Come hike the newest segment of the Springwater Trail and stay to enjoy all of the activities at the Springwater Fiddler’s Fair.  Park at the corner of Dutch Hollow and Pardee Hollow and take the bus up to the fair.  Meet just outside the entrance to the Fair on Pardee Hollow Rd.  Plan to arrive at the parking lot at least 30 minutes ahead of the hike.

There are seven separate scheduled hikes in recognition of North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) Day for 2015 (Saturday, September 26th, 2015).  The locales are spread throughout NYS and in North Dakota, Michigan and Pennsylvania if you are traveling.

There are three hikes accessible from Springwater this year

• Hike #1 FLTC Map M1, Allegany State Park at 8:30am – Hike from New York to Pennsylvania!
• Hike #6 Three Preserve Hike – Enfield, NY in Tompkins County at 10:00am – Lead by Roger Hopkins from the Cayuga Trails Club
• Hike #7 FLT Map M4, Boyce Hill State Forest, Franklinville, NY at 10am – Get directions here.

Some unique hike opportunities exist if you wish to get in some hiking beyond a weekly S/T hike.

Details can be found on the North Country website and on the Finger Lakes Trail Conference website.

Please check and confirm start times and locations.  The time listing in this Springwater Trails listing is used as a foothold approximation only!  So, be sure to check the posting on the FLTC website for more exacting details, and further hike options.

*** First off – let’s give a reminder – – – annually the first Sunday in November (Nov 1st in 2015, yep that is this hike), there is a time change from “Eastern Daylight Savings Time” to “Eastern Standard Time” (fall back one hour), so it gets dark one hour earlier and progressively days further shorten (sunset happens earlier and earlier) as we head toward Winter Solstice (near the end of December).  So be sure you’ve reset your clock, or you may be an hour early for the hike and standing around wondering where all the other hikers are!

That said . . . This Sunday, November 1st, 2015, at 2PM the Springwater Trails hike will actually be a part of a planned Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) hike.  Springwater Trails will be joining FOGVG for this hike (an official FOGVG annual event coupled with the FOGVG annual meeting and optional additional activities following the hike), that these wonderful FOGVG folks have planned on the Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) in the Geneseo environs.  {Approximate areas of Cuylerville (Mt Morris to Piffard) would pretty much encompass the GVG Geneseo environs.}

Please note the hike event schedule as set out below.  It is a bit different in schedule than most S/T hikes in a number of ways.  One difference, we’ll be syncing with an additional group of hikers, and following lead as it is FOGVG’s hike plan, so some organizational time beyond our S/T norm may be required.   Another difference, the hike starts at 2PM and there is a program that starts at 4PM in Geneseo, so hikers should be sure to arrive far enough in advance of 2PM for covering incidentals and organizing hike groups, so the hike can start at 2PM.

*** Below is the hike event schedule pretty much pulled from the Facebook page of FOGVG, on 10/2/2015 from a Sept 25th post.  The hike on the GVG definitely covers two towns, Leicester (including the hamlet of Cuylerville) and its eastern neighboring Town of Geneseo.

– – Please note at present, 10/21/2015, details are basically set for this hike, but minor changes for this hike event may occur, so a small chance that not all salient info may be presented in this Hike Event Announcement.  Please feel free to check the FOGVG website (or FOGVG Facebook page) for possible future updating of hike details.- –

⇒Announcing: FOGVG Annual Event at the Geneseo United Methodist Church, Route 63 and Court Street, Geneseo, New York, Sunday, November 1, 2015.  The event consists of a Hike, Program, Dinner & Meeting.

2:00 PM – Guided Hike – Meet at the Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) Cuylerville Parking Area (on Rt. 20A): Hike the Greenway north to enjoy picturesque farmlands and large ponds that are a favorite with birders. Return to Cuylerville for a 3.5 to 5 mile hike or post a car at the GVG Piffard Parking area for a 3.5 to 4 mile one-way hike.

4:00 PM – (optional) Program – Meet at Geneseo United Methodist Church, Route 63 and Court St., Geneseo, New York. The History & Development of the WAG Trail by FOGVG member and Senior DEC Forester Ron Abraham The WAG Trail is a 9-mile multi-use recreation trail and historic transportation corridor in Allegany County, extending from the Village of Wellsville to the Pennsylvania state line. The Trail follows the route of the former Wellsville, Addison and Galeton Railroad along the upper Genesee River, just a few miles from its headwaters. New York State acquired the property in 2009 and substantial progress has been made in developing this trail with 8 miles currently open to the public.

5:30 PM – (optional) Dish-to-Pass Dinner: Bring your favorite dish-to-pass, your table service, and join us for a delicious meal. Beverages will be provided.  (Springwater Trails group will bring the “potluck tote” with paper plates, plastic utensils, etc, but S/T hikers should feel free to be environmentally friendly by bringing their own durable flatware and silverware at this tables and chairs equipped indoor social venue.)  

6:30 PM – (optional) Brief FOGVG Meeting, For members and potential members.

Everyone Welcome: Join the hike, Come for the program, Stay for dinner See You in Geneseo! Geneseo United Methodist Church.

S/T hikers and others are welcomed to become members of FOGVG, annual member dues are $ 20 for an individual, $25 for a family.  You need not be an FOGVG member to attend any of the components of this hike event.

ADDITIONAL S/T INFO FOR THIS GVG HIKE

Hike Meet Location (further defined):  ⇒ GPS Coords: 42.777222, -77.870382  on the north side of NYS Rt 20A (concurrent NYS Rt 39) in the hamlet of Cuylerville (Town of Leicester) at the GVG trailhead parking area (mile 29-30 of the GVG). Point of reference – Cuylerville is situate a bit southwest of the village of Geneseo.  [hint: Parking area is very near (just east of) an ~85^o pronounced bend in Rts 20A/39, also described as west of Boyd Parker Memorial Park, and northeast of The National Hotel.]   Parking is available at the trailhead.  (Look for the “yellow trail gates”, set back some distance from the public roadway.)  Carpooling by S/T hikers is encouraged, in consideration of limited vehicle parking space at the trailhead parking area.

{You’ll note directions are given by: landmark, direction, compass orientation, and GPS coordinates.  Something for everyone.}

After-Hike Social (in sync with FOGVG plans): Please bring a dish to pass.  S/T will be bringing the tote/tub utilized at potluck socials, to this social event.

Directions to the hike Meet Locale:  

From Springwater: Take NY-15N west from the flashing light for 1.5 miles.  Turn left on Liberty Pole Rd (CR 38).  This road changes names and numbers (CR 1A and then CR 1) but continue for 8 miles. Turn right onto NY-63N for 9.4 miles. Take a sharp left turn onto US-20A W (NY 39 also). The parking area is on the right in 2.4 miles just before US-20A turns a sharp left in Cuylerville.

From Wayland: Take NY-21 south to Interstate 390.  Turn right to take I390N for 22 miles to exit 7 – NY 408.  Turn right onto NY-408N then slight left to continue on NY-63 for 3 miles. Take a sharp left turn onto US-20A W (NY 39 also). The parking area is on the right in 2.4 miles just before US-20A turns a sharp left in Cuylerville.

From Honeoye: For the entirety of the trip from Honeoye to Cuylerville, you’ll take US-20A W for about 22 miles of driving to the trailhead parking area.  Its just that simple!  But routing can be a bit confusing in some places, such as a junctions and where there are concurrently running routes, so watch signs carefully.  ⇒Further detailed description (if you need it): Follow US-20A W from the hamlet of Honeoye through the hamlet of Hemlock and villages of Livonia and Geneseo and then heading into the small hamlet of Cuylerville. (Watch signs for US-20A carefully on the SW side of the village of Geneseo, or you may go astray.)  SW of village of Geneseo, US-20A W & NY-39 W & NY-63 S all briefly run concurrently. Staying on US-20A (& concurrently running NY-39 W), from the US-20A (NY-39 also) split from NY-63 at the SW side of Geneseo, you’ll then travel 2.4 miles to the trailhead parking area located on the right just before US-20A (NY-39 also) turns a sharp left in Cuylerville. (By-the-way, as a digression, a short-cut on Big Tree Rd in the towns of Richmond and Livonia, circumventing a segment of US-20A, saves a mile but not any time).

From Rochester: Take I390 S to Exit 8 (NY 20A).  Turn right onto 20A W for 12 miles. The parking area is on the right in 2.4 miles just before US-20A turns a sharp left in Cuylerville.

Directions to the Dish-to-Pass Social at Geneseo United Methodist Church (42.802549, -77.827199): 

Head east on US 20A for 2.6 miles. Take a slight left to stay on NY 63N (20A goes straight). In 1.2 miles, the church is on the left.  Parking is in the back.

Carpool: A non-supervised carpool from Springwater Town Hall is scheduled to leave the Town Hall promptly at 1:15.  Please be there at 1:00.

If you look great in Autumnal Orange (or blaze orange), and even if maybe you’re thinking you don’t, well, … this hike is during Bow Hunting Season for big game, so wearing some of that orange would place you right in fashion this time of year.

Below this double line, you’ll find ancillary information, relevant but not crucial to this hike.

This 11/1/2015 FOGVG hike is principally represented in the Wegman’s Passport to family wellness booklet for the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park as hike #7.  W Passport booklets for the GVG will be available at the start of this hike, for those who do not already have one and would like one.  – – – If you are thinking “what is that?”, then here’s an explanation.

A facsimile from a previously published description – – -Some hikers may be interested to know there is a “Wegmans Passport to family wellness  Program booklet” for the GVG which consists of a total of 14 listed hikes on the GVG. The Wegman’s “Passport to family wellness” Genesee Valley Greenway State Park booklets are available (free) at select Wegman’s locations (likely W store locations closeby to the GVG) at the store’s service desk.  (You may want to call first, if it would mean a special trip for you. Wegman’s Chili-Paul location in the Town of Chili, does have them currently.)  Picking one up (and maybe several for fellow hikers) on your own assures that you have one in hand.  A limited number of these “Passport to Wellness” GVG booklets will be available at the hike.

(Of note, S/T has three hikes on the GVG this autumn hiking season, 10/18, 11/1, & 11/8.)

Included here is a FOGVG brochure map.

FOGVG contact info. Telephone: (585)-658-2569 or fogvg@frontiernet.net   [658 exchange is considered a Mount Morris exchange.]

——————————————————————————————————————–

For those folks unaware the GVG is now a NYS Park (a linear park) and as such now gets more attention from NYS in programming.  The GVG is still fostered by the FOGVG, the long standing group which assisted and continues to assist in GVG development and maintenance.

_{– – – SOME HYPERLINKS TO ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT THE GENESEE VALLEY CANAL. – – –} 

For hikers interested in history of the Genesee Valley Canal (GVC), here is an online article published in Fall 1994 edition of Rochester History.  It now is published on-line on the Rochester Public Library website.

You’ll also find some photos of various canals in NYS at the following URLs, listed as links.

http://www.nygeo.org/index.htm

http://www.nygeo.org/EEC_Locks.html

http://www.nygeo.org/EEC_Structures.html

If you’ve a keen identifying eye, and check out some of these photos, you’ll find one is of the culvert with a road through it, passing under the Erie Canal, which is located on . . .yep, you guessed it, Culvert Rd.  Located about a mile east of Medina, Orleans County, NY.  This is the only place in NYS that the roadway went under the canal, and it still exists today.  And if you’ve driven the roadway recently, you’ll likely find two inosculating trees north of the culvert on the west side of the road and within view of the culvert.  Or perhaps you’d say they’re hugging, intertwining, or twisting (Chubby Checker, anyone?)

A S/T article about the GVC when we hiked part of the GVG in Letchworth State Park in Autumn 2012.

Facebook page of FOGVG – Southern Tier section GVG hikers.

Announcement about 14 interpretive hikes in 2015 & 2016 on the GVG which is now a (linear) State Park. One each 2nd Saturday of the month April-October (7 hikes in 2015 & 7 hikes in 2016).

tidbit (historic and present): In Cuylerville, the historic National Hotel (built circa 1840), still in operation today, was an important business along the canal route.

This unique opportunity for a guided hike at low water level in the Niagara River gorge features Devils Hole State Park as the start point and heads down hill to the river and then up-river in the gorge before returning. { GPS Coordinates of Devil’s Hole State Park = 43.13346, -79.046684 }    The hike is listed as 5 1/2 hours but do not let that scare you, because with the distance to cover the hike must have a slow pace and substantial time for “look see”.   But, do consider this is a hike with elevation gain & loss & stairs!  This hike is offered on Saturday November 7th, 2015 & again on November 14th, 2015.

While this hike is a trek to drive from Springwater environs, it may be a rare opportunity (perhaps even a once in lifetime hike for you) for such a hike.  That’s why its posted on this website for hiker awareness and consideration.  Perhaps consider carpooling with some other interested S/T hikers.  (The Niagara Region of New York State Parks does schedule multiple guided hikes per year, within a number of Niagara Region NYS Parks, among one in the past has been Whirlpool State Park.  So, if you were to search in subsequent years at the right time, you’ll likely find some hike of interest.)  (note: currently, autumn 2015, Whirlpool State Park is undergoing construction along the top gorge edge where the trail along the gorge rim & viewing area of the Whirlpool in the river gorge is situate, so some access is partially limited.)

This hike is listed on the NYS Parks website as “registration required”.  Registration Phone # (716)-282-5154.

FYI – Devils Hole State Park has numerous steps / stone stairways from the top of the gorge to reach river gorge level (think gorge trail at Stony Brook State Park).  Albeit of note between the Rainbow bridge and Devils Hole SP there are numerous ways to reach the river gorge at river level from the top of the river gorge.  You may want to discern what route specifically will be used for this hike, by calling the registration phone number, if you are concerned about you ability on stairs.

——————————————————————————————————————–

*** MORE INFO ***  some of it excellent hikers’ tips and little known info.

Between the Rainbow Bridge area of Niagara Falls State Park (just north of the falls, yep, ‘Niagara Falls’) and Devils Hole SP, there are at least four ways to get from the top of the gorge to the bottom of the gorge. But first know that for the entirety of the described length – Rainbow Bridge northward to Devils Hole SP – there is a rim trail along the upper gorge, and there also is a paved multi-use (bikeway & walking path) that was formerly half the laneage of the Robert Moses Parkway (roadway) in this section.  Several years ago half the laneage of this section of the Robert Moses Parkway (closest to the river gorge shoulder) was decommissioned and given over to a multi-use recreational trail, that’s why its wide and paved.  (Currently there are plan proposals to make further alterations along this corridor.)

Listed here are four specific ways into the river gorge: 1) Devils Hole State Park trails (substantial number of stairs) ;  2) there is a trail in Whirlpool State Park, figure on stairs here too (Whirlpool SP is contiguous to DeVeaux Woods State Park which is situate on the opposite {east} side of Robert Moses Parkway) ;  3) there is the “Great Gorge Railway Trail” (yep, there was a former tourist railway into the lower gorge, it closed down approx in the 1930s) that leaves the Gorge Rim Trail and heads northward sloping downward into the gorge (the Great Gorge Railway Trail trailhead is situate about 2/3 the distance south from the Whirlpool Bridge and 1/3 the distance north from the Rainbow Bridge) which in looking at a map has its trailhead ~ on an east-west plane of Cedar Avenue as a reference point  (also could be described as nearly adjacent the area where the downward traversing sewage treatment plant road crosses under Robert Moses Parkway)  ;  4) EASY PEASY there is a newly recommissioned elevator most folks do not yet know about free and open to the public.  The elevator building, a rectangular shaped brick building along the top edge of the gorge, can be found a short distance south of the  “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center” (another hyperlink) the funky shaped kinda roundish/satellite-ish looking building formerly known for years as the Schoellkopf Geological Museum.  (There is an outdoor man-made climbing wall there too, point of reference.)  The elevator building could also be described as being on the “campus area” of the “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center” area of Niagara Falls State Park.

[detail note: The “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center” situate to the west side of Robert Moses Parkway should not be confused with the nearby Aquarium of Niagara (also a round shaped building located at 701 Whirlpool St, east side of the street) which lies just east of the Robert Moses Parkway.  (Of note, these two edifices are pedestrian accessible to one another, via the “flyover pedestrian bridge” that crosses above the Robert Moses Parkway and serves as a tourist and hiker walkway connection.  The pedestrian bridge landing points are as follows,  west-landing: the grounds or campus of the “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center”, east-landing: the west side of Whirlpool St which is directly across the street {Whirlpool St} from of the Aquarium of Niagara).]

The elevator building is immediately adjacent the parking area for the “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center”.   The top lobby of the elevator “SL” street level and the much smaller bottom lobby have limited hours of operation (about 8 hours a day, or so, but hours vary by seasonal dictate).  Hours of operation are posted on the entry door of the elevator building.  Please note, elevator lobby hours are not the same as the nearby “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center” hours.

At URL immediately below is a photo of the elevator building and the “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center”.  https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fSKbL86nUuU/VWJwgOSGjHI/AAAAAAAAH8A/W98ccpzeO84/s408-k-no/

The elevator at the bottom lets out to the newly built seasonal boat storage area for the American side “Maid of the Mist” boats.  There is a self guided tour pamphlet (available free in the upper lobby of the elevator building) depicting points of interest in this immediate area, and trails lead both north and south from this point near river level.  The elevator shaft itself, is the repurposed and reinforced shaft of the former Schoellkopf Power Plant. The ruins of the power plant and the power plant’s demise are pointed out via the self guided tour pamphlet.  So you’re definitely getting some history via the elevator ride and self guided tour pamphlet.

Still not sure where the “Niagara Gorge Discover Center” and the elevator to the river level are? (Both of which are within Niagara Fall State Park.)  Well, as a reference point, Howard Johnson’s Closest to the Falls and Casino Hotel, at 454 Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY (which in part has the iconic bright orange roof HoJos is known for) is within sight of this part of Niagara Falls State Park.  This HoJos is situate at the corner of Main Street and the Robert Moses Parkway, and is situate such that it is not crowded by other buildings, so is is easily discerned in line of sight.  Niagara Falls State Park itself runs from south and east of Goat Island to north of Niagara Gorge Discover Center” & beyond.

If you go to this Devils Hole SP hike, and have the time either before the hike or immediately after, well, … this elevator ride and self-guided tour is a “gotta do”, and its free.

If you go to this hike, and are looking for more hiker’s tips / options  and some info to use for after the hike, well …, exclusive info for S/T members may be something you wanna read.

And, perhaps too, if you go to this hike, you’ll come back from it having “Niagara Fever” with impetus & idea that this is an “away” hike worth planning for a future S/T Sunday hike.  Yep, even though it would be an exceptional distance to travel to a Sunday hike.

— Some hyperlinks on salient area history — 

lots more photos, mostly older historic of the Schoellkopf Power plant area

one website of many, that gives accounts of the Schoellkopf Power plants, and developments of the area

another history account

An on-line search of  – Schoellkopf Power Station – , and such similar terms will produce many results for reading.

*** Quiz questions.  What is America’s oldest State Park?  While on this related topic, what is the smallest NYS Park.  (hint, these are not one and the same.)

L

O

T

S

O

F

W

H

I

T

E

S

P

A

C

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… between the Quiz questions, and now the answers.

1. Now named Niagara Falls State Park and initially authorized by law in 1885 as Niagara Reservation, this is the oldest State Park in the USA.  The establishment to preserve the natural beauty of Niagara Falls, reclaiming the area from industry that had built up along the falls area did not come easy.
2. New York State’s smallest state park is The State Park at The Fair, on the NYS Fair Grounds near the Syracuse area.

This unique opportunity for a guided hike at low water level in the Niagara River gorge features Devils Hole State Park as the start point and heads down hill to the river and then up-river in the gorge before returning. { GPS Coordinates of Devil’s Hole State Park = 43.13346, -79.046684 }    The hike is listed as 5 1/2 hours but do not let that scare you, because with the distance to cover the hike must have a slow pace and substantial time for “look see”.   But, do consider this is a hike with elevation gain & loss & stairs!  This hike is offered on Saturday November 7th, 2015 & again on November 14th, 2015.

While this hike is a trek to drive from Springwater environs, it may be a rare opportunity (perhaps even a once in lifetime hike for you) for such a hike.  That’s why its posted on this website for hiker awareness and consideration.  Perhaps consider carpooling with some other interested S/T hikers.  (The Niagara Region of New York State Parks does schedule multiple guided hikes per year, within a number of Niagara Region NYS Parks, among one in the past has been Whirlpool State Park.  So, if you were to search in subsequent years at the right time, you’ll likely find some hike of interest.)  (note: currently, autumn 2015, Whirlpool State Park is undergoing construction along the top gorge edge where the trail along the gorge rim & viewing area of the Whirlpool in the river gorge is situate, so some access is partially limited.)

This hike is listed on the NYS Parks website as “registration required”.  Registration Phone # (716)-282-5154.

FYI – Devils Hole State Park has numerous steps / stone stairways from the top of the gorge to reach river gorge level (think gorge trail at Stony Brook State Park).  Albeit of note between the Rainbow bridge and Devils Hole SP there are numerous ways to reach the river gorge at river level from the top of the river gorge.  You may want to discern what route specifically will be used for this hike, by calling the registration phone number, if you are concerned about you ability on stairs.

——————————————————————————————————————–

*** MORE INFO ***  some of it excellent hikers’ tips and little known info.

Between the Rainbow Bridge area of Niagara Falls State Park (just north of the falls, yep, ‘Niagara Falls’) and Devils Hole SP, there are at least four ways to get from the top of the gorge to the bottom of the gorge. But first know that for the entirety of the described length – Rainbow Bridge northward to Devils Hole SP – there is a rim trail along the upper gorge, and there also is a paved multi-use (bikeway & walking path) that was formerly half the laneage of the Robert Moses Parkway (roadway) in this section.  Several years ago half the laneage of this section of the Robert Moses Parkway (closest to the river gorge shoulder) was decommissioned and given over to a multi-use recreational trail, that’s why its wide and paved.  (Currently there are plan proposals to make further alterations along this corridor.)

Listed here are four specific ways into the river gorge: 1) Devils Hole State Park trails (substantial number of stairs) ;  2) there is a trail in Whirlpool State Park, figure on stairs here too (Whirlpool SP is contiguous to DeVeaux Woods State Park which is situate on the opposite {east} side of Robert Moses Parkway) ;  3) there is the “Great Gorge Railway Trail” (yep, there was a former tourist railway into the lower gorge, it closed down approx in the 1930s) that leaves the Gorge Rim Trail and heads northward sloping downward into the gorge (the Great Gorge Railway Trail trailhead is situate about 2/3 the distance south from the Whirlpool Bridge and 1/3 the distance north from the Rainbow Bridge) which in looking at a map has its trailhead ~ on an east-west plane of Cedar Avenue as a reference point  (also could be described as nearly adjacent the area where the downward traversing sewage treatment plant road crosses under Robert Moses Parkway)  ;  4) EASY PEASY there is a newly recommissioned elevator most folks do not yet know about free and open to the public.  The elevator building, a rectangular shaped brick building along the top edge of the gorge, can be found a short distance south of the  “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center” (another hyperlink) the funky shaped kinda roundish/satellite-ish looking building formerly known for years as the Schoellkopf Geological Museum.  (There is an outdoor man-made climbing wall there too, point of reference.)  The elevator building could also be described as being on the “campus area” of the “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center” area of Niagara Falls State Park.

[detail note: The “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center” situate to the west side of Robert Moses Parkway should not be confused with the nearby Aquarium of Niagara (also a round shaped building located at 701 Whirlpool St, east side of the street) which lies just east of the Robert Moses Parkway.  (Of note, these two edifices are pedestrian accessible to one another, via the “flyover pedestrian bridge” that crosses above the Robert Moses Parkway and serves as a tourist and hiker walkway connection.  The pedestrian bridge landing points are as follows,  west-landing: the grounds or campus of the “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center”, east-landing: the west side of Whirlpool St which is directly across the street {Whirlpool St} from of the Aquarium of Niagara).]

The elevator building is immediately adjacent the parking area for the “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center”.   The top lobby of the elevator “SL” street level and the much smaller bottom lobby have limited hours of operation (about 8 hours a day, or so, but hours vary by seasonal dictate).  Hours of operation are posted on the entry door of the elevator building.  Please note, elevator lobby hours are not the same as the nearby “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center” hours.

At URL immediately below is a photo of the elevator building and the “Niagara Gorge Discovery Center”.  https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fSKbL86nUuU/VWJwgOSGjHI/AAAAAAAAH8A/W98ccpzeO84/s408-k-no/

The elevator at the bottom lets out to the newly built seasonal boat storage area for the American side “Maid of the Mist” boats.  There is a self guided tour pamphlet (available free in the upper lobby of the elevator building) depicting points of interest in this immediate area, and trails lead both north and south from this point near river level.  The elevator shaft itself, is the repurposed and reinforced shaft of the former Schoellkopf Power Plant. The ruins of the power plant and the power plant’s demise are pointed out via the self guided tour pamphlet.  So you’re definitely getting some history via the elevator ride and self guided tour pamphlet.

Still not sure where the “Niagara Gorge Discover Center” and the elevator to the river level are? (Both of which are within Niagara Fall State Park.)  Well, as a reference point, Howard Johnson’s Closest to the Falls and Casino Hotel, at 454 Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY (which in part has the iconic bright orange roof HoJos is known for) is within sight of this part of Niagara Falls State Park.  This HoJos is situate at the corner of Main Street and the Robert Moses Parkway, and is situate such that it is not crowded by other buildings, so is is easily discerned in line of sight.  Niagara Falls State Park itself runs from south and east of Goat Island to north of Niagara Gorge Discover Center” & beyond.

If you go to this Devils Hole SP hike, and have the time either before the hike or immediately after, well, … this elevator ride and self-guided tour is a “gotta do”, and its free.

If you go to this hike, and are looking for more hiker’s tips / options  and some info to use for after the hike, well …, exclusive info for S/T members may be something you wanna read.

And, perhaps too, if you go to this hike, you’ll come back from it having “Niagara Fever” with impetus & idea that this is an “away” hike worth planning for a future S/T Sunday hike.  Yep, even though it would be an exceptional distance to travel to a Sunday hike.

— Some hyperlinks on salient area history — 

lots more photos, mostly older historic of the Schoellkopf Power plant area

one website of many, that gives accounts of the Schoellkopf Power plants, and developments of the area

another history account

An on-line search of  – Schoellkopf Power Station – , and such similar terms will produce many results for reading.

*** Quiz questions.  What is America’s oldest State Park?  While on this related topic, what is the smallest NYS Park.  (hint, these are not one and the same.)

L

O

T

S

O

F

W

H

I

T

E

S

P

A

C

E

… between the Quiz questions, and now the answers.

1. Now named Niagara Falls State Park and initially authorized by law in 1885 as Niagara Reservation, this is the oldest State Park in the USA.  The establishment to preserve the natural beauty of Niagara Falls, reclaiming the area from industry that had built up along the falls area did not come easy.
2. New York State’s smallest state park is The State Park at The Fair, on the NYS Fair Grounds near the Syracuse area.

ILMPD 2016 – – – I Love My Park Day, is an initiative of New York State Parks celebrated annually on the first Saturday of May which in 2016 falls on the 7th of May.  It is an effort to improve NYS Parks from a grassroots perspective.  Many NYS Parks hold an ILMPD event and activities may vary greatly from one state park to another.  – – – Checking the NYS Parks website is one way to ascertain where and what some activities will be for this May 7th 2016 event.   two web addresses are:  parks.ny.gov  -and-  www.nysparks.com     Parks and Trails New York ( ptny.org ) also is a website to check for info.

This “event post” speaks specifically to – 2016 ILMPD on the GVGSP with Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) who will be working on clearing debris at one specific extant former Genesee Valley Canal (GVC) lock situate on the GVG.  This locale is situate in the southeastern reaches of Letchworth State Park, essentially at the hamlet of Oakland.   Any hikers interested in joining in to clear the extant lock of the former GVC which has now become the GVG should feel free to join in this effort. (Of note: lock 60 is a very short walk in from Oakland Rd, so this is mostly a maintenance event and not much of a hike event.)

Plans are to start the day at 9:30am, working and providing for snacks and breaks as apropos, and work until Noon, with lunch provided to volunteers at 12:30pm in nearby Nunda.  All volunteers are welcome, and if you need to leave early you are welcome to do so, easily accomplished since the ILMPD – Oakland Locks site is very near the car parking area.

ILMPD is coincidentally the same day that one of Springwater Trails’ own, Katherine (Secretary of Springwater Trails, and hiker/hostess extraordinaire), will be honored with an award at Livingston County’s 30th Annual Seniorama 2016, in recognition of the many community volunteer activities she has been involved in throughout many years.  So, … if you wish to attend both the ILMPD event at Oakland locks and the Seniorama event honoring Katherine, you’ll need to make  the ILMPD lunch at Nunda Historical Society pavilion at 12:30pm a quick lunch stop and be on your way by ~12:40PM to make it to Seniorama for the 1:30PM start time.

Below (between the triple arrowheads) is the info copied from the FOGVG website relevant to ILMPD – GVGSP at Oakland Locks.

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2016 I Love My Park Day – Saturday, May 7, 2016 

I Love My Park Day (ILMPD) is an exciting statewide event to celebrate and enhance New York’s state parks and historic sites and bring visibility to the entire state park system and its needs. Volunteers from across the state will participate in cleanup, improvement, and beautification events at New York State parks and historic sites.   
This year the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) have selected one work site rather than three for the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park.  Volunteers will clear the last lock (#60) in the flight of Genesee Valley Canal locks that begin at Oakland Road in Oakland.  We will gather at the work site at 9:30 am.  Parking is available at the parking lot on Oakland Road and along Rt. 436 or Oakland Road.

Volunteers should bring water, gloves, pruning shears or brush cutters, insect repellant, and wear heavy shoes and protective clothing to guard against heavy brush, poison ivy, and ticks.  Snacks will be available and lunch will be provided at about 12:30 pm at the nearby Nunda Historical Society pavilion.  Volunteers will receive ILMPD T-shirts.  If questions: email fogvg@frontiernet.net or call 585-476-2354.

Volunteers are encouraged to register at the PTNY website at http://www.ptny.org/ilovemypark/ or by calling 585-476-2354.  Registering in advance on the website is strongly recommended since it avoids the need to complete Volunteer Service and Photo Release Forms on May 7th.

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hyperlink –  http://nysparks.com/parks/189/details.aspx

The flight of Oakland Locks where lock # 60 is situate is accessed via Oakland Road just north off NYS Rt 436, in the hamlet of Oakland in the Town of Portageville (just a bit west of the Village of Nunda, NY).

Of note: On the 4/24/2016 Springwater Trails hike on the GVG, hikers learned about the former Genesee Valley Canal (GVC) and also learned some about the GVG too, at the AP&HS program presented by Tom S Cook on the GVC at the Avon Opera Block on April 24th, 2016 and then following the presentation we furthered some knowledge on the S/T hike in the Town of Caledonia on the GVG .  In fact in traveling to start points all hikers paused at and one group of hikers started their hike on the GVG at NYS Rt 5 trailhead, which was the same locale used for the 1840 party celebrating the opening of the first section of the Genesee Valley Canal.

Additionally, the following paragraph is copied from The Genesee Naturalist, a quarterly periodical about Letchworth State Park, the Genesee Region and surrounding area.  This ILMPD info is about the broader Letchworth State Park effort for ILMPD, as delineated from the Oakland locks of the GVGSP at the southeastern reaches of Letchworth SP.

“Saturday, May 7th, 2016 at 8:00am  I LOVE MY PARK DAY.  A variety of volunteer projects are offered throughout the day: tree planting, invasive species removal, landscaping, leaf raking an canal locks beautification.  Lunch and programming with Friends of Letchworth.  Trailside Lodge.  Volunteers may preregister at www.ptny.org  (4-6 hours) (led by park staff and others)”

Below (between the triple arrowheads) is the info copied for Letchworth SP – ILMPD (copied from the NYS Parks website).

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Saturday, May 7, 2016 09:00 AM – 02:00 PM
Letchworth State Park

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hyperlink – http://nysparks.com/events/event-results.aspx?pk=79

If perhaps you are interested in ILMPD efforts for another park location – you can start at www.nysparks.com and select the park and then select upcoming events.

Also of note, here are three upcoming hikes on the GVG.  All three are led by NYS Park staff.

* on Saturday April 30th, 2016

Nature Hike from Fowlerville Road to York Landing
Saturday, April 30, 2016 10:00 AM
Genesee Valley Greenway State Park

** on Saturday May 14th, 2016:

Quaker Road to Lehigh Valley Trail (Wegmans Hike Number 4)
Saturday, May 14, 2016 10:00 AM
Genesee Valley Greenway State Park

This hike is located in Monroe County just south of the Village of Scottsville. Take River Road South from the Village, or north from Route 20. Turn east onto Quaker Road (Rt. 251). The trailhead is approximately ¼ mile ahead. Meet at the trailhead. (3.1 miles)

*** on Saturday June 11th, 2016:

Annually, one of two big shindigs that Victor Hiking Trails (VHT) sponsors, is National Trails Day (NTD) observed the first Saturday of June.  In 2016 the date is June 4th.  VHT is of course one of many hiking groups that plans some organized observance on NTD.  Yep, that word “national” does in fact imply many groups across the USA observe or celebrate NTD in some manner.   Now, before I describe more about NTD activities, you were wondering what the other big shindig that VHT has annually.  Weren’t You?  Answer: the second big shindig VHT does is the VHT “challenge hike” in late September.

NTD in Victor with VHT is usually three serial hikes, with a break in between each of the three hikes for rest and refreshment. The first hike is a morning hike and the last hike finishes in the afternoon.

You can read about National Trails Day from 2015 in the the VHT newsletter The Pathfinder Spring 2015 edition (volume 20, issue 1, page 6).   And of course, you can check the VHT website for updated details about the NTD hike for June 4th, 2016.  A direct hyperlink is here.

Hosted by the Finger Lakes Land Trust

Join preserve steward and naturalist Eric Cosman for an exploration of the birds, plants, trees and other natural wonders at the Wesley Hill Preserve. Diverse stands of mature forest, a wide array of wildflowers, and sweeping views of the hills surrounding Honeoye Lake’s southern end make this site truly special. Don’t forget to dress for the weather and be sure to wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet.

Directions: Meet at the Wesley Road entrance! From Honeoye, take Rt. 20A east to East Lake Road. Follow East Lake Rd. south for a short distance and then turn left on County Rd. 33. Continue a short distance and turn right on Pinewood Hill Rd. Follow Pinewood Hill, then Gulick Road south for approx. 2.5 miles. Turn right on Wesley Road and follow approx. 1 mile to the parking area on the left.

Look for other events sponsored by the Finger Lakes Land Trust on their website.

Paddle Hemlock Lake on this Genesee Valley Conservancy (GVC) organized event.  more info at  – – – http://www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org/events

verbatim from the website – –

“Bring your favorite kayak or canoe to Hemlock Lake to enjoy an early morning paddle on this undeveloped Finger Lake.  Hear from local paddler and photographer Dwight Folts on the highlights of paddling this lake.  All are welcome but you must provide your own boat, PFD, and paddle.  The paddle will be your choice, head into the inlet, paddle the shoreline, or head out into the middle of the lake to satisfy your interests.

It is a morning out with friends!

*Event supported by Steuben Trust Company”

• Location: Take the gravel road from Route 15A at south end of lake to boat  launch.

This early Saturday morning GVC paddle event surely provides a different perspective than some Springwater Trails afternoon paddle events. All are welcome to this free event.

Here is an opportunity for some Springwater Trails (ST) hikers to hike a section of the Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) just south of Portageville, at a hike organized by “Southern Tier Greenway Hiking” (yes, a group of hikers who are part of Friends of Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) and hike the southern portion of the GVG, located in. … you guessed it the Southern Tier section of NYS).

Details are as follows:

Southern Tier Greenway Hiking                          Wednesday September 28th at 5:00 PM

This hike is located in Wyoming County just south of the village of Portageville. Going south on Route 19A from Portageville, New York, park at the entrance to River Road which will be on your left. River Road is 1.1 miles south of the intersection of Route 19A and Route 436 in Portageville, New York. There are no yellow gates here, but one can clearly see the Genesee Valley Greenway from Route 19A. Coming from Fillmore, New York, River Road is 8.0 miles north of the intersection of Route 19 and 19A in Fillmore. 

As one walks along, you can see farmer’s crops like corn grown on river bottom land.  Very colorful plants line the Greenway now. The pokeweed has an outstanding purple color against the red stem and green leaves. More purple is added to the environment by the New England Aster. Many yellow and orange touch-me-nots and goldenrod really brighten up the Greenway as well as bur-marigold. Nature decorations at this time of the year. Blue is another color dimension provided by wild grapes, dogwood, and Virginia Creeper. Sumac adds a beautiful red while turtlehead adds a soft pink. This hike sure demonstrates nature at its best!!! A great section of the Greenway to hike!!! Please come and join us for this hike. ( About 3.2 miles) 

You can also check the facebook page of FOGVG, for any further info or in event of some change.

For any ST members who go on this hike, you’ll have opportunity not only to gain new trail knowledge but also to meet hikers of Southern Tier Greenway Hiking.  This may open some doors on – possibility for sharing hike locale knowledge, and maybe consideration of a future joint hike.

Perhaps also of interest to some ST hikers.  There are two hikes remaining in the 2-year (2015 & 2016) Historic Interpretive Hike Series.   Series Hike 14 on Saturday, Oct 8th, 2016 in Allegany County – Towns of Belfast  to  New Hudson (in Wegmans Passport booklet hike #13)   – – AND – – on Saturday, October 22, 2016 the postponed Series Hike 11 (postponed from July 9, 2016) will take place in Livingston County – Cuylerville to Piffard (in Wegmans Passport booklet hike #7).

Both GVG Saturday hikes in the Historic Interpretive Hike Series start at 10:00AM  More details and or changes can be gleaned at the FOGVG website.  Additionally you can glean general info about the GVG from the GVG State Park website, and may also want to look at the links page which contains myriad info and links.