Our hike this Sunday is the second in our Letchworth Branch series. In August, we hiked up from the Genesee Valley Greenway through the Al Lorenz Livingston County Park.to the Mt Morris Dam area. This week we will continue on the next section with spectacular views of the gorge above the dam, including the Hogsback overlook.

To help with car transfers, all hikers with go in the northbound direction, so it is important to pay attention to the description below.

Climbers who can get to Letchworth a bit early (1:40) should go directly to the Visitor Center (Access B) parking area at the Dam. We will park cars at the south end of the parking lot and all hop into one car to meet the rest of the hikers at the Hogsback overlook at the end of the hike. At the end of the hike, we will have enough cars at the Dam to take us back to our cars.

Tourists, Naturalists, and climbers who are running late, will meet the early climbers at Access C, the Hogsback overlook, on Visitor Center Rd on the east side of Letchworth Park. Please arrive by 1:50 to sign in and hear instructions.

Tourists and Climbers will carpool to Access D on River Rd, where they will enter on the blue access trail. The access trail will meet the main yellow trail and all hikers with turn right through forest above the gorge. The Tourists are headed back to the original meeting spot at Hogsback overlook for a 4 mile hike. The Climbers will keep up a slightly faster pace, and will pass right through the overlook, heading to the Visitor Center parking lot for a total of 4.9 miles.  Purists need to watch the blazes and stay on the Yellow trail, when an alternate orange trail goes to the left.

Naturalists will start from the Hogsback overlook, heading to the right (north) from the parking area. With the gorge on their left, they will follow the yellow blazes until the trail splits. Stay to the left on the orange trail along the rim for 0.2 miles, and then rejoin the yellow trail. Continue straight ahead to the Visitor Center lot. Some naturalists may wish to cross the parking area to the Dam based on the time available. Finally, return to the trail and follow the yellow trail back to the starting point (total of 1.8 miles). To see the entire trail, stay on the yellow trail when it jogs left away from the gorge and the orange trail used on the way north.

Following the hike, join us at Questa Lasagna in Mt Morris. This is a 50 seat restaurant so we should call (585-658-3761) from the hike. [Charred Bar and Grill diagonally across the intersection is a less expensive alternative).

Directions:

From Springwater: Head west from the flashing light on NY 15 N, up the hill. After the curve at the top, turn left onto Liberty Pole Rd (CR 38). The road changes names to Springwater Scottsburg Rd (CR 1A), and Groveland Scottsburg Rd (CR 1). At the tee, turn right onto CR 63. At the next tee, turn left on NY 408 into Mt Morris. At the light, jog left then right to stay of NY 408. From Main St, follow NY 408 south west for 1.8 miles. Turn left onto Visitor Center Rd. The overlook is on the left in 1.1 miles. Early Climbers should continue to the end of Visitor Center Rd and turn left into the Visitor Center parking area. Go past the Visitor Center and turn left to get to the end of the parking area near the trail. 

From Wayland: Head south on NY-21. Enter I-390N on the right and continue for 16 miles to Exit 6 (NY-36) (That is the 3rd NY-36 exit).Turn left onto NY 36 N. At the first light in Mt Morris, turn left onto NY-408. Follow NY 408 south west for 1.8 miles. Turn left onto Visitor Center Rd. The overlook is on the left in 1.1 miles. Early Climbers should continue to the end of Visitor Center Rd and turn left into the Visitor Center parking area. Go past the Visitor Center and turn left to get to the end of the parking area near the trail. 

From Geneseo: Take 20A W to Mt Morris Rd. Continue straight on NY 63 (20A bears right). Continue straight onto NY 408 (63 turns left) into Mt Morris. At the light, jog left then right to stay of NY 408. From Main St, follow NY 408 south west for 1.8 miles. Turn left onto Visitor Center Rd. The overlook is on the left in 1.1 miles. Early Climbers should continue to the end of Visitor Center Rd and turn left into the Visitor Center parking area. Go past the Visitor Center and turn left to get to the end of the parking area near the trail. 

From Rochester: Take I390 south to Exit 7 for NY 408. Turn left onto NY 408 (63 turns left) into Mt Morris. At the light, jog left then right to stay of NY 408. From Main St, follow NY 408 south west for 1.8 miles. Turn left onto Visitor Center Rd. The overlook is on the left in 1.1 miles.