Today we enjoyed a hike down from Rob’s Trail on RT 15A to Hemlock Lake. The trail started on Nature Conservancy land.  The Conservancy has chosen to preserve land that joins the Hemlock Canadice State Forest over the top of Bald Hill, and now they are creating a hiking trail to allow the public to enjoy these unique Finger Lakes.

Last summer, the Conservancy started clearing the trail.  One crew started from the top on Rt 15A.  We started on that trail, until we came to the end of the built portion.  At this point there is a major gully that the Conservancy wants to cross on a bridge that will give a grand view of the waterfall.  The NY Department of Environmental Conservation, which manages the state forest must approve this construction.  While this approval is pending, another construction crew worked on extending the trail along the lake. After a bit of confusion over the various temporary trail markers, we reached the lake and finished the hike with a stroll along the old lake road to the north boat launch.  Gene and Katherine, who had hiked the upper portion of the trail, pciked us up and drove back to the parking lot at Rob’s Trail.