This Sunday we will be hiking in Clark’s Gully just north of where Sunnyside Rd crosses the West River outside of Naples. We will plan on meeting at the DEC parking lot. Try to be there a little earlier, at 1:45pm.

Climbers will start across the street from the parking lot. They will start up the main trail and then turn right where the trail splits. They will follow the logging road for about 1.5 miles until they reach the north end of the DEC border at which point the trail dead ends at the property line heavily marked with posted signs. They will turn left up the hill while staying on the DEC property. They will come out to a field on top and a DEC access road with a parking loop that comes in from north end of the DEC property off South Hill Road. There will be 2 choices to get over to the South Hill DEC parking area where the Tourist would have started their hike from. They can choose to either walk South Hill Road back to the South Hill parking area or take the ” yellow gated” access trail at the North end off South Hill back down to the waterfall and cross over the creek and up to the South Hill Parking area. They will be car pooled back to the DEC parking area off Sunnyside.

The tourists will drive up to the top of the park and start at the DEC parking area off of South Hill Road. They will follow the trail down to the creek and cross over following the trail up to access trail that comes in from the “yellow gate” at the north end of the park off South Hill  Road. They can return back to the Dec parking lot off South Hill Road, where they started or continue to the DEC  loop access road to the east  of the yellow gate off South Hill Road and take the logging trail back down to the DEC parking area off of Sunnyside Drive.

The Naturalists can drive to the top of South Hill Parking lot and walk into the same trail as the tourists without crossing the creek. The woods is dotted with pines and is a pleasant walk or they may choose to walk South Hill road taking in the various wild flowers along the roadside.

Those that wish can meet back to the DEC parking area off Sunnyside Drive for a social. Bring a sandwich and a drink.

Note: It is tick and mosquito season so dress for prevention and bring bug spray and plenty of water.

Directions: From Route 21 north of the village of Naples, turn onto Route 245 north. Continue  north for about 5 miles. You will pass the West River boat launch on the left.  Just pass the launch about 1/2 mile, turn left onto Sunnyside Drive and the Clark’s Gully DEC parking lot will be on your right about 1/2 mile down.

.

There was time to explore the waterfall while the mushroom hunters caught up.

Next we had a creek walk up to the “campground”.