Please join us for a hike around our property and that of our wonderful neighbors. Following our hike, please join us for a holiday celebration social at our home.

We have two hikes planned. We did pre-hikes on the 6th and 7th in 6 inches of snow. The trees were beautiful, with snow caught on all the branches. But most of the snow will be gone soon, and I can’t predict the weather for Sunday.  Expect wet conditions so waterproof boots and walking sticks will be helpful, although not required.

Linda will be leading the Tourist/Naturalists on a new trail along our creek. This trail follows the creek through native woods with three crossings of the creek on stepping stones. We then climb a short hill out of the lower part of the valley to an open field, and continue up past my niece’s cabin through a managed woods and back to the house.  Adjustments may be made based on time.

Meanwhile, Mark will lead the Climbers up trails to the top of our hill, exploring the various trees and likely a bit of family history on the way. We will do a loop through the forest, back down to the creek, and finish along part of the Tourist trail to house.

Following the hike, please join us for a dish to pass holiday social. We will have a ham to share.  Please bring a dish to pass and your preferred beverage or contribute $5 to the social fund.

Directions:

Please click on Directions above for complete directions to the hike. When you arrive, you may park in the driveway or on the road. Remember that it will be dark after the social, so you may want to turn you car around while parking to simplify your escape later.

If you use your GPS, it may recommend coming by way of Strutt St in Springwater. This will take you on dirt roads.  Do not turn on Schribner Rd from Strutt St, because that road is nearly impassable. Instead, go south on Strutt St from Schribner and continue straight up the hill on Quanz Rd. Continue past Fox Rd and turn left on Giles Rd.  Take it easy, and you should make it.  I suspect next time you will follow the directions via Tabors Corners.

No hike has been scheduled for this date to allow time for rest and relaxation off the trails.

The Hike:

Start the New Year the way you mean to go on – come for an inspiring hike along Canadice Lake!

This is an easy, 1.8-mile each way hike along the shore of the lake; the trail is level and well-maintained and the lake views are lovely. For most hikers it will be a walk along the lake for an hour or so, and then back the same way; more enthusiastic hikers can veer off on Rob’s Trail that leads over the ridge and down to Hemlock Lake – this is a moderate to hard trail with several steep uphill and downhill sections.

We’ll take a roll call the day of the hike if anyone wants to walk Rob’s Trail. We’ll arrange for transport back for those who only want to walk one way. Dress appropriately for the weather, carry water and some energy food, and carry a walking pole if it helps. Leashed pets are welcome.

This is not a “routine” Sunday hike – it’s special because the hike is promoted by the NYS DEC, and is part of a larger program of First Day Hikes to encourage people to get out and experience the magnificent State of New York that they live in! The DEC, State Parks, and the Canal Corporation invite New Yorkers to kick off 2025 by participating in one of the many hikes being held at state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, trails, and public lands across the Empire State. All hikers will leave with a memento of the hike and will be eligible to win an Empire Pass the allows entry to most state parks across the state.

Please note that the First Day hike this year is scheduled from 2:00pm-4:00pm, giving everyone a little more time to get over the night before.

The Meet-Up Location

All First Day hikers will meet at 1:45pm in the parking area off Purcell Hill Road, Town of Canadice, Ontario County. Google Maps (leaves this website) Click here for directions.  Please plan to arrive early enough to park and get dressed for the weather conditions. 

The Social

There won’t be an organized social on this hike.

When: January 5, 2025 @2pm-4pm

Meet at 1:45pm at the northwest corner of Hemlock Lake at the Rix Hill Road trailhead parking area just west of the Hemlock Outlet and Hemlock Lake State Park.  There are small parking areas on both sides of the road, and a kiosk on the south side.

Naturalists will first follow the Bur Oak Trail north for about 1/2mile and then return to the start. Then they will cross the road and continue on to follow the Walnut Trail south through the woods for about 1 1/2 mi round trip. This requires some agility in stream crossing. At the end of the trail, we will vote on either returning the way we came or take a path down to the shoreline, walk a bit, then head back to the parking lot.

Bring good waterproof winter footwear and poles.  Those wanting a shorter hike will have ample opportunity to bail out as we pass the starting point. At the end of Walnut Trail, there is a very steep climb that some bold hikers take down the ravine to get to the shoreline. It is advisable that if you want to walk the beach, it might be safer to double back the way you came to where a flagged path makes a much safer trip down to the water. There is another flagged path to get back up to the trail, and then back to the parking lot.

Tourists and Climbers will first follow the Bur Oak Trail north all the way up to the grassland loop off Blank Road and return for a total of about 2.5 miles. We will then cross the road and follow the Walnut Trail south through the woods and back. This requires some agility in stream crossing. At the end of Walnut Trail, there is a very steep climb that some bold hikers take down the ravine to get to the shoreline. It is advisable that if you want to walk the beach, it might be safer to double back the way you came to where a flagged path makes a much safer trip down to the water. There is another flagged path to get back up to the trail, and then back to the parking lot. Bring good waterproof winter footwear and poles.  Those wanting a shorter hike will have ample opportunity to bail out as we pass the starting point.

Please join us on Sunday January 12th for one of club’s favorites, for the recently renamed Hickory Ridge Trail, formerly known as the West Hill Preserve, off Seman Road in Naples.

Springwater Trails was responsible for maintaining the Finger Lakes Trail segment through this property and on down the hill to Naples for many years, so many of you will remember the “Maintenance Hikes” here, with loppers, chainsaws, virulent multiflora rose, and muddy boots. The lower portion of the trail, heading down to Naples, has been closed due to owner permission issues, but the Nature Conservancy, which owns the 550 acre uphill section, has devoted significance resources in the past 8 months to rerouting and improving the switchback loop at the Seman Road end, eliminating the muddy sections, enlarging the parking area, softening the steep parts and making it user-friendly for multiple user groups.

Meet at 1:45 for a 2PM start at 6795 Seman Road, Naples. All groups will start on the same route, with the Climbers completing the full counterclockwise loop of about 4 miles and the Tourists and Naturalists tackling the easier east side of the loop and returning as they came, for a total of 2-3 miles.  The trails are all wooded, wide, with gentle elevation gains. Dress appropriately for the conditions.

Our Social-TBD

Directions:

From Springwater: Go south to Wayland and east on Route 21, through Naples. At .4 miles past Bob and Ruth’s and Route 245, take the first left onto County Road 12. IN 1.8 miles, take the left fork onto Rhine Street.  At the first intersection (3/4 mile) go left on Seman Road. The Hickory Ridge parking area will be on your left in about a half mile.

From Honeoye:  Go south on East Lake Road, then turn left onto County Road 33 (Egypt Valley Road). Continue on 33 all the way to the intersection with County Road 34; keep straight on County Road 33, whose name now changes to West Hollow Road. Continue for 4.3 miles, passing Clement Road on your right. Turn left on Seman Road. Go 1.3 miles to Hickory Ridge Trailhead on your right.

From Rochester/Victor/Canandaigua: Follow 5 and 20 to Route 64, Then south on Route 64 through the Bristol Valley about 13 miles to Bristol Springs.Just past Gannett Hill Road, go right on County Road 12. Go 2.8 miles, pass the Scenic Overlook, and take a right on Oakley Road. At the intersection in 3/4 mile, go straight onto Seman Road. In a half mile, the trailhead will be on your left.

This Sunday’s hike will take us back to an old favorite, Mendon Ponds Park with well-marked trails and much to see in every season! We will meet outside the Nature Center/Wild Wings at 1:45PM. Wild Wings is open 10AM-2PM if you want to arrive early and walk through before our hike. There are also restrooms at the center.

Additional hike details along with the social location will be forthcoming soon.  Please check back.

Directions:

From Springwater: Head north on 15A for 21.6 miles through Hemlock and Lima. Take a right at the exit to Honeoye Falls. Stay on W Main St into the village where you will pass the Flaherty’s on the right. Continue straight onto NY 65 for 4.4 mi. (At 2 miles, you will go around a traffic circle. Stay on NY 65.) Turn right onto Pond Rd at the park entrance. The Nature Center parking area is immediately on the right.

From Honeoye, take US 20A west and head north on CR 37 for 8.2 miles to W Bloomfield. Continue straight on NY 65 for about 3 miles, and make a right on Quaker Meeting House Road just before you come into Honeoye Falls. When Quaker Meeting House Road ends at Route 251 (Rush-Mendon Road), go left and then right on Route 65/Clover Street. The Pond Road entrance to the park is about 2 miles to the north, on the right. The Nature Center parking area is immediately on the right.

From Rochester: Exit I 590 at Monroe Ave toward Pittsford. Turn right (south) onto NY 65 (Clover St). In about 6.7 you will come to the Canfield Road entrance to the park – this is not the one you want. Continue another 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Pond Rd, the second entrance into the park. The Nature Center parking area is immediately on the right.