A hike through the Mitchellsville Gorge.

The hike on Sunday 10th March 2024 will follow a section of the main path of the Finger Lakes Trail in Urbana, just south of Hammondsport. It’s an easy hike of about 3.5 miles, and it follows the rim of a deep gully cut by the Mitchellsville Creek. This section slopes gently downhill from Mitchellsville Road  with just a few short steep sections. The northern two thirds passes through a dense hemlock wood, and the path is a soft bed of hemlock needles; there are views of the deep gully along the way. There are two ‘beauty spots’ along the route; about a third of the way from the top there’s a short side track that juts out over the gorge giving good views from a height, and about two thirds of the way down there is a pretty creek. Unfortunately, we can’t get too close to either spot; this section of the trail is on private land and we can’t wander off it. The gorge overlook is crumbling and is dangerous, and access to the creek is specifically denied by the land owner.

A hike through the Mitchellsville Gorge.

We will meet top of the gully on Mitchellsville Road  (42.404269 , -77.290893)  at 2:00pm and walk down the gully to the Pleasant Valley Inn in Hammondsport. There’s and FLT trail sign at the side of the road and a broad mown passage through a farmer’s field to the trail head.

The Hike

This will be a one-way hike and we’ll arrange for cars a the hike’s end to ferry people back to Mitchellsville.

All hikers will start together at the top of the gorge on Mitchellsville Road.

The Climbers will hike all the way down the gorge to the parking lot across the road from the Pleasant Valley Inn in Hammondsport. Please look for the trail markers at the bottom of the gorge; it’s easy to miss them and wander into the private vineyard.

The Tourists and Naturalists will start at the meeting point and walk as far as they are comfortable with and then turn back.

The Social

We’ll have a social at the the Mountain View Inn at 34 Main Street., Arlanta.

Directions

From Honeoye: Follow W Hollow Rd (County Road 36) to Naples. Turn Right at the Middletown Tavern on to Rt. 21 South, and then bear left on to NY-53 South. Continue for 17.1 miles through Prattsburg and then turn left to County Rd 13/Mitchellsville Rd in Wheeler. Continue along Mitchellsville Road until you see the white church in Mitchellsville and then continue about a mile or so, as far as the FLT trail sign.

From Naples: Take NY-21 South, and then bear left on to NY-53 South. Continue for 17.1 miles through Prattsburg and then turn left to County Rd 13/Mitchellsville Rd in Wheeler.  Continue along Mitchellsville Road until you see the white church in Mitchellsville and then continue about a mile or so, as far as the FLT trail sign.

From Rochester: Take I-390 south until exit 37 (Rt. 53), then follow NY53 north to State Route 13 (Moitchellsville Road). Turn right to County Rd 13/Mitchellsville Rd in Wheeler and then continue along Mitchellsville Road until you see the white church in Mitchellsville.  Continue about a mile as far as the FLT trail sign

Please park on just one side of the road. It’s a single lane each way road and is fairly well used.

Well, the title of this hike calls for winter activities, but I don’t see any snow, so please join us for an early spring hike.

We are planning three hikes for this coming Sunday (3/3/24). The Climbers will earn their stripes by climbing from the creek at the bottom of the valley up to the top of the surrounding hills (about a 300 foot climb). We will take a few minutes at the top to point out the approximate location where the sun should be during the April 8th eclipse. Expect about 4 miles hiking through woods and open fields with up some steep but comfortable slopes.

The Tourists will take a longer route to the top of the hill across the road for a different view. We are planning on a 3.5 mile hike primarily in woods.

Finally, the Naturalists will climb only about 100 feet to a trail through the woods along the valley. This will be about 2.5 miles depending on time.

Please join us after the hike for a social. If the weather behaves, we will set up a picnic out by a fire with marshmallows for former scouts.  Bring a  dish to pass and your own beverage (or donate to the social fund).

Directions:

Please note that Schribner and Giles Roads are seasonal between Strutt St and our home. Without snow they may be passible, but we recommend you use Quanz Rd to Giles off Strutt St. But preferably use Tabors Corners Rd to get to Schribner.

From Springwater: Head north on Rt 15A from the light in Springwater.  Take the first right on Wheaton Hill Rd (Co Rd 16).  Turn right on Wetmore Rd at the stop sign at the top of the hill.  At the end of Wetmore, bear right on Tabors Corners Rd.  After 3.5 miles turn right on Schribner Rd.  The driveway is on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. There is room for a few cars in the driveway, or turn around at the intersection and park on the the road.

From Wayland: From Rt 15, head east on Rt 21 toward North Cohocton for 3 miles. Turn left on Tabors Corners Rd (Steuben Co Rd 37).  After 2 miles, turn left on Schribner Rd (the second left).  The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of the intersection.

From Honeoye: From Rt 20A, head south on Ontario Co Rd 37.  At Canadice, continue straight ahead on Canadice Hill Rd as Co Rd 37 turns right. Bear right on Ross Rd.  In 2.7 miles turn left on Tibbals Rd. At the stop sign, turn right on Wetmore Rd. Continue straight ahead for 2.2 miles. Bear right on Tabors Corners Rd.  In 3.5 miles, turn right on Scribner Rd.  The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of the intersection.

From Naples: Take Rt 21 south for 4.5 miles to N Cohocton.  Turn right to stay on Rt 21 towards Wayland.  After 3.8 miles turn right on Tabors Corners Rd (Steuben Co Rd 37).  After 2 miles, turn left on Schribner Rd (the second left).  The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of the intersection.

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Loop Hike

This Sunday, Springwater Trails will return to the trails of Ganondagan State Historic Site at 7000 County Rd. 41, Victor, NY. This is a favorite location for hiking with trails contributed by the Friends of Ganondagan and by .Victor Hiking Trails.

Here’s a bit of the history of Ganondagan:

Ganondagan also known as Boughton Hill, is a Native American historic site in Ontario County.  It is the location of the largest Seneca village of the 17th century. At one time the community consisted of 150 bark longhouses and an estimated population of 4,500. his site is at the center of the story of the Peacemaker, who unified the five major peoples and created the Haudenosaunee confederacy, which survives to this day.

On June 13th 1687, 832 colonial regulars, 900 Canadian militia, and some 400 Indian allies arrived at Ganondagan to eliminate the Seneca competitors in the international fur trade.  The Canadian led troops  were attacked by 450 – 800 Senecas, but after a short engagement the Senecas fled to Cayuga and later resettled in Canandaigua.

We will decide the details of the hike when everyone arrives. Options include the Seneca and Dryer trails, The Earth is our Mother Trail and the Trail of Peace. These trails include both wooded and open grass areas, plus flat and hilly terrain.

The Meeting Place

A Ganondagan parking lot at (42.961511736583894, -77.41544238309267)

The Social

The social will be at Cheap Charlies: 8 Elm St., Bloomfield, NY

Directions 

Can be easily found using GPS

From Springwater and South – Take Route 15A north Just past the green dollar store in Hemlock make a right onto 20A.  Make a left onto County Rd. 37 just before the Valley Inn on the corner.  Take County Rd. 37.  Continuing straight it will become Rt. 65, then W. Bloomfield Rd. (CR-35).  You will turn right onto Boughton Hill Rd. (CR-53 which becomes 41) Make a left into the parking lot.

From Rochester, take I-490 to the Victor exit, then Route 96 to Victor. At the third traffic light in the center of Victor, turn right onto Maple Avenue (State Route 444). At the top of the hill (stop sign/red light), turn right onto County Road 41 (Boughton Hill Road). The Seneca Art & Culture Center is down the hill on your right. The entrance to visitor parking is the third driveway on the right.

Directions to Cheap Charlies

5 minute trip – Make a  left out of the parking lot onto Boughton Hill Rd.  At the blinking light, make a right onto State Route 444. Continue straight, Cheap Charlies will be on the left as you approach Bloomfield.