Join us on Sunday April 27 to hike the west side of Rob’s Trail, the DEC/Nature Conservancy property in the northeast corner of Hemlock Lake.  Options are to hike out and back to the south along the trail from the North Hemlock Boat Launch, or to car pool up to the Hemlock Side trailhead on Route 15A and hike down the hill and north along the trail back to the boat launch.  In the flat part of the trail there may be small streams to ford by wading or jumping, so waterproof footwear and poles are advised.

Meet at the north boat launch, at the end of Boat Launch Road, a sharp left after you first enter Rix Hill Road from Route 15A.  Naturalists/Tourists will hike south for an hour, or as far as you want, and then return. Climbers (or in this case Descenders) will climb into a few cars and head for the Rob’s Trailhead on the right (west) side of Route 15A (not the one on the east side, off South Old Bald Hill Road). From there we will take the trail back to the start, a total of about 4.5 miles.   Please respond to info@springwatertrails.org if you plan to join the longer hike and can volunteer for the car pool.

Social: Please join us at the Bird House Brewery in Honeoye – 8716 Main Street, just east of the traffic light, for craft beer and pub food.

Directions:

From Springwater: proceed north on Route 15A 19 miles, then make a left on Rix Hill Road and an immediate left on Old East Lake Road, a.k.a Boat Launch Road.

From Honeoye and points east:  Take Route 20A west from the Bristol Valley and Honeoye. When 20A meets Route 15A, make a left and go about .6 miles to Rix Hill Road. Make a right and then an immediate left on the dead end road to the boat launch parking area in one mile.

From Rochester and points west: Take Route 15 south from Henrietta or Route 15A south from Honeoye Falls, or Route 390 south to the Lakeville-Livonia exit, then go south on Route 15 and then east on Route 20A  through Hemlock. When Route 20A turns east toward Honeoye, go straight another .6 miles and make a right on Rix Hill Road. Then make an immediate left onto the boat launch road and go to the end, 1 mile.

Tour of Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse and Hike or Bike Genesee Riverway Trail

A special treat has been planned for this hike date!  We have been invited to tour the Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse BEFORE our regular scheduled hike time.  For those interested in the tour, you will need to RSVP Kelly Rell (kellrell@verizon.net) NO LATER than FRIDAY 5/2/25 by 10AM so that the Lighthouse can have enough tour guides for the group.  Plan on an hour for the lighthouse and home tour. Note there is an admission fee of $5.00 for adults aged 18 and over.

Please plan to arrive by 12:45pm for the tour.

Hike:

We will meet at Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse (in the parking lot of the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church) at 1:45pm for our hike or bike to Turning Point Park.

Cyclists: will follow the Genesee Riverway Trail down to Turning Point Park and beyond doing a 1 hour loop and return.

Climbers: After climbing the lighthouse steps they will follow the Genesee Riverway Trail the 2.2 miles to Turning Point Park and return.  If time allows they can add a walk towards Lake Ontario Park.

Naturalists/Tourists: Will follow the Genesee Riverway Trail for a 1 hour loop and return.

PARKING: Parking for the Lighthouse shares the lot with Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church at 4492 Lake Avenue, Rochester, NY 14612.  Please use the address of the church for your GPS.

Social:

Will be held at the Hose 22 Firehouse Grill, 56 Stutson Street, Rochester, NY  14612

http://www.hose22.com

Directions to Social: Turn left onto Lake Avenue out of the Church parking lot.  Go 2 blocks and turn into parking lot for Hose 22 Firehouse.  You can enter off of Lake Avenue or by turning left onto Stutson St.  You can also leave your car at the church lot and walk down to the social!

Mertensia flowers unite!  More details to follow about this very special hike.  Please check back.

Please join us on Sunday, May 7th to hike the newly renovated Hickory Ridge Trail (formerly known as the West Hill Preserve), off Seman Road in Naples. Hickory Ridge is alive with migrating birds in the spring. Over 150 bird species have been identified at the preserve. The list includes 10 species of hawks and falcons, 12 species of sparrows and 20 species of warblers. Listen for the signature drumming of ruffed grouse and the “who cooks for you” call of the barred owl.

Meet at 1:45pm for a 2:00pm start at 6795 Seman Road, Naples. All groups will start on the same route, with the Climbers completing the full counterclockwise loop of about 4 miles and the Tourists and Naturalists tackling the easier east side of the loop and returning as they came, for a total of 2-3 miles.  The trails are all wooded, well-groomed and wide, with gentle elevation gains. Dress appropriately for the weather.

Our Social-location will be communicated at a later date.

Directions:

From Springwater: Go south to Wayland and east on Route 21, through Naples. At .4 miles past Bob and Ruth’s and Route 245, take the first left onto County Road 12. IN 1.8 miles, take the left fork onto Rhine Street.  At the first intersection (3/4 mile) go left on Seman Road. The Hickory Ridge parking area will be on your left in about a half mile.

From Honeoye:  Go south on East Lake Road, then turn left onto County Road 33 (Egypt Valley Road). Continue on 33 all the way to the intersection with County Road 34; keep straight on County Road 33, whose name now changes to West Hollow Road. Continue for 4.3 miles, passing Clement Road on your right. Turn left on Seman Road. Go 1.3 miles to Hickory Ridge Trailhead on your right.

From Rochester/Victor/Canandaigua: Follow 5 and 20 to Route 64, Then south on Route 64 through the Bristol Valley about 13 miles to Bristol Springs.Just past Gannett Hill Road, go right on County Road 12. Go 2.8 miles, pass the Scenic Overlook, and take a right on Oakley Road. At the intersection in 3/4 mile, go straight onto Seman Road. In a half mile, the trailhead will be on your left.

More details to follow soon!  Please check back.

Please check back for more details.  Note, hike time change for summer hours.

A very special hike has been planned for this day!  More details to follow. Please check back.

The Springwater Trails group is most fortunate to have been invited back to the private property of one of our members!

Hike: The meeting point will be 9181 Ashley Rd, Livonia, NY.   Hike will begin at 4:00pm. Please plan to arrive by 3:45pm to ensure timely departure of the groups. Hikers will start out flat, going through a wooded area and then we will climb a hill for a beautiful view before heading back. The trail through the woods can be muddy at times. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

Bike Details: to be posted closer to hike date.  Please check back.

Directions:  Ashley road runs between County Road 37 and Reed Road.  Ashley road is also the only road off of county road 37 between 20A (Valley Inn is in the corner) and Richmond Mills Road. If heading south from Rochester it will be a right, if heading north from the Valley Inn it will be a left. We will be the first house past White Road in the left.

Social: After the hike, plan to relax, cool down and join the group onsite at the Wagner homestead. Please bring a dish to pass or small monetary donation.

Welcome to the 12th Annual Mushroom Foray where Springwater Trails and the Rochester Area Mycological Association come together for a very special event!  Several hiking groups are planned, all starting and ending at the parking area at the farm.  The groups will explore much of the farm, with many opportunities to find mycological specimens.

Please plan to arrive early (1:45 PM) to sign in and to sign the RAMA liability forms.

Maps of the farm, 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 Climbers will follow the driveway up to the fields, turning to the left at the top. We will circle the pond on the southern portion of the farm and the spruce forest along the edge of the Christmas tree plantations. Heading west through the Cathedral Pines will take us to wet spots in the woods. We will return along the edge of several more Christmas tree plantations (Douglas-fir, Nordmann fir, Grand fir, Concolor fir, Canaan fir, Alaska yellow cedar, Norway Spruce, Meyer Spruce).

The Tourists will follow the driveway up through the woods, stopping occasionally to explore for mushrooms.  When reaching saleable size Christmas trees (Lot Z), head to the right around or through the Christmas tree plantation.  At the corner where the small Southwestern White Pine tree row ends and the tall Concolor fir are, follow the trail into the woods and back to the field and head west along the north field road to a hidden corner of the field with some spectacular 35 foot green and blue Concolor fir Christmas trees live, the size seen during Christmas season in a large mall.  If there is still time, follow the north field road next to the hedge row up to Story Road. We will return through the tillable fields, visiting smaller collections of trees and back down through the woods.

The Naturalists will start exploring under and behind the Western red cedars (thuja plicata or giant arborvitae) by the parking area and south to the Alaska yellow cedar, large Concolor fir and spruce, then back up through the woods to the right of the trail up to the main fields.  These are likely full of mushrooms, but you will find some swampy areas, so don’t get lost behind people’s homes along Liberty Pole.

All hikers should check their watches and return to the parking area by 4:00 PM to have their collections identified.

Mushroom Identification/Social

After the hike, several RAMA members will help identify the mushrooms collected.  After the mushrooms are identified please join us for a dish-to-pass social hosted by Katherine.  Please bring your own beverage, plus a dish to share or a $5 contribution to the social fund.

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 red cedar and Morton Building and Nursery beds. Follow the parking signs.  When we return from our foray, the mushrooms will be displayed for identification on paper plates on the tables outdoors.  Please dress for the weather, rain gear as needed.

Directions:

From Springwater: Go west from the Springwater light on NY-15 North.  Just past the top of the hill and after rounding the tight curve, turn left on CR 38 (Liberty Pole Road).  The farm is on the left (the high side) 1.1 miles from NY-15 at 6840 Liberty Pole Road after you cross Carney Hollow Rd. There is a sign for the All Western Evergreen Nursery & Christmas Tree Farm.  Follow the orange cones to the parking area and park facing the house.

From Geneseo: Go south on NY-63.  About 6.4 miles after passing NY-408, turn left on CR-1 (Groveland Scottsburg Rd) at Groveland Station.  This road becomes CR 1A (Springwater Scottsburg Rd) at Scottsburg (Route 256) and then Liberty Pole Road after you cross Stagecoach Road (CR 71), and finally CR-38 (still Liberty Pole Rd) after crossing Reeds Corners Rd (CR-29).  It is 7.1 miles from Groveland Station to All Western Evergreen Farm.  The farm is on the right (the high side).  Follow the orange cones to the parking area and park facing the house.

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

From Rochester: Take I-390S from Rochester. Use Exit 9 for NY-15 Lakeville. Turn left onto NY-15. Stay on NY-15 for 16.5 miles, through Lakeville, Livonia, Conesus and Webster Crossing.  When NY-15 curves to the left at the south end of Webster Crossing, continue straight onto CR-60 (Carney Hollow Rd) and take the first right onto Liberty Pole Rd.  The farm is on the left (the high side) at 6840 Liberty Pole Rd.  Follow the orange cones to the parking area and park facing the house.

If using GPS, use the map directions on the www.allwesterntrees.com website and make sure you are on Liberty Pole Road and not being directed to the center of the farm from Swartz Road or Story Road.  Follow the orange cones to the parking area and park facing the house.