On Saturday May 10th, Victor Hiking Trails will lead a hike on the trails at Chimney Bluffs State Park, east of Sodus Bay (northeastern Wayne County). The hike will be 3 to 4 miles on varying terrain. Bring a bag lunch and something to drink. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy hiking boots. Meet in the rear parking lot at Victor Town Hall, 85 East Main Street at 9:00 a.m. to carpool to the trail head. Or meet at the park in the large parking lot off Garner Road at 10:00 a.m. Further details and a Map at www.victorhikingtrails.org

Additional details can also be found by calling 585-234-8226, the Victor Hiking Trails (VHT) recorded message – activity hotline.

VHT hikes are open to all hikers, no need to be a member to hike. For Springwater Trails hikers who want a picturesque and unique hike in Chimney Bluffs S.P. this is your chance. Join the carpool at Victor Town Hall at 9:00AM, and hike with VHT. This is one of a number of hikes that VHT & S/T hikers will share together in 2014.

Pam will lead us across the hill tops above Pardee Hollow.

This 3.5 mile round trip walk takes place on trails with some very wet and muddy sections.The walk features working agricultural fields and a forest along the Genesee River that is host to a spectacular sea of Bluebell flowers.

This 3.5 mile round trip walk takes place on trails with some very wet and muddy sections.The walk features working agricultural fields and a forest along the Genesee River that is host to a spectacular sea of Bluebell flowers. More information available.

Expect another great hike overlooking Canandaigua Lake. Psst – It is Gene’s 80th!

There has been a change of plans for our Springwater Trails maintenance day on Sunday.  Last week, flooding caused quite a bit of damage around Branchport and Penn Yan, including at Camp Good Days.  We have decided to travel to Camp Good Days on Sunday to help the clean up in preparation for their camping season that starts May 31.  

The amount of work required will depend on how many people volunteer this week.  As a result, please check the Springwater Trails website on Saturday for updates.

We will plan to be at Camp Good Days at 12:30 and to work until they quit for the day around 4:00.  Work will involve cleaning up debris and painting and probably other tasks to repair damage.  Please bring boots for the mud and gloves.  A rake or shovel would be good tools to bring, but put your name on your tools. If you wish to bring a wheel barrow, that could well be useful.  A sandwich and water will help sustain you through the afternoon.

After work, we will find a place to eat before the trip home – possibly Keuka Corners Pizza on Italy Hill Rd in Branchport.

Branchport is about an hour from Springwater, so car pooling is recommended. Good points to car pool would be

Springwater Town Hall – Arrive at 11:15 and plan to leave the town hall at 11:30.

Wayland Food Mart – plan to leave at 11:35.

Eastview Mall – please RSVP to info@springwatertrails.org to organize a meeting place.  Plan to leave at 11:15.

Melissa’s house south of Honeoye – please RSVP to treasurer@springwatertrails.org for directions.  Plan to leave at 11:30.

Directions:

From Wayland: Take Rt 21N to Naples.  Turn right on Rt 53 S (S Main St).  In 1.3 miles, turn left onto Italy Valley Rd.  In 5.5 miles, bear right onto Italy Hill Turnpike. At the T, (3.0 mi) turn left onto Italy Hill Rd/Prattsburg Friend Rd. Stay on Italy Hill Rd into Branchport.  Turn right onto NY 54A South.  Camp Good Days is on the left 0.9 miles down 54A.

From Rochester: Take NYS Thruway to Exit 44 (Canandaigua) and proceed south on Route 332. Go through the City of Canandaigua and proceed east (left) on Routes 5 & 20 for about 8 miles. Make a right on to County Rd. 5 (there is a small green sign that will point you to Penn Yan). Continue on County Rd. 5 to Route 14A. Take Route 14A south to Penn Yan and bear right at Route 54A. Take Route 54A straight ahead to the village of Branchport. Make a left at the light in Branchport. Look for the Camp Good Days sign approximately ½ mile down the road on the left. 

Alternate route according to Google and AAA: From Canandaigua, go east on Routes 5&20 for 3.3 miles.  Turn right onto NY 247 for 11.1mi.  Turn left ony NY 364E for 1 mi, then right onto Friend Rd. Stay on Friend Rd for 4.2 miles.  Turn left onto Friend Hill Rd for 0.5 miles, then right onto Guyanogo Rd to Branchport.  Continue straight ahead onto Route 54A. Look for the Camp Good Days sign approximately ½ mile down the road on the left. 

Please join us on June 1, 2014 for a combo special event  hike in the Town of Mount Morris and Letchworth State Park.  Springwater Trails is pleased to extend an invitation to members of the Olean Area Hiking Group, the Victor Hiking Trails hikers,  Crescent Trail Association hikers, and Ontario Pathways hikers to join us for the afternoon.

There are three main components to the combo special event:  1) A ranger led walking tour of the Mt Morris Dam, 2) three concurrent hikes along the Letchworth Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail, 3) an after-hike pot-luck social at the picnic shelter at the Dam Visitor Center.  You and your family are invited to attend one, two or all three components of the combo hike.  You may also wish to take advantage of the many other opportunities in the Mt Morris area.  Check both the Mount Morris and Mt Morris websites for additional information.

S/T characteristically plans three hikes to meet the varied levels of ability and interest of hikers, including 1) an easy hike, approx up to 2 miles with no taxing hills, with a pace aimed at looking at scenery, nature, identifying plants, etc , 2)  a moderate hike, approx 3-4 miles, 3)  a lengthier hike, approx 5-6 miles with no bones about inclusion of very substantial hills.    All groups take rest stops as assessed as needed.  S/T targets hiking time duration to be in the neighborhood of 2 hours.

Hikers should meet at the Mt Morris Dam Visitor Center at 12:15 (look for the Springwater Trails hike sandwich-board sign).  Hikers must complete & sign a brief waiver form as required by dam personnel before the 12:30 Dam Tour start time.    At 2:00, following the dam tour, we will form three groups to hike the Finger Lakes Trail heading south from the parking lot.  Since the hikes will be one-way hikes, we will arrange for car pickups back to the parking area prior to the hike.  After the hikes, at about 4:00, a pot luck social will be held at a picnic shelter near the parking area.  Bring a dish to pass (pot luck) or make a donation (suggested $5) to the social fund to help defray expenses, and bring a beverage of your choice.  The dam tour and hike are free and are open to anyone interested, and there is no admittance fee to this part of Letchworth State Park .  You do not need to be a member of Springwater Trails or any other hiking group – all are invited to attend.  Although there is no requirement of advance notice to join us for this combo special event hike, we encourage an e-mail reply to assist us in planning.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to stay for the social.

To assist in planning, please RSVP to damhike@springwatertrails.org prior to the hike.

Click for Directions

Looking for a hike on Saturday June 7, 2014?  Well, our friends at Victor Hiking Trails (VHT) have three separate hikes at three separate times on this Saturday morning & afternoon.  All are scheduled at Fishers Fire Station.  A quick on site breakfast snack and a pizza lunch are part of the plans.   Hikers can hike any one, two or three of the hikes.   More details can be gleaned from the Victor Hiking Trails website.

Please join Hunt Country Vineyards and the Humane Society of Yates County in a Dog Hike at the Vineyard.  Details at http://www.huntwines.com/Dog-Walk.

This week’s hike will be on the East Ridge in Dansville and will include a hike through Whiteman Gully on Little Mill Creek.  The highlight will be a beautiful waterfall on Little Mill Creek.  Please plan to be there at 3:45pm so cars can be relocated for the Naturalists.  More details below. NOTE: Hike starts at 4pm this week!

There will be a social event after the hike at the Rounsville’s. Jerri will prepare lasagna. Either bring a dish to pass or make a donation (suggested $5) to the social fund to help defray expenses, and bring a beverage of your choice.

Climbers/Tourists: The climbers and tourists will begin the hike at the Rounsville’s house.  This hike will pass through Alexander’s tree farm and forest terrain with some of it following logging trails. The hike involves about a 200’-300’ descent to reach Whiteman Gully.  After viewing the waterfall the hike will continue on to the old Dansville railroad bed for a flat walk, finishing with a medium, but long climb back up to Lafford’s house and finishing at the Rounsville’s.

Naturalists: This hike will begin at Whiteman Gully.  After viewing the waterfall and the seasonal wild life plants the hike will continue on to the old Dansville railroad bed for a flat walk, finishing at the north end of the trail. There will transportation to bring the Naturists back up the hill to the social.

Directions:

From Main St. in Dansville, heading south on 63 leaving town,turn left on Sahrle Hill Road for 1.3 miles. Turn left on Mendoleine Rd for 0.6mi to the top of the hill, then left on Sterner Rd until it turns into McNeil Hill Rd. Follow McNeil Hill Rd until you reach a fenced in pasture on your left. Turn in the first driveway at Maple Lane Farm. Follow the long driveway to the Rounsville’s home.

From Wayland: From Rt 15, take NY 63 North (compass direction is west) toward Dansville for 3.3 miles. Turn right on Whiteman Gully Rd for 0.8 miles and take the first right onto Mendoleine Rd. Turn left onto Sterner Rd on top of the hill.  After 0.7mi, continue straight on McNeil Hill Rd until you reach a fenced in pasture on your left. Turn in the first driveway at Maple Lane Farm. Follow the long driveway to the Rounsville’s home.

From Rochester: Take I-390 South to exit 9.  Turn left onto NY 15 toward Lakeville. After one mile continue straight onto NY 256 when 15 bears to the left. Follow 2565 for 19.1 miles past the full length of Conesus Lake.  Turn left on Reeds Corners Rd. Take the first right on Depot Rd, then the first left on Vista Hill Rd (County Line Rd) for 1.2 miles.  Take the first right on Kidd Rd and then right on McNeil Rd. Continue straight on McNeil Hill Rd until you reach a fenced in pasture on your left. Turn in the first driveway at Maple Lane Farm. Follow the long driveway to the Rounsville’s home.