No hike has been scheduled for this date due to the Easter Holiday.  Enjoy the break, spend time with loved ones and eat chocolate bunnies. This will give you something to burn off next week

Join us on Sunday April 27th 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 carpool 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 1:45pm for a 2:00pm start 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. The terrain is wide and flat with beautiful views of the lake.

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 carpool.

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

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.

Saturday May 3rd is the New York State “I Love My Park” day – the day the state begs for free labor to pick up trash and clear trails on the land that it owns. We usually do our bit, and this year the bit we have chosen is Canadice Lake. The trails themselves don’t need much cleaning up, but the parking areas are usually dumping grounds for some less courteous visitors and most of all, there is plenty of invasive Tartarian honeysuckle to pull up, cut down, or just destroy by any means available.

This Saturday hike is in addition to our usual Sunday hike!  

We will meet at the north parking lot off Purcell Hill Road in Canadice (42.74447,-77.58297). Please bring tools for trail clearing – work gloves, clippers, lopers and hand saws. We will pick up whatever trash we can find, but the bulk of the work will be cutting down and attempting to destroy the invasive honeysuckle.

Optional Social: Please join us at the Birdhouse Brewing Company in Honeoye – 8716 Main Street, just east of the traffic light, for craft beer and pub food. http://birdhousebrewing.beer

The northwest parking area for Canadice Lake is off Purcell Hill Road west of Canadice Lake Road. Please note that this is not a boat launch.

From Rochester and the I390 Exit 11 Park and Ride: From Rochester, take I390 south to Exit 11.  Turn left (south) on Rt 15.  The park and ride is on the right side.  From the park and ride, turn right onto Rt 15 and then an immediate left onto Rt 251 toward Rush.  After 1.3 miles, bear right onto 15A.  Follow 15A through Rush, Lima and Hemlock for 18.5 miles.  Turn left on Purcell Hill Road for 1.2 miles.  At the bottom of the hill, the parking area is on the right before you cross the Canadice outlet.

From Springwater: Take 15A north from the Rt15 intersection for 7.6 miles.  Turn right on Purcell Hill Road for 1.2 miles.  At the bottom of the hill, the parking area is on the right before you cross the Canadice outlet.

From Honeoye:  From Rt 20A, turn south on CR 37.  After 3.7 miles turn right at the white church in Canadice.  Stay straight onto Burch Hill Rd when CR37 bears to the left.  Follow Burch Hill Rd down to Canadice Lake Rd.  Turn right (north) on Canadice Rd for 0.7 miles, then left on Purcell Hill.  The parking area is on the left in 0.2 miles.

From Canandaigua: Take Rts 5&20 west out of the City of Canandaigua. About 4 miles out of the city, turn left onto US-20A and NY-64 S. In 3.7 miles, turn right to stay on 20A toward Honeoye. Continue with the directions above from Honeoye.

From Pen Yann and Naples: Take NY-364 W for 12 miles to Middlesex where 364 joins NY 245. Continue straight on NY-245 for 9 miles. At the end of 245, turn left onto N Main St (NY 21 S). In 1.2 miles, at the south end of Naples, turn right onto Clark St which becomes CR 36. In 12 miles, turn left onto Jersey Hill Rd (Gratsley Hill Rd is not recommended, especially in the winter when it isn’t plowed). At the end of Jersey Hill Rd, turn left onto CR 37. After 1.1 miles turn right at the white church in Canadice.  Stay straight onto Burch Hill Rd when CR37 bears to the left.  Follow Burch Hill Rd down to Canadice Lake Rd.  Turn right (north) on Canadice Rd for 0.7 miles, then left on Purcell Hill.  The parking area is on the left in 0.2 miles.

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

A special treat has been added 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.  

We will meet at Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse 4492 Lake Avenue Rochester, NY 14612 (in the parking lot of the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church). Plan on an hour for the lighthouse and home tour.  Please arrive by 12:45pm for a 1:00pm start time.  *Note there is an admission fee of $5.00 for adults aged 18 and over.

Hike:

We will meet at Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse 4492 Lake Avenue Rochester, NY  14612 (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.

This hike is a guaranteed crowd pleaser!  Please check back for more details.

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

A very special hike has been planned for this Father’s Day!  More details to follow. Please check back.