We have no hike planned for April 20. Please enjoy your friends and family and join us on the 27th.

Join us at the Durand Eastman Arboretum.

Ready to hike some trails that our group hasn’t hiked before?  Better bring your camera to this one.  Since we’ll be in turkey season, bright attire may be advisable.

This Sunday, we’re going to hike Sonyea State Forest in Livingston County, between Dansville and Mt. Morris.  The current size is just under 1000 acres.  Prior to acquisition by DEC, this area had been administered by the NYS Dept. of Mental Hygiene as an epileptic colony and state mental hospital.  Many remnants of the Craig Colony, the Genesee Canal and Pennsylvania Railroad will be seen on the hike.

We will meet at 2 PM at the large parking area, on the right, about 1/2 mile inside the park entrance.  Since this parking area is not well defined, we will try to get to it before 1:30, so you can look for us and our purple Mazda.  From exit 6 on 390, turn right (south) on SR 36.  Then, take the first right onto CR 72, aka Presbyterian Rd.  Follow it around, bearing right, to Union Corners Rd.  Turn right here and keep going, till our meeting spot.  This last road is unpaved, with lots of potholes, making for slow going so, consider this in planning your travel time.  From Springwater, you can also make your way west via Liberty Pole Rd., going straight across 36 onto CR 72.  From Rochester, and points north, follow above directions from 390, exit 6.

Following a brief visit to a unique cemetary near the parking lot, we will divide into 2 speed groups.  Rick will lead the ones who want to go faster and Georgia and Gene will lead the slower paced group.  During our April 24 prehike, many wildflowers were starting to come out, and could be in bloom, on this day.  We’ll try to identify as many as we can.  Nesting birds are back and singing away.  Many of them were identified by their unique song and some were seen.  A beautiful garter snake was also encountered.

Our hike will take us to the western side of the forest, where we will encounter the gorge along Keshequa Creek.  Within the gorge, we will see remains of the Genesee Canal and a major branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, as well as rapids and falls along the creek.  Total distance, for the loop, is 3.7 miles.

After the hike, we will enjoy the return of warmer days with a picnic in the parking lot.  Bring a dish to pass, or make a donation.  Unlike last week, this time, all we have is a clear area so, bring folding chairs, and a table, if you have one.  There are no washroom facilities, not even portable ones, but lots of trees so, if drainage is required, boys to the left and girls to the right.  If the day should turn out to be a rainy one, the alternate plan is the Sunrise, in Dansville.

On Saturday May 10th, Victor Hiking Trails will lead a hike on the trails at Chimney Bluffs State Park, east of Sodus Bay (northeastern Wayne County). The hike will be 3 to 4 miles on varying terrain. Bring a bag lunch and something to drink. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy hiking boots. Meet in the rear parking lot at Victor Town Hall, 85 East Main Street at 9:00 a.m. to carpool to the trail head. Or meet at the park in the large parking lot off Garner Road at 10:00 a.m. Further details and a Map at www.victorhikingtrails.org

Additional details can also be found by calling 585-234-8226, the Victor Hiking Trails (VHT) recorded message – activity hotline.

VHT hikes are open to all hikers, no need to be a member to hike. For Springwater Trails hikers who want a picturesque and unique hike in Chimney Bluffs S.P. this is your chance. Join the carpool at Victor Town Hall at 9:00AM, and hike with VHT. This is one of a number of hikes that VHT & S/T hikers will share together in 2014.

Pam will lead us across the hill tops above Pardee Hollow.

This 3.5 mile round trip walk takes place on trails with some very wet and muddy sections.The walk features working agricultural fields and a forest along the Genesee River that is host to a spectacular sea of Bluebell flowers.

This 3.5 mile round trip walk takes place on trails with some very wet and muddy sections.The walk features working agricultural fields and a forest along the Genesee River that is host to a spectacular sea of Bluebell flowers. More information available.

Expect another great hike overlooking Canandaigua Lake. Psst – It is Gene’s 80th!

There has been a change of plans for our Springwater Trails maintenance day on Sunday.  Last week, flooding caused quite a bit of damage around Branchport and Penn Yan, including at Camp Good Days.  We have decided to travel to Camp Good Days on Sunday to help the clean up in preparation for their camping season that starts May 31.  

The amount of work required will depend on how many people volunteer this week.  As a result, please check the Springwater Trails website on Saturday for updates.

We will plan to be at Camp Good Days at 12:30 and to work until they quit for the day around 4:00.  Work will involve cleaning up debris and painting and probably other tasks to repair damage.  Please bring boots for the mud and gloves.  A rake or shovel would be good tools to bring, but put your name on your tools. If you wish to bring a wheel barrow, that could well be useful.  A sandwich and water will help sustain you through the afternoon.

After work, we will find a place to eat before the trip home – possibly Keuka Corners Pizza on Italy Hill Rd in Branchport.

Branchport is about an hour from Springwater, so car pooling is recommended. Good points to car pool would be

Springwater Town Hall – Arrive at 11:15 and plan to leave the town hall at 11:30.

Wayland Food Mart – plan to leave at 11:35.

Eastview Mall – please RSVP to info@springwatertrails.org to organize a meeting place.  Plan to leave at 11:15.

Melissa’s house south of Honeoye – please RSVP to treasurer@springwatertrails.org for directions.  Plan to leave at 11:30.

Directions:

From Wayland: Take Rt 21N to Naples.  Turn right on Rt 53 S (S Main St).  In 1.3 miles, turn left onto Italy Valley Rd.  In 5.5 miles, bear right onto Italy Hill Turnpike. At the T, (3.0 mi) turn left onto Italy Hill Rd/Prattsburg Friend Rd. Stay on Italy Hill Rd into Branchport.  Turn right onto NY 54A South.  Camp Good Days is on the left 0.9 miles down 54A.

From Rochester: Take NYS Thruway to Exit 44 (Canandaigua) and proceed south on Route 332. Go through the City of Canandaigua and proceed east (left) on Routes 5 & 20 for about 8 miles. Make a right on to County Rd. 5 (there is a small green sign that will point you to Penn Yan). Continue on County Rd. 5 to Route 14A. Take Route 14A south to Penn Yan and bear right at Route 54A. Take Route 54A straight ahead to the village of Branchport. Make a left at the light in Branchport. Look for the Camp Good Days sign approximately ½ mile down the road on the left. 

Alternate route according to Google and AAA: From Canandaigua, go east on Routes 5&20 for 3.3 miles.  Turn right onto NY 247 for 11.1mi.  Turn left ony NY 364E for 1 mi, then right onto Friend Rd. Stay on Friend Rd for 4.2 miles.  Turn left onto Friend Hill Rd for 0.5 miles, then right onto Guyanogo Rd to Branchport.  Continue straight ahead onto Route 54A. Look for the Camp Good Days sign approximately ½ mile down the road on the left. 

Please join us on June 1, 2014 for a combo special event  hike in the Town of Mount Morris and Letchworth State Park.  Springwater Trails is pleased to extend an invitation to members of the Olean Area Hiking Group, the Victor Hiking Trails hikers,  Crescent Trail Association hikers, and Ontario Pathways hikers to join us for the afternoon.

There are three main components to the combo special event:  1) A ranger led walking tour of the Mt Morris Dam, 2) three concurrent hikes along the Letchworth Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail, 3) an after-hike pot-luck social at the picnic shelter at the Dam Visitor Center.  You and your family are invited to attend one, two or all three components of the combo hike.  You may also wish to take advantage of the many other opportunities in the Mt Morris area.  Check both the Mount Morris and Mt Morris websites for additional information.

S/T characteristically plans three hikes to meet the varied levels of ability and interest of hikers, including 1) an easy hike, approx up to 2 miles with no taxing hills, with a pace aimed at looking at scenery, nature, identifying plants, etc , 2)  a moderate hike, approx 3-4 miles, 3)  a lengthier hike, approx 5-6 miles with no bones about inclusion of very substantial hills.    All groups take rest stops as assessed as needed.  S/T targets hiking time duration to be in the neighborhood of 2 hours.

Hikers should meet at the Mt Morris Dam Visitor Center at 12:15 (look for the Springwater Trails hike sandwich-board sign).  Hikers must complete & sign a brief waiver form as required by dam personnel before the 12:30 Dam Tour start time.    At 2:00, following the dam tour, we will form three groups to hike the Finger Lakes Trail heading south from the parking lot.  Since the hikes will be one-way hikes, we will arrange for car pickups back to the parking area prior to the hike.  After the hikes, at about 4:00, a pot luck social will be held at a picnic shelter near the parking area.  Bring a dish to pass (pot luck) or make a donation (suggested $5) to the social fund to help defray expenses, and bring a beverage of your choice.  The dam tour and hike are free and are open to anyone interested, and there is no admittance fee to this part of Letchworth State Park .  You do not need to be a member of Springwater Trails or any other hiking group – all are invited to attend.  Although there is no requirement of advance notice to join us for this combo special event hike, we encourage an e-mail reply to assist us in planning.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to stay for the social.

To assist in planning, please RSVP to damhike@springwatertrails.org prior to the hike.

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