Springwater Trails hikers will hike this “Unique Area” on  Sunday March 10, 2013 at 2:00PM EDT. (Daylight savings time starts Sunday morning!) As the weather changes, view the comments for and updated changes. With a high of 53 predicted for Mar 10, hiking boots with sturdy soles are recommended.

The Oak Openings State Unique Area (OOSUA) is a NYSDEC Region 8 managed area of “exceptional forest character” located in the southern part of the Town of Rush, NY, a couple miles west of the Village of Honeoye Falls.  The NYSDEC OOSUA also has a contiguous much smaller area owned by The Nature Conservancy, thus making the overall Oak Openings parcel a bit larger for public access.  NYSDEC maintains (“maintains” is used loosely) two parking lots and access roads to Oak Openings. We will meet at the parking lot off Honeoye Falls Five Points Rd which has a NYSDEC sign.

Our optional after-hike social will be at nearby Tom Wahl’s Restaurant in Avon, home of a tasty real Ground Roundsteak Hamburger and other menu options. Check below for notes about coupons for Tom Wahl’s.

An “Oak Opening” consists of numerous varieties of plant environs and habitats, a rare mixture thus “Unique”.  “Oak” tree canopies, and “open” prairie-like grasslands both being principal to an Oak Openings.  Here our Springwater Trails hikers will have an opportunity to choose the cover and shelter of forest, or the openness of grasslands, as well as bordering along wetlands/swamps and a tributary of the Genesee River, just as the Native Americans did centuries ago.  The six to seven foot high open grasslands are maintained open by periodic burns, whether caused by chance lightning strikes, Native Americans who discovered their benefits and periodically burned the area to prevent succession, or by NYSDEC Forestry Division proscribed burns.  Without the burns natural succession would eventually take over and change the area.

Rush OOSUA is said to be the only intact Oak Openings in New York State, which makes this hike location a unique venue.  Numerous trails abound in the OOSUA.  Climbers, Tourists and Naturalists groups will each enjoy their own traverse in the Oak Opening areas.  Climbers — will make it to the NY Rt 15 western side of the parcel and traverse many more trails as well.  Naturalists —  will be accompanied by Ellen, one of our nature article writers, as Nature Interpreter.    Tourists —  will find numerous opportunities for stopping to take a look and continuing on as they wish, for a mixed opportunity hike length between that of Climbers and Naturalists.    Overall the area is generally flat with rollings hills and max elevation changes of 50 feet or so from one area to another.

The NYSDEC sign at the area reads “Quinn Oak Openings Unique Area, a forest of exceptional character “.  Quinn was a former land owner who first sold to NYSDEC in 1990.

Very roughly stated the NYSDEC OOSUA is an irregular shape with the north border extending straight west when the Honeoye Falls Five Points Rd bends to the north. Loosely described the access roads/parking lots are located at the two north corners.  A triangular Nature Conservancy land joins the Unique Area to the road as seen in this detailed map from Footprint Press. The area is otherwise surrounded by posted private lands. Due to this configuration, and the limited size of the area, it is quite unlikely to become “lost” in the area. The main “Haul Road” trail that meanders through the NYSDEC OOSUA can be through-hiked end-to-end from one parking lot to the other in perhaps 25-30 minutes.

WHERE TO MEET & ABOUT PARKING AND ACCESS:  We will all be gathering at the Honeoye Falls Five Points Rd access site on the south side of the Honeoye Falls Five Points Rd just 0.2miles (1000 ft) west of the intersection with Five Points Rd.

Note that similarly named “Honeoye Falls Five Points Rd” and “Five Points Rd” are NOT lengthened or abbreviated name versions of the same road, they are different roads which junction at “Five Points” intersection. (Stony Brook Rd is the fifth road, creating 5 points).  And of course, the “6” in Honeoye Falls 6 Rd to the south has nothing to do with 5 Points.

The parking lot is small, (about 6 cars) and parking in the lot may be tricky in inclement weather, with the steep odd angled downhill entrance.   We recommend 4WD for cars parking in the parking lot.  Others can park to the west of the parking lot.  Stay on the south side of the road if east of the driveway across the street and on the north side if west of that driveway. (See the highlighted areas in the image to the right).

For those interested in Carpooling from Springwater: an unsupervised carpool will be formed at Springwater Town Hall at 1:00  PM.  Plan on leaving at promptly at 1:10. Directions to the hike and to the social are available here.

A WORD ABOUT SEASONAL WEATHER

Since this hike is a late winter season hike, we do not know in advance what type of weather we will have for this March 10th scheduled hike.  If temperatures are above freezing, the area may be squishy in areas due to possible late winter snow melts &/or rain.  A substantial part of this hiking area is bordered by creek and/or wetlands, so there is drainage but uncertainty of how squishy traversing certain areas may be.  Do not assume that you will not encounter wet areas, translated to: consider the footwear you choose for this hike.  For after the hike an extra pair of dry socks and shoes may be apropos and appreciated.

AFTER-HIKE SOCIAL 

For frugal gourmet hikers, coupons for discounts on various menu items at Tom Wahl’s Restaurant in Avon (283 East Main Street, telephone (585)-226-2420  www.tomwahls.com) can often be found on-line, in phone books and in newspapers.  A “buy1 cheeseburger get1 free” can be printed from the website http://www.tomwahls.com. Tom Wahl’s also accepts Bill Gray’s coupons as they are both held by the same parent company.