This week, our Sunday hike will offer two hikes in the Irondequoit Bay West Park and one Kayak exploration on the Bay from the Park boat launch. We last hiked this park three years ago in December. This time we are adding a Kayak option from the park’s boat launch at the south east corner of the park.

The extensive trail system in the park is mostly maintained by the Genesee Regional Off-road Cyclists and most of the trails we plan to follow are shared use trails, and all users should be aware of traffic. Cyclists are expected to yield to hikers who are hiking, but hikers who are enjoying the scenery should step aside for cyclists.. Please remember that we are enjoying the trails because cyclists have volunteered to maintain them.

Unlike hiking trails, these biking trails are only blazed at intersections, so be careful to check your trail each time you come to a crossing.

A PDF of the newest maps can be downloaded and printed.   Please click on each map to the right for more details.

For this hike, we all will meet on the south east side of the park where Orchard Park Blvd ends at the Bay. If the boat launch has enough parking, we will all park right there and help Kayakers unload their boats.  If necessary, hikers will be directed north along the bay to a larger parking area near the entrance to the Irondequoit Fish and Game store and across from the start of the Blue trail.

Following the hike/paddle, we will adjourn to the Tryon City Tavern for a friendly social.

The Kayaks will head south from the boat launch and follow the shore line to the mouth of the Irondequoit Creek. After entering the creek under the Empire Blvd bridge, the creek meanders through the marsh, offering many possible routes. All kayakers should stay together as they explore the creek. Plan to turn around and head back downstream to the bay before 5:15 and retrace the path from the boat launch. If boaters arrive back early, some may wish to continue north to see more of the bay.

All hikers will leave the boat launch and follow Orchard Park Blvd west to the entrance on the right into the park. From there, we will turn right and follow the purple trail uphill through intersection 12 to intersection 11.

From there, the Climbers will turn left onto the blue trail through intersections 10, 7 and 5 to intersection 4, where we will turn right onto the orange trail. At intersection 2, we will continue straight onto the blue trail. A second exit more to the left from this intersection will head back on the blue trail to intersection 4; don’t take that. After crossing the creek, at intersection 1, we will stay on the blue trail out to Homewood Rd and then return on the blue trail to intersection 1 where we will turn left onto the Red trail. The red trail ends at Glen Haven Rd, which we will follow east to an entrance to the blue trail on the right. We will stay on blue at intersection 15 and turn left at intersection 16 onto the yellow trail for a view of the bay. At intersection 13 we will go straight onto the blue trail and return to intersection 11 and turn left onto the purple trail to go out to Orchard Park Blvd. With a left turn and a walk down the Blvd, we will return to the boat launch.

At the intersection 11, the Naturalists will turn right onto the blue trail. At the next intersection, turn right onto the yellow trail that overlooks the bay. At intersection 14, turn right onto the blue trail, and then at 15 turn left onto the yellow trail. At the next intersection (un-numbered) to right onto the White hiking trail that follows the creek up to the red trail. There are two options here based on time.

• If 5:00 occurs before the end of the white trail, turn around and retrace the trail to the yellow trail, turn right on yellow, then a right turn onto the blue trail (another un-numbered intersection).
• If you arrive at the red trail before 5:00, turn right onto the red trail, which passes several old foundations and ends at Glen Haven Rd. Cross Glen Haven and the creek and turn right into the blue trail. Follow the blue trail through intersections 15, and 14

Continue through 13 on blue back to a left turn onto purple at intersection 11 to go out to Orchard Park Blvd. With a left turn and a walk down the Blvd, we will return to the boat launch.

Directions:

From Springwater: Follow NY 15A or NY 15 north to I-390. In Rochester, merge right onto I-590 N. At the intersection with 490, stay left to continue on 590N. Take exit 8 for Empire Blvd. Use the second to the right lane to turn right onto Empire Blvd. Pass through the Winton Rd intersection and take the next left onto Orchard Park Blvd.  Stay to the right just off Empire Blvd and follow Orchard Park to the end (0.8 miles) at the bay.  The boat launch is across Bay Front Rd slightly to the left.

From Naples: Follow NY 21 north to NY 64 in South Bristol, to US 20. Turn left on US 20, then in a mile, turn right on NY 444 to Victor. Turn left on NY 96. In 2.9 miles enter I-490. Use exit 21 for NY 590N. Take exit 8 for Empire Blvd. Use the second to the right lane to turn right onto Empire Blvd. Pass through the Winton Rd intersection and take the next left onto Orchard Park Blvd.  Stay to the right just off Empire Blvd and follow Orchard Park to the end (0.8 miles) at the bay.  The boat launch is across Bay Front Rd slightly to the left.

From Canandaigua: Follow NY 332N to the Thruway west. Take exit 45 for I-490. Take exit 8 for Empire Blvd. Use the second to the right lane to turn right onto Empire Blvd. Pass through the Winton Rd intersection and take the next left onto Orchard Park Blvd.  Stay to the right just off Empire Blvd and follow Orchard Park to the end (0.8 miles) at the bay.  The boat launch is across Bay Front Rd slightly to the left.

Directions to Tryon City Tavern ( 2300 E Main St, Rochester, NY): Return on Orchard Park Blvd. Turn right on Empire Blvd followed by a quick left (at the light) onto Winton Rd. In 1.4 miles, turn right onto Main St. In 350 feet, turn right into the strip mall. The Tavern is the first business in the strip mall.