Colorful Foliage and Tasty Fresh Cider on NY’s Signature Trail

Please note:  Bow hunting season is in effect for next Sunday’s hike.  Please wear blaze orange or something colorful.

On Sunday, October 23, Springwater Trails will partake of two venerable central New York institutions: the Finger Lakes Trail and apple cider. Set in Steuben County a few miles south of Hornell, our hike on a section of the main FLT will take us through forests of colorful hardwoods as well as groves of pines and fields affording views of open country and rolling hills with nary a paved road in sight. Colors should have reached their peak by the time of our hike.

Finger Lakes Trail emerges from Burt Hill State Forest heading west

We have laid out three options for hikes, varying by length and difficulty. Regardless of the level that you choose, all of them are scenic and rewarding. Each hike ends at our gathering point – the Cider Creek Hard Cider cidery on Cunningham Creek Road.

Naturalists will enjoy a leisurely 1 mile hike eastward along the FLT. A shuttle will take you to the starting point on Laine Rd. The first half-mile follows Laine Road, a country dirt road where traffic should be minimal-to-non-existent. You then turn left into the woods from a well-marked sign to hike the remaining half-mile on a gradual descent to Cunningham Creek Road where the cidery awaits you on the right.

From the opposite direction, Tourists are hiking 2.4 miles in a westerly direction starting at Windfall Rd. Most of this hike is a gradual descent with one short upgrade in the last third. The steepness of the final descent to Cunningham Creek Rd. is ameliorated by the prospect of delicious fresh cider awaiting you at the cidery!  Enjoy your libations while you await the Climbers whose 4-mile hike starts atop Spencer Hill, one of the highest points in Steuben County. Enjoying sweeping views for the first half-mile, we then walk along the edge of a field and enter Burt Hill State Forest. After descending to a small creek, a subsequent ascent takes you up to the ridgeline, passing a short side trail to the Burt Hill Lean-to en-route. This stretch through the state forest includes a beautiful pine grove as well as mixed hardwoods before we emerge in the open and reach Windfall Rd. From this point, our hike follows the Tourists route to the cider barn.

Please note that all three hikes described above include some rugged footing, primarily lots of protruding tree roots. The stretch from Windfall Rd. also contains mucky footing in some places.

Our social following the hike will be held at the cidery where, weather permitting, we’ll set up on picnic tables under a roof just outside the building. Please bring a dish to pass. There are no kitchen facilities available i.e. no oven, microwave, or refrigerator. However, there are outlets for crockpots and we’ll also have a Coleman stove set up for anyone who needs soup, stew, chili etc. heated up. You may bring a beverage but we encourage patronizing the cidery as they are very generous hosts in providing this facility for us.  In addition to a variety of ciders – alcoholic and sweet – the cidery offers beer and wine.  Ciders may be purchased to drink on premises (samplers of 4 kinds or glasses of your favorite) or take home in bottles or growlers.  

Red pines line the Finger Lakes Trail in Burt Hill State Forest

Logistics: We encourage car pooling and have designated the Shurfine Supermarket parking lot in Wayland as the location to meet at 1:00 PM. Plan to arrive at the cidery no later than 1:45 PM. This slightly-early meeting time will maximize enjoyment of our time on the trail. We will organize car shuttles at the cider barn and head to our starting points no later than 2:00 PM.

Directions: Take Rt. 21 south towards Hornell. After Rt. 36 joins 21, stay on 36, looking for signs to Main St. Turn left on Main St., following it (becomes East Main St.) out of town where it becomes County Rt. 109, also known as Turnpike Rd. In the country out of Hornell, you’ll pass Laine Rd. The next road is Cunningham Creek Rd. Turn right and reach the cidery in about 1.3 miles. The cidery’s barn is on the right but please park across the road (just after crossing the creek).

Cider Creek Cidery on Cunningham Creek Road

Cidery flavor board – some flavors may change

A Through-Hike of the Colorado Trail

The Little Lakes Sustainability Network and Springwater Trails are pleased to co-host a program on the magnificent Colorado Trail on Thursday, October 27, 7:00 PM at the Jack Evans Community Center (old Hemlock school) on Main Street in Hemlock. Light refreshments will be provided and everyone is welcome, free of charge. Donations to defray costs are encouraged.

Hemlock resident Bill Cooke will present information about the trail followed by a 25 minute slide show with music showing photos from his 2011 “through-hike.” He will share his deep appreciation of the natural environment fostered from many years of experience in long-distance hiking.  Bill will also have copies of his book narrating the hike – Shades of Gray, Splashes of Color – A Thru-hike of The Colorado Trail – available for your perusal and purchase.

The 486-mile Colorado Trail wends its way through the Rocky Mountains of the Centennial State, traversing a landscape as changing and diverse as the swirling afternoon clouds presaging the daily summer thunderstorms.  A common expression among long distance backpackers is “no pain equals no gain.”  In this program, you’ll hear of the “pain” manifested in the struggle of acclimating to high elevations, of hiking long and steep ascents, of coping with a wide range of climatic conditions from freezing cold mornings to hot baking afternoons, to near daily thunderstorms and to long stretches of limited water.  And you’ll see the “gains,” the triumphs as Bill and his hiking companion Keith “Northern Harrier” Bance savor the many rewards of this enchanting trail:  alpine meadows whose wildflowers cover every range of the spectrum, bewitching groves of aspen trees resplendent with the morning glow of the sun, the glistening of snowy peaks, stately conifers including the massive Douglas firs, high mountain passes, dry foothills, sparkling mountain streams, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets where both the skies and the rocks shine like beacons from the low sun alpenglow, and much more.

Along the way, you’ll hear of the delight bestowed by such simple pleasures as a refreshing swig of Rocky Mountain water or a wildlife spotting.  You’ll hear of fascinating near-daily cloud formations with their myriad shades of gray and ever-changing patterns.  You’ll meet “Trail Angels” who emerge at the right place and time, unplanned and unexpected, to assist hikers with their basic needs, such as rides into towns for re-supplying or offers of water and snacks.  And you’ll visit communities along the trail corridor, meeting the people in them, and enjoying the amenities that we all take for granted, such a hot shower, bed with linens, and meals of “real” food, all of which are especially appreciated by hot, dusty hikers.

Bill Cooke recently moved to Hemlock after living for seven years in Lexington, KY.  He has backpacked for nearly 40 years.  In addition to the Colorado Trail, he has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, Vermont’s Long Trail, the Black Forest and Susquehannock Trails of nearby Northern Pennsylvania, and other trails around the country.

You need not be an experienced hiker to enjoy this program, as Bill explains much of the terminology and peculiar habits of long-distance backpackers.  Even those whose experience is confined to short strolls in the park will sense the challenges and the rewards of a trek in the Rocky Mountains.  Come and take a trip to the summertime Rockies!

The event is co-sponsored by the Little Lakes Sustainability Network and the Springwater Hiking Group, and is free and open to the public.

This Sunday, come back to a familiar hike for Springwater Trails, and see the changes that have taken place. The first thing that regular Springwater Trails hikers will notice is that the town has paved Schribner Rd. For those of you nostalgic for the old road, check out the summer directions and come in the back way.

The Climbers will be following logging roads up to the top of the hill. We then will cross the fields to explore various views across the valleys. The Tourists will take a bit more time climbing the hill. The new logging trails go across the hill, giving hikers some respite from the climb and a change to view more of the forest. And the Naturalists will follow a more level trail through the White Pines, then up to the Red Pines and then will cross the valley to see the Oaks, Maples and Beach forest.

Following the hikes, join us for a Dish to Pass social at the house. Depending on the weather, we will have the option of being outside for the last social before the end of Daylight Savings.

Directions:

From Springwater: Head north on Rt 15A from the light in Springwater.  Take the first right on Wheaton Hill Rd (Co Rd 16).  Turn right on Wetmore Rd at the stop sign at the top of the hill.  At the end of Wetmore, bear right on Tabors Corners Rd.  After 3.5 miles turn right on Scribner Rd. (There is no road sign at Schribner, but this is the first right off of Tabors Corners Rd.) The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of Giles Rd.

From Wayland: From Rt 15, head east on Rt 21 toward North Cohocton for 3 miles. Turn left on Tabors Corners Rd (Steuben Co Rd 37). (Note the road sign says Bowles Corners, although maps all say Tabors Corners)  After exactly 2 miles, turn left on Schribner Rd (the second left – again, no street sign).  The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of Giles Rd, or come in the driveway and park on the grass near the barn.

From Honeoye: From Rt 20A, head south on Ontario Co Rd 37.  At Canadice, continue straight ahead on Canadice Hill Rd as Co Rd 37 turns right. Bear to the right onto Ross Rd. Take the first left turn onto Tibbles Rd (formerly Springwater Town Line Rd). At the end, turn right on Wetmore Rd. Stay on Wetmore up over the hill to the end. Bear right on Tabors Corners Rd.  Take the first right in 3.5 miles on Scribner Rd (sorry, no street sign).  The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of Giles Rd, or come in the driveway and park on the grass near the barn.

From the East Lake Rd in Honeoye or From Naples: Rather than traveling north to reach 20A or Co Rd 37, hikers from east of Honeoye Lake may go south to Ontario Co Rd 36 and follow Co Rd 36 to Naples. Turn right on Rt 21 south.  Turn right to stay on Rt 21 for 4.5 miles to N Cohocton.  Turn right to stay on Rt 21 towards Wayland.  After 3.8 miles turn right on Tabors Corners Rd (Steuben Co Rd 37). (Note the road sign says Bowles Corners, although maps all say Tabors Corners)  After 2 miles, turn left on Schribner Rd (the second left) (Again, no street sign).  The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of Giles Rd, or come in the driveway and park on the grass near the barn.

Volunteers from Springwater Trails are needed to pick up roadside litter along NY Rtes 15 and 15A in the Town of Springwater.   There will be a short information meeting at the Springwater Fire Hall parking lot at 9AM on Tuesday November 1, 2016 prior to getting started.   Bags, safety vests and hard hats will be provided.

This Sunday hikers will venture into the east side of Letchworth Sate Park on a branch of the Finger Lakes Trail which travels a length of 25 miles through the park.  A serene forest of mixed hardwoods and hemlock awaits us.  Some gorgeous gullies will add excitement to our trek.  Along the way there is a nice overlook of the Genesee River gorge with a view across the river of the former hamlet of St. Helena, now buried in mud from flood waters. The trail is changing but rewarding.

Note earlier start time at 1:00 due to length of hike and change to EST.

Hiking Groups

All groups will meet at the junction of River and Oakland roads in the town of Mt. Morris, (AKA Access G on the Letchworth Map 2).  There is shoulder parking and some additional off-road space.  Please consider car pooling with a friend or two.  The trail is rugged and may be slippery.  Hiking boots and poles are needed.

Naturalists will depart heading west on a .4 mile access trail.  Turning north at the junction with the Finger Lakes Trail, they will encounter a rustic shelter, used by through hikers.  From there they can continue north as far as time and energy permit, before returning along the same route to the parking area.  A hike leader is needed for this group.  Map will be provided and the trail is blazed.

Tourists  will head west on the park access trail then turn south on the Finger Lakes Trail. There will be some moderate climbs around the ravines. After taking in the view at the St. Helena overlook, they will take a side trail up to River Rd for a short road walk back to the parking area.  Total hike 4 miles.  A hike leader is also needed for this group

Climbers will follow the same route as the Tourists up to the overlook. This group will travel an additional mile before reaching the road.  A road walk of 1.5 miles will return them to the parking area. Total hike 5.5miles.

Post Hike Social

We will be reviving our weary bones at Scovill’s Grill, 60 Red Jacket St., Dansville.  The menu is good and it is on the way home to Springwater.

See what they have to offer at www.scovillsgrill.com.

Directions:

From Springwater: At the flashing light, turn west on Rt 15 North for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Liberty Pole Rd (CR38), past the All Western Tree Farm. This road becomes CR1A, and then CR1 (don’t ask me why, since it is all the same county) so follow the road for 8.1 miles until it ends. Turn left onto NY-63 S for a quarter mile and turn right only NY 258W. In 1.9 miles, turn right ony NY-36 N. Continue for 3.1 miles on 36N past the Croveland Correctional Facility. Take the second left past the Correctional Facility on Dutch St Rd (CR 30) for 1.3mi.  Turn left onto Ridge Rd, At the end of Ridge Rd, turn left on River Rd. The parking lot is on the left in 4.2 miles, just past Oakland Rd.

From Naples, Wayland and Dansville: Follow NY-21 from Naples. Turn right at North Cohocton to stay on 21 to the light in Wayland. Continue straight on NY-63N to Dansville. Turn left on NY-36N (Ossian St). In 0.8 miles, NY-36 turns right, but continue straight on Ossian St as it become NY436 W. There are some twists, but continue straight ahead for 18.2 miles on NY-436 through Nunda. Turn right onto Oakland Rd,the first cross street (1.5 miles) after Nunda. At the end of Oakland Rd, turn left onto River Rd and park on the left or on the shoulder.

From Rochester and Mt Morris: Take I-390 S to Exit 7, NY 408S to Mt Morris. Turn left onto NY-408S. Jog to the left at Main St, then right to stay on NY 408S. In 2.6 miles, turn a slight right onto River Rd. In 6.3 miles, the parking lot is on the left in 4.2 miles, just past Oakland Rd.

Hike Description 

We will hike the FLT Bristol Hills Branch Trail (Map B3) to Huckleberry Bog and the Bog Nature Trail Loop.  This upland bog is located on a plateau west of Keuka Lake in Urbana State Forest, Steuben County.

Climbers will start from the trailhead at Bean Station Rd and take the trail past an old cemetery and climb steadily uphill through a hemlock and oak woods to the state forest and onto the top of the plateau.  Climbers will then follow the Bog Nature Trail Loop clockwise and return to Bean Station Rd by way of the main trail (4.5 miles).

Tourists and naturalists will start at a higher elevation from the access at Glen Brook Rd and take the trail northeast to the southern register of the Bog Nature Trail Loop.  Tourists will go around the Bog Nature Trail Loop and return to Glen Brook Rd (~3.5 miles).  Naturalists will retrace their steps back to Glen Brook Rd (~ 1mile).

Directions to Meeting Location for All Groups

From Springwater: Head south on NY 15 to Wayland. Turn left onto NY 21, Turn left in N Cohocton to stay on 21 into Naples. Turn right onto NY 53. Stay on 53 for 13 miles. At 10.4 miles on your trip odometer, you should pass through Prattsburgh. Follow the directions below.

From Prattsburgh, take NY 53 South for 2.6 miles to Bean Station Road.  Turn east on Bean Station Road at the site of a large white warehouse for onions. Go 2.6 miles to the yellow trailhead sign on the right (south) side of the road at a little footbridge over the roadside ditch.  Park on the opposite shoulder but not on the lawn or pull inot a small mowed spot marked “FLT Parking” about 200 feet further east, on the left (north side of the road).  After breaking into groups, tourists and naturalists will caravan to the Glen Brook trailhead.

From Geneseo and Dansville: Take I-390 South to I-86East. In 1 mile,take exit 37 for NY-53. Turn left onto NY-53 and head north for 8.9 miles. Turn right onto Bean Station Road. Continue with the directions From Prattsburgh.

Car Pool

Car pooling is recommended.  You can set up your car pool ahead of time or meet at the parking lot for the Mountain View Inn at 12:30.

After Hike Social

The after hike social will be at the Mountain View Inn, 34 Main Street, Atlanta.