This Sunday we’ll have a chance to see the Wesley Hill Preserve from a different angle with the option of an off-trail walk down a hemlock-lined stream bed.

We will meet at 3:45 at the parking lot on Gulick Road, north of Cummings Nature Center and south of Wesley Road.   Both Climbers and Tourists will follow the Red Trail past the pond to the spot where it crosses a side stream (not the much deeper Briggs Gully).  Hikers comfortable with the rough terrain of the stream bed will head down the stream  about .8 miles, to the point where the Red Trail again crosses the stream, near the Wenrich Cabin (about an hour of streambed hiking), and then return on the Red Trail, with a detour on the Green Trail down into Briggs Gully for those wanting more of a climb.   The stream gradient is gentle, and it’s likely to have a moderate amount of water in some sections and be dry in others. There are occasional fallen trees to negotiate over or under.  Caution and flexibility are required.  The level of difficulty is similar to what we saw last week in Clark’s Gully.  Wear footwear with good traction that you don’t mind getting wet, and poles are recommended. 

For those looking to stay on a trail, the Climber group will follow the Orange and Red Trails for a total of 4 miles.   The Naturalists will hike to the pond and into the relatively level woods beyond on the Red Trail, retracing their steps when they choose.

Wesley Hill is a Finger Lakes Land Trust property of 390 acres on the hill east of Honeoye Lake.  including stands of northern hardwoods, red and white pines, a woodland pond, and the northern edge of Briggs Gully, as well as the Wenrich Cabin, set in an old forest overlooking the gully, deep in the woods.  A network of trails through the preserve offers excellent hiking routes of various lengths and levels of difficulty. The preserve was established in 1999 by the generous donation of 90 acres by the children of three artists – John Wenrich, James Havens and Colburn Dugan – to the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Since that time, the Land Trust has expanded Wesley Hill through the purchase or donation of four additional parcels.

Following the hike, the optional social will be at the Boat House Grill behind Trident Marina, 5226 East Lake Rd, Honeoye, NY.

Directions: 

From Honeoye: take route 20A east through Honeoye to East Lake Road (CR 33). Turn right onto East Lake Road. (If coming from Bristol or points east, its a left onto East Lake Road).  Take the first left, staying on CR 33, then the first right onto Pinewood Hill which becomes Gulick Road. Travel about 5 miles to Wesley Hill Parking Area on the right side. Parking lot can fit about 10 vehicles; the rest of us can park on the side of the road (it’s paved).

From Springwater: Head north on Rte. 15A toward Hemlock.  Just before Hemlock, turn right on Rte. 20A.  Follow Rt 20A to Honeoye and then follow the directions above.

From Naples: From the southern end of Naples, head west on Co Rd 36. Follow Co Rd 36 for 1.2 to the first right turn on Gulick Rd.  Follow Gulick for about 7 miles.  The parking area is on the left.

Directions to the Social from the trailhead:

Via the seasonal part of Wesley Rd.: Turn left out of the parking area and head north on Gulick Road. Turn left on Wesley Road, the first left. At the bottom, turn right on East Lake Rd. The marina is on the left in 3.1 miles. The Boat House Grill is in the back of the building with a view of the lake.

Via Gulick Rd:  Turn left out of the parking area on Gulick Road. In about 3 miles, the road bears left and becomes Pinewood Hill Rd. At the stop sign, turn left to stay on Pinewood Hill Rd (CR 33). In 0.4 mi, turn left onto E Lake Rd. In 0.8 miles, turn right at the sign for Trident Marine. The Honeoye Boat House Grill is about 150 feet down on the back of the building with a view of the lake.