This Sunday we’ll return to an old favorite, a walk in the woods at the Wesley Hill Preserve, with a bring-your-own picnic social afterwards next to the new living willow structure at Cummings Nature Center.  Social distancing standards are in effect.     

Meet at the Gulick Road parking area at 3:45 for a 4pm start. the Climber group will follow the Red, Yellow and Blue Trails for a total of about 4 miles.   The Tourists and Naturalists will follow the Red Trail with a short cut back to the parking area on the Green Trail, for a total of about 2.5 miles.

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, hemlocks, 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.  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.

Social: Following the hike, the social will be on the grounds of Cummings Nature Center, about 1.4 miles south of Wesley Hill along Gulick Road. Enter the grounds from the south end of the parking lot, and proceed to the benches near the start of the Cathedral Trail.  Bring a lawn chair if you have one, for social distancing. The Nature Center has planted a Willow Dome in this corner of the property that you won’t want to miss – it’s a cross between a maze, an igloo, a chicken house and a thicket. See https://www.willowsvermont.com/diy-structures.html

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, it’s 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 has been enlarged and can fit about 16 vehicles; any late comers can park on the side of the road.

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 Gulick Rd:  Turn right out of the parking area on Gulick Road. Go about 1.4 mile to Cummings Nature Center parking lot on the right. Go to the end of the parking lot, and enter the property on the right. You will see the bench grouping and the willow dome straight ahead.