This Sunday, our Bicentennial Hike will follow a section of the old Erie Railroad. This section has been very well maintained by the many private landowners and runs along the west hillside overlooking Lawrence Gull and the Springwater valley. Springwater Trails Hiking Group would like to thank the many private landowners that allow us to hike on their properties.

We will start the hike off Becker Road where the Erie Railroad once crossed and walk the railroad bed for about two miles to the north. There are some side trails heading up the hill toward Harpers Ferry Rd. The Climbers will venture off on some of the side trails where permitted returning back down to the railroad bed to continue on north.

At about 3:15, all groups will turn around and follow the railroad bed back to Becker Rd. The Naturalists will have the option to exit the railroad via a private trail down into Lawrence gull where a vehicle will be parked to shuttle them back to the start of the hike.

The after hike holiday social will be held at Sammy’s Place on Rt 15 about half a mile south of the light in Springwater.

DIRECTIONS :

From The village of Springwater, head South on Route 15 toward Wayland. At the top of Springwater hill turn right onto Becker Road. Drive about 2 miles (past Lawrence Gull Rd). We will meet at Pokey Moonshine Rd to start the hike.

From Dansville, head east on Route 63 toward Wayland. About 1 mile from Wayland, turn left onto Buffalo Street. Drive for about 2 miles, to a spot just past Pokey Moonshine Rd where the hike will start.

From Naples: take Route 21 to Wayland and continue West on Route 63 for 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Buffalo Street. Drive 2 miles, to a spot just past Pokey Moonshine Rd where the hike will start.

It is time for some trail maintenance on the Springwater Trail at Punky Hollow and Sugarbush Hollow in preparation for the Music Fair on September 17th and 18th.

The Crawdiddies Band will be at the 2016 Bicentennial Edition of the Springwater Music Fair and American Crafts Show

We will meet on Pardee Hollow Rd near the intersection with Tabors Corners. Our task today will be to clean up the Springwater Trail between the Punky Hollow entrance east of the school house, to Sugarbush Hollow and Tabors Corners.  Bring loppers or clippers for cleanup and a weed whacker if you can.  Other tools will be available as needed.

We will split into up to four groups depending on attendance.  Each group will car pool to a different entrance to the trail, allowing us to cover the entire trail.

The Naturalists will drive to the entrance on the other side of the school house and will hike through Punky Hollow and Sugarbush Hollow and exit at Tabors Corners. This is primarily a cleanup task, trying to remove sticks and stones from the trail.  At the midpoint there are some rose bushes to push back from the edge of the trail while they are small. We hope to have a car at the exit for this group to use to get back to the start point. In addition, a few branches encroaching across the trail will need trimming. No weed wacker is needed with this group.

The Tourists will drive to the top of Coates Road and will hike down to Pardee Hollow.  Weed whacking and trimming as needed. Blazing signs at some corners are probably needed.

One Climbers Group will drive to the trail intersection with Pardee Hollow Rd below Sugarbush Hollow.  They will head west up the hill across from the Sugar House.  The will refresh the blazes and will weed whack.  At least one weed whacker should get to the tree plantation near the top of the hill and focus on the large task of mowing a trail across that mostly open field. This group may either return to the cars below the Sugar House, or continue hiking out to the trail head near the School House.

Our second Climbers Group will drive to the trail head on Tabors Corners.  They will walk from there to the Sugarbush and do a clean up on the west side of the hill.  Blaze signs will be used to refresh the blazes heading up the hill.  In addition, weed whacking up the orange trail will be done as time permits.  If time remains, week whackers should continue across the field at the top and join the first group cleaning the trail through the tree plantation.

Please join us following the work for a dish-to-pass social at the Punky Hollow Barn.  Please bring a dish to pass or make a small contribution to the social fund. Bring your own beverage.

Directions 

From Springwater: go North on 15A for 0.8mi from the light. Turn right on Wheaton Hill Rd. At the tee, at the top of the hill, turn right onto Wetmore Rd. Bear right on Tabors Corner Rd. After 1.8 miles, turn left on Pardee Hollow Rd. Park on the right at the end of the barn farthest from Tabors Corners.

From Wayland: take Rt 21N for 3 miles. Turn left on Steuben Co Rd 37 (Tabors Corners Rd) at the Bowles Corners sign. Take the second right (3.6 miles) onto Pardee Hollow Rd. Park on the right.

From Honeoye: take W Lake Rd south. Turn right onto French Hill Rd. At the tee (at Dug Rd) turn right to stay on French Hill Rd. Take the first left on Garlinghouse/Atlanta Rd. Go Right on Pardee Hollow Rd and continue for 3.8 miles. Turn right to stay on Pardee Hollow Rd for 0.3 miles. Park on the left.

This Sunday people will have the choice of biking the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail or hiking a section of it. The trail follows Keuka Lake’s outlet to Seneca Lake, starts in Penn Yan and goes 7.5 miles to Dresden dropping 275′ along the way.   Everyone should plan to meet at the Cherry Street Access in Penn Yan.

This trail is in a pretty wooded ravine, it was “formerly a canal towpath and later a rail road bed, it crosses the original Pre-Emption Line and passes near the area of the first permanent white settlement of ‘The Universal Friend Jemima Wilkinson’, along waterfalls and ruins of mills, factories and canal locks”.  http://keukaoutlettrail.org/index.

Bikers will go out and back approximately 14 miles.  Because the trail is a combination of dirt, gravel and asphalt and somewhat uneven, hybrid bikes or bikes with fatter tires are best suited for this trail. Please let the Hike Coordinator know ahead of time if you plan to bike.

After meeting at the Cherry Street Access, hikers will spot a few cars at the Visitor Center Access on Outlet Road, return to the Cherry Street Access and hike to the cars – (approximately 3.7 miles – mostly downhill).

For those who would like to get something to eat and drink before heading home, we will choose a local restaurant to stop at.

A car pool will leave from the Springwater Town Hall at 1:00PM.

Directions: 

Directions to the Town Hall for car pooling are available here. Be sure to bring directions to the Access Point in case you need to drive.

Directions to Cherry Street Access:

From Springwater, Wayland and Naples: Head south from Springwater on NY-15S to Wayland, then turn left on NY-21. Follow NY-21 for 12.7 miles through N Cohocton and Naples. Turn right on NY 245N across from Bob & Ruth’s. Follow NY-245 for 8.9 miles to Middlesex and take a slight right turn onto NY 364E. In Penn Yan, turn right onto Liberty St for 0.7mi, then left on Elm St for 0.5 mi. Take a sharp right turn onto Seneca St (Seneca becomes Walnut St to the left of Elm St). Take the first left onto Cherry St. The parking area is on the right at the first Cherry St curve.

From Honeoye: Take W Lake Rd (CR 36) south to Main St in Naples. Turn left on NY 21 (Main St) for 1.2 miles. Turn right on NY 245N across from Bob & Ruth’s. Follow NY-245 for 8.9 miles to Middlesex and take a slight right turn onto NY 364E. In Penn Yan, turn right onto Liberty St for 0.7mi, then left on Elm St for 0.5 mi. Take a sharp right turn onto Seneca St (Seneca becomes Walnut St to the left of Elm St). Take the first left onto Cherry St. The parking area is on the right at the first Cherry St curve. (Note: your GPS may take you through Canandaigua or South Bristol.  Both routes are fine.)

Come to a Celebration of Little Lakes History, providing a unique opportunity to explore the rich, local history of Hemlock, Canadice, Conesus and Honeoye Lakes and the communities of Hemlock, Canadice, Conesus, Richmond and Springwater. This event is free and open to the public.

At 2:00, visitors can explore each town’s history in the various “town rooms”. Local historians will be available to answer questions.

At 3:00, the keynote speaker – Lima Historian Doug Morgan – will present an entertaining and informative show highlighting the “glorious past of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes” in the Center’s gymnasium.

Starting at 12:30, prior to the event, a chicken BBQ with all the fixings will be available outside the Center, We hope you chicken fans have your tickets, because the BBQ is SOLD OUT!!

Viewing the west shore of Hemlock from the north boat launch.

After the history program at the Jack Evans Community Center, Springwater Trails will lead a shortened hike along the west side of Hemlock Lake. We will take some time to view the old cottage foundations along the trail.

This will be an abbreviated hike, lasting about one hour.  The trail is intended to be level, but creeks that have washed out parts of the trail will require some careful climbing.  We may also venture out on the shoreline, to take advantage of the lower water level of the lake.

A chicken BBQ will be available before the history program at 12:30. We will not have a social following the hike.

Directions:  

From The Jack Evans Community Center: Head south on NY-15A for 0.9 miles.  Take the first right turn onto Rix Hill Road.  Park near the Kiosk on the left on the far side of Hemlock Lake.

From Springwater: Go north on NY-15A for 10.1 miles from the light in Springwater. Turn left at the north end of Bald Hill onto Rix Hill Road. Continue on Rix Hill Rd past the Hemlock Lake Park to the Kiosk on the west side of Hemlock Lake.

This month’s Bicentennial Hike is celebrating the one room school houses in Springwater. Our hike will start at the Punky Hollow School #17, located on Pardee Hollow, just down the hill from the Springwater Music Fair which is running both Saturday and Sunday. This hike will be approximately one hour and is open to everyone – admission to the fair is not required.

Hikers are invited to come to the Music Fair and enjoy the bands, check out the crafts and enjoy some good food. In addition, the East Springwater Historical Museum will be open Sunday afternoon, so you can view some of the history of School #17.

We will all meet at 2:00 in front of the school house. We will start the hike by exploring the property around the school itself, and then will travel on the Springwater Trail around the edge of the Punky Hollow Farm and return to the school house at about 3:00.  For hikers attending the Fair, we will continue the hike up to the Fair grounds and explore the trails “up top” if time permits.

In 1872, there were 17 school houses in Springwater. There are two other school houses in East Springwater, one at Tabors Corners and Wetmore roads, and another on Schribner Rd.  Both are now private residences.

Directions:

Parking for the hike and for the fair is available at the Pardee Hollow and Dutch Hollow intersection.  There will be a bus to the fair – ask the driver to let you off at the school house. Or if you don’t mind a short walk, it is less than a quarter mile from the parking entrance to the school house.

These directions avoid the Tabors Corners/Pardee Hollow corner where foot traffic from the fair may make driving difficult.

From Rochester: Follow Rt 15A south through Lima and Hemlock. From the intersection with Rt20A south of Hemlock, continue on Rt 15A for 9.9 miles and take a sharp left turn on Wheaton Hill Rd (CR 16). At the tee, at the top of the hill, turn left onto Wetmore Rd and take the first right onto Tabors Corner Rd. After 0.4 miles, take a slight left onto Dutch Hollow Rd. After 3.6 miles, the parking area is on the left at the intersection with Pardee Hollow Rd.

From Springwater: go North on 15A for .8mi from the light. Turn right on Wheaton Hill Rd. At the tee, at the top of the hill, turn left onto Wetmore Rd and take the first right onto Tabors Corner Rd. After 0.4 miles, take a slight left onto Dutch Hollow Rd. After 3.6 miles, the parking area is on the left at the intersection with Pardee Hollow Rd.

From Wayland: take Rt 21N for 5.6 miles. Turn left on Co Rd 38 (Garling House Rd AKA Rowe Rd). Take the first left onto Pardee Hollow Rd and continue for 3.8 miles. The parking area is on the right at the intersection with Dutch Hollow Rd.

From Honeoye: take W Lake Rd south. Turn right onto French Hill Rd. At the tee (at Dug Rd) turn right to stay on French Hill Rd. Take the first left on Garlinghouse/Atlanta Rd. Go Right on Pardee Hollow Rd and continue for 3.8 miles. The parking area is on the right at the intersection with Dutch Hollow Rd.

Welcome to the Third Annual Mushroom Foray at the All Western Evergreen Farm.  Three hiking groups are planned, all starting and ending at the farm house.  We will explore much of the farm, enjoying views of the valley and close-ups of the floral and mycological specimens.

Friendly dogs are welcome on the hike; however, a leash will be needed near the farm house and you can expect a few other dogs will be hiking with you.

Paper bags and paper plates for collecting and displaying mushrooms will be provided.  Those who want to learn how to collect mushrooms will be instructed by Gene and Georgia, and any other Rochester Area Mycological Association members who will be our guests.

The plan is to hike between 2 and 4 p.m., RAMA members to identify the mushrooms collected between 4 and 4:30 p.m., followed by a social (4:30 – 6:30 p.m.) hosted by Katherine at her house (AWEN & CTF Soups are the Specialty).

Bring a dish-to-pass or make a small contribution to support the socials.  Bring your own beverage.  Dogs will want to stay in your car during the social.

We will begin all the hikes at 6840 Liberty Pole Road where there is ample parking at the Christmas tree loading area between the tall Western redcedar and the bee hives (belonging to George Karadimas from Conesus- 585-346-0528).  The mushrooms will be displayed on paper plates on the tables indoors in the basement.

Directions:

If using GPS, please try 6840 Liberty Pole Road, Dansville, NY 14437 (the mailing address) so as to not have a problem.

From Springwater: Go west from the Springwater light on Rt 15 North.  Just past the top of the hill, turn left on Co Rd 38 (Liberty Pole Road).  The farm is on the left 1.1 miles from Rt 15 at 6840 Liberty Pole Road.

From Geneseo: Go south on NY 63.  About 6.4 miles after passing RT 408, turn left on County Road 1 at Groveland Station.  This road becomes CR 1A at Scottsburg (Route 256) and then Liberty Pole Road (Co Rd 38) after you cross Stage Coach Road.  It is 7.1 miles from Groveland Station to All Western Evergreen Farm.

From Honeoye: Take 20A west to Hemlock and 15A south to Springwater.  Then follow the Springwater directions above.

This Sunday we will visit the Auburn Trail in Victor NY. Victor is home to over 30 miles of hiking and multi-use trails built and maintained by Victor Hiking Trails in cooperation with the Victor Town Board and the landowners of Victor. On Sunday, we will enjoy about half of the nine mile long Auburn Trail. This trail is built mostly on the bed of the Auburn and Rochester Railroad, (later part of NY Central) which ran from 1841 to 1978.

Following the hike, we will gather at the VB Brewery for a social and to enjoy the artwork inside by Susan Prener, an occasional hiker with Springwater Trails from Fairport, and to taste the beer. Please bring a dish to pass or contribute to the social fund. Depending on the weather, a food truck will be available in the parking lot.

There will be two hikes available. The Naturalists will hike 2.5 miles starting at Phillips Rd.   The trail crosses under the Lehigh Trail, which Springwater Trails met earlier this year at the end of our hike north from Avon on the Genesee Valley Greenway. The trail next travels on the south west edge of the Lehigh Crossing Park, where we will pass two trail entrances to the park. We will save exploring the park for another hike. The trail will cross Rt 251 and continue on to Rawson Rd, where it becomes a road walk for a short block to the brewery.

The Climbers (and Tourists) will car pool to Fishers Road north of Fishers, NY and will start the Auburn Trail just north of the Thruway.  We will pass under the thruway, noting the mural of an old passenger trail on the wall of the underpass.  This begins a section of the trail known as the Art Walk. We will see some historic buildings as we pass through the hamlet of Fishers on the way to Phillips Rd, where we will pick up the route already traversed by the naturalists. In the Lehigh Crossing Park, the climbers have the opportunity to explore a short side trail and the continue on a narrow hiking trail parallel to the main multi-use trail.

All hikers should meet at the VB Brewery parking lot at 1:30 to allow time to carpool to the start of the hikes. If you are unable to be at the parking lot at 1:30, or if you are already carpooling in a full car, you may meet us at the hike start point. Both the Naturalist and Climber hikes will start promptly at 2:00.

Directions:

From Springwater to the VB Brewery parking lot (42.980617, -77.416947): Take Rt 15A north for 0.8 miles from the flashing light. Turn right on Wheaton Hill Rd, and left at the first cross street Canadice Lake Rd (CR 42). In 0.8 miles, CR 42 turns right and in 0.3 miles becomes Ontario CR 37. At the tee in Canadice turn left to stay on CR 37. Continue heading north, crossing NY 20A, then Rts 5 & 20 in West Bloomfield, where the road becomes NY-65. 0.7 miles north of West Bloomfield, continue straight onto CR 35 (as NY 65 turns left) In 3.2 miles, turn right onto Boughton Hill Rd. In 5.6 miles turn left on School Rd. The parking lot is on the left just before Rawson Rd.

From Rochester to the VB Brewery parking lot (42.980617, -77.416947): Take I-490 E to the Victor exit 29. Merge on NY 96 S for 2.9 miles. Turn right onto School St.  The parking lot is on the right in 0.3 miles, just past Rawson St.

From VB Brewery to Phillips Rd (43.002041, -77.453746): Head north-east on School St. Turn left on NY 96 for 1.3 miles. Turn left on NY 251 for 1.4 mi. Turn right onto Phillips Rd as NY 251 bears to the left. The Auburn trail is the second trail crossing Phillips Rd.

From VB Brewery to Fishers Rd (43.016540, -77.471770): Head north-east on School St. Turn left on NY 96 for 2.5 miles. Turn left on Main St Fishers, at the light before the Thruway. In 1.4 miles, turn right onto Fishers Rd.  Park on the right side in 0.5 miles at the Auburn Trail.

Hike and explore, beginning and ending at Dugway Road, a yellow loop trail that traverses a variety of forest types including shaggy hickory, thorn trees, pines, apple trees and field vegetation. Stid Hill was formerly a grazing area for sheep and other livestock and is now a multi-use area owned by New York State. There are a number of remains of old stone fences from those days of yesteryear. Multi-uses include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and hunting. Bow season is currently going on and while there are “designated” hunting areas, which we will not be in, it is recommended that hikers wear bright colors (blaze orange if you’ve got it, otherwise any other bright color will do) and do not wander from their respective group.

The trails we will be hiking are actually older trails, dating back at least to the 1980’s, which were “hidden” due to the absence of sufficient markers or maintenance. Less than two years ago, there suddenly appeared new markers and paint and a lot of brush and weed elimination. This trail was an unexpected surprise for me – it is lovely with its expansive variety of trees and differs from the more commonly uphill treks in its much more gentle inclines.

We will offer two levels of hiking – Climbers and Tourists/Naturalists. We will all start out together, up the old road, through the stop sign and along a ravine. At the third DEC yellow marker we will make a right into the woods and onto the yellow trail. At the fork in the trail Climbers will bear left; Tourists/Naturalists will continue straight along.

CLIMBERS will cover a little more trail at a faster pace…they will continue up the incline (not a real serious one, as this area typically offers otherwise) then make a right into the denser woods. Arriving at several large shaggy hickory trees that have many yellow paint marks on them (probably used a bucket of paint here) we will turn left, continuing on the portion of the yellow trail that heads south, through a grove of thorn trees, and ends up by a large stream. If time permits, we will explore the stream or rest on the scenic large rock wall bordering the creek. After a bit we will continue on, through a serene pine forest, and turn right onto a short trail that passes by an old pickup truck. Heading downhill, we will turn right onto the return loop through the pine & shaggy hickory forest.

TOURISTS/NATURALISTS, after traveling along the mostly straight trail, with just a few winds and bends, will turn left into the Shaggy Hickory & Pine Forest (yellow DEC marker on tree with obvious trail clearing), then at the end of it will turn left and follow trail back to ravine, stop sign and old road. There will be some soggy spots, in the area shortly before the turn off, due to remnants of an old, now overgrown, pond – but nothing vaguely approaching what we walked through back in April.

AFTER-HIKE SOCIAL will be at Lock, Stock and Barrel – approximately 3.5 miles south of Dugway Road, on Rte 64.

DIRECTIONS:
From the north, (Honeoye and Bloomfield) starting at Route 5 & 20 in Bloomfield, come down Route 64. 3.0 miles south of Rt 20A and 1.4 miles past Bristol Center (and CR 32), turn left on Dugway Road. If you come to a Stid Hill MUA parking area, you’ve come too far south – turn around and try again.

From the south, starting at Bristol Springs for 6.4 miles, come up Route 64 past both Stid Hill parking areas, then turn right on Dugway Road. If you come to Bristol Center you’ve come too far north.

From Springwater, Google Maps recommends heading north to 20A through Honeoye, then south on 64.

From Wayland, the recommendation is to take Rt 21 through Naples to the east end of Dugway Rd (4.5 miles north of the intersection with NY 64). The trail head is 1.2 miles west on Dugway, (Dugway is paved to the Bristol/Canandaigua town line).

Dugway Road, in Bristol, is a dirt road. The trail head is exactly 2.0 miles from the Route 64 junction. It’s easy to miss – it’s just a widening of the road after a sharp left turn. The trail head is on the right of the road and marked with a discreet yellow DEC sign a little too far from the road. Please park carefully. There isn’t much parking space to be had.

This Sunday we will be hiking on three farms on the west hill of Springwater.  On the following Saturday, two of these farms are holding an open house to celebrate the Springwater Bicentennial, so our hike will provide a hiker’s perspective of the farm and the open house will provide a farmer’s perspective.

On Sunday we will hike on

• the All Western Evergreen Nursery and Christmas Tree Farm
• the Petraitis Dairy and Beef Farm
• Amanda’s Garden Native Perennial Nursery

Following the hike, weather permitting, we will have an outdoor social at Amanda’s Garden with a campfire in the fire pit. (If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the social will be inside at the All Western Tree Farm).  Bring a dish to pass (or make a contribution to the social fund) and your own beverage.

Meet at the All Western Tree Farm, 6840 Liberty Pole Road, where there is ample parking at the Christmas tree loading area between the tall Western red cedar and the barn.

The Naturalists will hike the lower portions of the tree farm, including the Western Red Cedars in the nursery and in the wind break. They will then drive to Amanda’s Garden for a hike around the Garden with commentary from Ellen Folts. and on a trail that has been built through the woods.

The Tourists and Climbers will hike up to the Christmas Tree plantations, through a recently planted field and a field that is available for cutting. We will follow a trail back down to Liberty Pole Rd, cross the road and proceed to the back fields of the Petraitis Farm. After a loop around these fields, we will return to the cars and drive to Amanda’s Garden for a hike through the woods surrounding the garden.

Following the hikes, we will have an outdoor social at the Garden with a campfire as the evening cools down. Please bring a dish to pass (or contribute ($5) to the Social Fund), your own beverage and a folding chair if you would like to relax.

In case of rain, we will adjust the hike to end at the tree farm house, for an indoor social.

Directions: Click here for directions to the All Western Christmas Tree Farm.

From AWTF to Amanda’s Garden (for the second half of the hike): Turn left out of the driveway onto Liberty Pole Rd. The first cross road is Story Rd, marking the Town line between Springwater and Sparta. The Patricia Willsea Beef Farm (also part of Saturday’s open house) is on the north-east corner. Turn left onto Story Rd. Amanda’s Garden is on the left in 2 miles (just before Mead Hill Rd.