Boughton Rd parking lot. (2 miles)       b) Alternatively a slightly longer hike from Stirnie Rd parking lot will follow Fisherman’s Trail to the Driveway Trail, then a short loop over to East Pond and back to the Driveway Trail.  From there, south on the Driveway Trail, west on Peninsula Trail and around the West Pond on Inner Pond Trail and West Pond Trail. (2.5 miles)

Directions:  To carpool locations

Springwater Town Hall: Please be at the Springwater Town Hall at 1:00PM to carpool to Boughton Park.  Click here for directions to the town hall.  Remember, this is an unsupervised carpool and drivers will be leaving promptly at 1:10PM.  If you are late, you will need to drive alone.

Sandy Bottom: If Honeoye is more convenient, please meet at Sandy Bottom at 1:15PM to carpool.  Do not go to both locations, since there isn’t enough time in these schedules. Drivers should leave promptly at 1:25PM.

A Public Service Announcement  — Do NOT confuse Boughton Hill Road with Boughton Road.  These two separate roads are geographically close but run parallel to each other.  Boughton Hill Rd which is by far the more traveled road of the two and a much longer road as well, is located two roads north of Boughton Rd.

Directions: TO THE HIKE:

From Honeoye and the Sandy Bottom Park –  Carpool location:

Turn right onto South Ave after the Bloomfield park

– From Sandy Bottom, head north on West Lake Rd.
– Take Rt 20A east to jct with Rt 64
– Turn left onto Rt 64 and travel to Rts 5&20
– Turn left onto Rts 5&20 and travel 2.5 miles.
– Turn right onto South Ave (See picture to the left)
– Turn left onto Main St.
– Take the first right (immediate) onto Michigan St and continue onto CR 39 for 2.4 miles (you will pass Church St on the right).
– Turn right onto Boughton Rd (CR 39 will continue to the left)
– Take the first left onto Stirnie Rd.  The parking area is 0.8 miles ahead on the right. (past a curve to the right, and a curve to the left)

From Springwater and the Town Hall – Carpool location:

-Take Rt 15A north from the flashing light in Springwater.
-Turn right onto Rt 20A toward Honeoye. After 4.0 miles
– Turn left on CR 37 go north to West Bloomfield.
– Turn right onto Rts 5&20 east at the West Bloomfield Congregational Church.
– Turn left onto Rt 64, and an immediate right onto Main St.
– Take the 2^nd left onto Michigan St. and continue onto CR 39 for 2.4 miles (you will pass Church St on the right).
– Turn right onto Boughton Rd (CR 39 will continue to the left)
– Take the first left onto Stirnie Rd. (It’s a VERY VERY short travel on Boughton Rd) The parking area is 0.8 miles ahead on the right. (past a curve to the right, and a curve to the left)

 From Rochester area: 

– Take I490 East to the Victor Exit 29.
– Merge onto Rt 96 S into Victor.
– Turn right onto Maple Ave (Rt 444) (follow the sign to Bristol Mt).
– At the flashing light turn right onto Boughton Hill Rd (CR 41) (At Ganondagan)

A Public Service Announcement  Remember, there are two roads, Boughton Hill Road and Boughton Road. These are different roads with Boughton Road south of the park. We are not parking in that parking lot, thus this routing uses Boughton Hill Rd which is north of, but not touching, the park.

– Take the 1^st left onto Murray Rd.
– At the T, turn right onto Town Line Rd.
– Take the 1^st left onto Stirnie Rd.  The parking is on the left after 0.4 miles.

This week we will venture into the Wesley Hill Nature Preserve which was founded in 1999 by the generous donation of 90 acres by the children of three artists-John Weinrich, James Havens and Colburn Dugan- to the Finger Lakes Land Trust.  Since that time the preserve has grown to over 359 acres. This property offers Briggs Gully, the original Weinrich cabin, breathtaking views of surrounding hills, a pond and extensive forest.

We will all meet at the Preserve parking lot, on the west side of Gulick Rd at 2:00 pm.  IF SNOW BECOMES A PROBLEM THAT DAY, WE WILL PARK AT THE PLAZA IN HONEOYE IN FRONT OF JAVA MAMA (MAIN STREET/RT 20A)

PLEASE ONLY use the Gulick Road parking area,(Wesley Road  parking area is only available for Bow hunters and we won’t be there!). If you park on the road, please be careful parking and getting out of your car – watch for the edge of the road and for other traffic.

CLIMBERS, (led by Marty) will follow the red trail by the pond to the orange trail, take a short jog on the yellow and then back to red.  We will follow the red trail to the green intersection and take the green trail down to the gully and back to the red trail and then to parking lot.  About 4 miles.  (WEATHER PERMITTING)

TOURISTS, (led by Amy) will follow the red trail  past the pond to the cabin, across the creek and staying on the red trail back to the parking lot. (WEATHER PERMITTING)

NATURALISTS, (led by Nanette) will follow the red trail past the pond to the cabin, across the creek and then follow the red trail back to green trail and to the parking lot. (WEATHER PERMITTING)

Optional after-hike social will be held at Amy Klein’s home on Honeoye Lake.  Maps will be available after the hike.  Please bring a dish to pass and your beverage or make a donation.

If weather is wintery, please wear appropriate footwear and walking sticks.  The terrain is slopes and gullies.

Directions (42.724168,-77.467531):  Click here for more detailed directions.

From Honeoye, take Rt. 20A east to East Lake Road. Follow East Lake Rd. south for a short distance and then turn left on County Rd. 33. Continue a short distance and turn right Pinewood Hill Rd. Follow Pinewood Hill, then Gulick Road south toward Cumming Nature Center, for a total of 6.4 miles to preserve entrance, on right.

Please click here for a PDF with directions to Wesley Hill.  Click here for a PDF with a hiking map of the preserve.