Climbers and Naturalists:  We will meet at the South (Campground) Entrance to the park and split into two groups (Climbers and Naturalists).  Climbers will hike in a loop around the entire park using the East and West Snowmobile Trails.  There are some significant up hills and down hills on this route which is about 3.5 miles total.   Naturalists will hike to the south out and back on a park access trail through the woods and then through the campground and down to the creek for a total of several miles.  There are large oaks, white pines and other impressive trees on this route.   Although it goes without saying – all hikers should carry drinking water.

Trail Closures: Please note that the Gorge Trail and the East and West Rim Trails are currently closed to the public.  According to the Assistant Park Manager the Gorge Trail is not expected to be opened until late May because they need to complete scaling the stone cliffs in the gorge, and the East and West Rim Trails are not expected to be opened until sometime in mid April because they are working on replacing some of the stairs on these trails.

Social: If the weather is favorable and you would like to meet for an outdoor social in the park after the hikes, plan on bringing your own sandwich and drink.  Drive the mile or so to the North Entrance and the first ones there should get a picnic table or two near the Clara Barton Shelter.

Directions:  From the Village of Dansville drive south on NYS Route 36 south towards Hornell and go past the North Entrance to the park.  At the top of the hill take the first left onto Co Rte 47.  In a short distance, take a quick left into the South Entrance.  Park near the Camp Office without blocking the drive.

We are taking the week off. Please join us next Sunday in Webster at the Gosnell Big Woods Preserve and the neighboring Whiting Road Nature Preserve.

This Sunday, Springwater Trails will return to Webster for hikes at the Gosnell Big Woods Preserve. Naturalists will follow trails within Gosnell Big Woods. Gosnell is a mix of flat, around Big Field and short hills. The Climbers will include both trails in Gosnell Big Woods and in the neighboring Whiting Road Nature Preserve.  Whiting is hilly.

The meeting point will be at the Parking area close to the intersection of Vosberg & Drumm Roads.

There doesn’t appear to be a picnic area at the Preserve, but hikers comfortable with supporting restaurants will meet at Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn for an after hike social.

Directions:

From Springwater: Take NY 15A north to get on I-390 N (either in Avon off of 20W, or in Henrietta). In Rochester, keep right at exit 15 to get on I-590. Stay on I-590 for 4.5 miles to Exit 10, 104E to Webster. Take the Bay Rd exit and turn right onto Bay Rd headed north. In 1.3 miles turn right onto Klem Rd. In 0.7 miles turn left onto Drumm Rd. In 0.7 miles, as the road turns left to become Vosberg Rd, the parking lot is on the right.

Directions to Flaherty’s: Return on Drumm Rd and Klem Rd to Bay Rd. Turn left on Bay Rd, and in 2.7 miles, Flaherty’s will be on the left (just before a light).. It may be easier to turn left at the Kidd Castle Way light and then two quick lefts.

Join the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association at Bare Hill to learn more about the gypsy moth infestation.  You will learn to identify and remove gypsy moth egg masses. This is one of three events scheduled for Saturday, April 17; Friday, April 24; and Saturday, May 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You are encouraged to register early to allow the organizers to gauge interest and ensure proper supplies are available.

This month we are skipping west on the Finger Lakes Trail to a section that Springwater Trails has never hiked. The trail is on private land which is used by the owners for hiking, but we are invited to enjoy the forest outside hunting seasons.  This weekend we will see the early blooming of spring, with trees budding out at the lower elevations. Without the undergrowth, views of the forest floor are available throughout the hike, including views down to Route 70 in the valley below.

.I am hoping that hike leaders will want to investigate the sections of the FLT that we have skipped, including the section north of last month’s hike at Slader Creek Rd across open fields and past the Bossard’s Cabin which is available for backpackers. Also, check out the Robinson Loop trails near Swain, which have been a favorite for Springwater Trails in the past. Finally, there is a section of the FLT within Rattlesnake Hill WMA which we may return to next month.

This week’s hike will be an out-and-back for all hikers. We will have two groups, allowing for different hiking speeds.  The hike overall is downhill on the way out, so we will turn around after 50 minutes, allowing a bit more than an hour to return to the cars.  The trail is blazed the entire way, but stay aware to stay on the marked trail when it leaves the landowner’s logging trails.

All hikers will meet on Fox Hill Rd across from the home at 2146 Fox Hill Rd. The FLT is a road walk up Fox Hill Rd, and enters the field and then forest at our meeting place.

Following the hike, those who are interested will select a location for a social. There is the Sierra Inn in Swain or the Sunrise Restaurant or Jack’s Place in Dansville or Wayland to select from.

Directions:

From Springwater, Wayland and Naples: Take NY-15 S (or NY-21 S from Naples) to Wayland.  Turn right at the light onto NY-63 to Dansville. Turn Left onto Ossian St (NY-36 N). Continue straight to stay on Ossian St NY-436. In 7.1 miles turn left onto Shute Rd. In 2.6 miles, turn left onto Newville Rd (CR 54), Turn left on NY-70 N (2.1 miles). The first left (in 3.5 miles) is State St. Turn left on State St (CR 24) through the Hamlet of Dalton. Turn left to stay on CR 24, then at the next intersection continue straight onto Fox Hill Rd (CR 24 bears right). Follow Fox Hill Rd to the top and stay on the road around the right turn. Its about 0.2 miles from the corner to the south edge of the second field and the FLT yellow sign. Park on the shoulder on the left (East) side of the road.

From Rochester, Geneseo and Mt Morris: Take I-390 south to exit &, NY 408S into Mt Morris. At the light in Mt Morris, turn left, then a quick right to stay on 408, through Nunda. At NY-70 continue straight through the intersection onto CR 24 (State St) through the Hamlet of Dalton. Turn left to stay on CR 24, then at the next intersection continue straight onto Fox Hill Rd (CR 24 bears right). Follow Fox Hill Rd to the top and stay on the road around the right turn. Its about 0.2 miles from the corner to the south edge of the second field and the FLT yellow sign. Park on the shoulder on the left (East) side of the road.

Join the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association at Ontario County Park to learn more about the gypsy moth infestation.  You will learn to identify and remove gypsy moth egg masses. This is one of three events scheduled for Saturday, April 17; Friday, April 24; and Saturday, May 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You are encouraged to register early to allow the organizers to gauge interest and ensure proper supplies are available.

In the spirit of Earth Day, which was started in 1970 and is now observed in 193 counties across the globe to demonstrate support for environmental protection, on Sunday we will pick up roadside litter along a stretch of Route NY15 in the Town of Springwater.  Now in our sixth year of the NYSDOT highway adoption program, we will be working along that section of road between the Springwater Fire Hall and the Steuben County Line.  Meet at the Springwater Fire Hall parking lot at 2PM for a safety briefing.  Safety vests, hard hats and collection bags will be provided.  You will want to bring gloves and work boots.  Bags will be left on the side of the road for pick up by NYSDOT.  Participants will need to follow COVID safety guidelines.

Directions: The Springwater Fire Hall is on the east side of Route NY15, 0.6 miles south of the flashing light in Springwater,

Join the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association at Stid Hill to learn more about the gypsy moth infestation.  You will learn to identify and remove gypsy moth egg masses. This is one of three events scheduled for Saturday, April 17; Friday, April 24; and Saturday, May 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You are encouraged to register early to allow the organizers to gauge interest and ensure proper supplies are available.

Please note the early start time for this hike – we’re starting at 1:00pm because there are 7 fallen trees to deal with.

We need as much help as we can get on this maintenance hike! In addition to the fallen trees we would like to re-route a short section of the trail, and also improve the blazes at several points. We need as much help as possible to share the burden of all the tree cutting and painting gear

The walk this Sunday  will be a maintenance hike of our section of the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail in Naples. Springwater Trails has signed up with the FLT to maintain this part of the trail.  This segment passes through the West Hill Preserve off Seman Rd and then across private land to Mt Pleasant Street in Naples. The Twisted Branch Trail Run comes over this section later in the year; a couple of hundred runners will be pounding the hill and we want to be sure the trail is safe and fun to run.

Mark and Linda pre-hiked it, and there is little to do before the sign-in box at the end of Nature Conservancy land. We will walk this stretch of the BHB and cut away any brush and weeds that have overgrown the path. The most useful tools for this are lopers and a small saw. Be sure to wear good work or gardening gloves. It’s a fairly long hike and steeply downhill at the Naples end of the walk.

We will meet at the entrance to the West Hill Preserve on Seman Road (42.66166, -77.396288). We will shuttle some cars down to the hike end in Naples (42.625950, -77.397304) before we start. The climbers will follow the trail down to the old Pioneer cemetery in Naples.  Naturalists follow the trail to the sign in box and then return to the cars on Seman Road.

Please note: Dogs are not allowed to hike on the Nature Conservancy property.

The Social 

With the prevalence of vaccination, we are re-starting our après-hike socials! The venue this Sunday will be at the Neapolitan Pizzeria.at 120 North Main Street in Naples. Please observe the usual COVID precautions – wear a mask whenever it make sense, wash or sanitize hands as often as you can, and maintain a sensible distance with other people – it has been working so let’s keep doing it!

Directions to the Hike Meeting Point: 

From Springwater: Head south on NY 15 (for 5.2mi). At the light in Wayland turn left on NY 21N (for 6.7mi). In N Cohocton, turn left to stay on NY 21N (for 4.5mi). In Naples, turn left again to stay on NY 21N (for 1.8mi). On the north side of Naples, turn left on CR12 and head up the hill for 1.9 miles.  Take the first left, Rhine St., to the 4 way  intersection.  Go left onto Seman Rd.  Trailhead is about 1/2 mile, by a big sign on the left. Park along the road.

From Honeoye and Naples: Head south on CR 36 on the west side of Honeoye Lake (it’s 13.6 miles from NY 20A, and 1 mile from French Hill Road). Turn left onto Gulick Rd (for 2 mi), then right on Davis Rd (for 0.7mi). At the end of Davis, turn left on W Hollow Rd (CR 33) for 0.5mi, then right on Seman Rd. The Trailhead is about 1 mile, by a big sign on the right. Park along the road.