This week, Springwater Trails is offering a hike at the highest park in Ontario County and also a bike ride from that highest point down to Canandaigua Lake at Woodville.

Join us at 4:00 at the entrance to the hiking trails on the west side of Ontario Park.  Bikers and hikers will all start from the parking area on the main park loop road.  Hikers will follow the brown, yellow and red trails for about 3.5 miles, while the hikers will ride roads around the park loop onto Gannett Hill Rd (South) to Seman Rd and then back north to Bristol Springs and down to Woodville for 17 miles.

Following the hike and bike ride, all are welcome to join us at Brews and Brats for a refreshing social.

Details

The Hikers will follow ski trails. These trails are shared with mountain bikers in the summer. The brown trail starts off close to the road. When the brown trail turns south, we will switch to the Park Trail and then join the yellow trail headed for intersection 10. Staying on the yellow trail to the next intersection (12) we turn left and head over to intersection 11. Again, left to head back north staying on yellow.  The yellow trail will cross the BHB and intersect with the purple trail before coming to intersection 6 and the red trail. We will turn right onto the red trail and will continue to turn right on intersections within the red trail until it returns to the park road. Crossing the road, we will make our way clockwise around a quarter of the pond and then across the fields (toward the radio towers) to the picnic shelters loop. There are nicely mowed trails through a Warbler nesting area. The path back to the cars branches off the shelters loop at the far corner.

Hikers wishing a shorter hike should stay to the left on the red trail trail until it gets to the road and then cross to the fields and back to the cars.

Bikers will continue from the parking area along the park road. At the first intersection, we will turn right onto Gannett Hill Rd. The next right turn will be at the stop sign for Seman Rd, where we will ride past the West Hill Preserve. We then turn right onto W Hollow Rd and will make note of the Bristol Branch crossing from the road, and the old Ski Valley ski runs on the left. There is another right onto Egypt Valley Rd, and then right onto NY 64. At mile 14, we will pass through South Bristol. Some bikers may wish to stop at Brews and Brats. Meanwhile, the remaining bikers will continue  onto NY-21 and head down to Woodville, where cars will be available to bring riders back to their cars. You may want to bring a bike lock in case we have more room in the cars than for bikes.

Bring water and your own bike if you wish to bike.

Directions: The easiest route to the park is to take NY 64 to Bristol Springs and turn west on Gannett Hill Rd.  There is a sign indicating Ontario County Park.  At the top of the hill turn right onto  South Gannett Hill Road.  The  park entrance is straight ahead.    Follow the park road for about .5 miles to our meeting place which is the parking area along the park road near the information kiosk at the Finger Lakes Trail trail-head. (Don’t turn off the main road into the camping areas or the picnic shelters).

Details From Springwater, Wayland and Naples: From Springwater, head south on NY-15. At the light in Wayland, turn left and follow NY-21 through Naples. Just past the village, bear left onto CR-12 (Bristol Springs Rd). In 1.9 miles, bear left onto Rhine St. Continue straight (In .6 mi, the name changes to Powell Rd and then in .3 mi to Gannett Hill Rd, and then in 3.2 miles it enters the park). Follow the road around the park for half a mile to our meeting place.

Details from Hemlock and Honeoye: From Hemlock, head south on NY-15A. Just outside of the hamlet, turn left on US-20A. Continue through Honeoye and turn right onto East Lake Road. In 0.6 mi, turn left onto CR 33 (Egypt Valley Rd.). In 6.9 miles, continue straight onto CR 34. In 1.6 miles, turn right onto NY-64. In another 1.9 miles, turn right onto Gannett Hill Rd. In 1.3 miles, turn right into the park. Follow the road around the park for half a mile to our meeting place.

Details from Canandaigua: Take US 20 west out of the city. Turn left onto Parrish St Ex. In 0.9 miles, turn left onto NY-21. Continue for 11.9 miles to the intersection with NY-64. Turn right onto NY-64 N. In 0.4 miles turn left onto Gannett Hill Rd. In 1.3 miles, turn right into the park. Follow the road around the park for half a mile to our meeting place.

This Sunday we have a choice of activities, both starting from Sandy Bottom Park at the the northwest corner of Honeoye Lake – a hike in Sandy Bottom Park and its adjacent creek, or a bike ride around Honeoye Lake. While we’ve done this event for the past few years, note that our starting point and the location of our social are different this year.  After the workouts we will enjoy a dish-to-pass social at the lakeshore in Sandy Bottom Park.

Everyone meets at 3:45 at the Sandy Bottom Park parking lot on Jack Evans Drive, off County Road 36 (West Lake Road), about .4 mile from Route 20A/Main Street Honeoye.  Hikers will explore the nature trails and wetlands of Sandy Bottom Park. Cyclists will circumnavigate the lake counter clockwise, first heading south on County Road 36 for about 8 miles to the intersection with East Lake Road, then heading north along the east side of the Honeoye Valley. At about the 12 mile point those looking for a breather may visit the Honeoye South Boat Launch for a stop (with rest room) by the lake. Continue north on East Lake Road to Route 20A (Main Street Honeoye) and return to the start by Main Street and West Lake Road. Total distance is about 17 miles of gently rolling terrain, with the biggest climb near the start.  Cyclists may go at their own speed;  please bring plenty of water, and helmets are required.

Social:  Please join us after the workouts for our optional dish-to pass social at the Sandy Bottom pavilion. The pavilion is to the east of the parking lot, past the Rotary Club building and next to the lake. Bring a lawn chair in case the pavilion is reserved.  Bring your own beverage and favorite dish to share, or contribute $5 to our social fund. There is no long term parking near the pavilion, but there is a gravel drive you can take to the left of the Rotary Building to drop things off for the Social.

Directions:
From Springwater: Head north to Route 20A in Hemlock. Turn east on 20A. Turn south on County Road 36 (west Lake Road) at the red light intersection. Go 0.4 miles to Jack Evans Drive, and park in the large parking lot next to the ball field.

From Naples:  Go north on County Road 36, and right on Jack Evans Drive just before reaching Honeoye Village.

From the east (Bristol, Canandaigua, etc): Take Rte 64 south to Rte 20A, make right onto 20A, left onto West Lake Road at the Honeoye traffic light, left on Jack Evans Drive.

From the west (Hemlock, Livonia, etc): Take Rte 15A to Route 20A, make left onto 20A, right onto West Lake Road, left on Jack Evans Drive.

Come join us for a hike in Sandy Bottom Park and its adjacent creek, or a bike ride around Honeoye Lake!

We will meet at 1:45pm at the parking area of Jack Evans Drive at Sandy Bottom Park, (which is located at the northwest corner of Honeoye Lake) off County Road 36 (West Lake Road), about .4 mile from Route 20A/Main Street Honeoye.

Hikers will explore the nature trails and wetlands of Sandy Bottom Park.

Cyclists will circumnavigate the lake counter clockwise, first heading south on County Road 36 for about 8 miles to the intersection with East Lake Road, then heading north along the east side of the Honeoye Valley. At about the 12 mile point those looking for a breather may visit the Honeoye South Boat Launch for a stop (with rest room) by the lake. Continue north on East Lake Road to Route 20A (Main Street Honeoye) and return to the start by Main Street and West Lake Road. Total distance is about 17 miles of gently rolling terrain, with the biggest climb near the start. An alternate course is available for those looking for a shorter and easier ride of about 12 miles; this will circle the lake part way going in the other direction, through Honeoye and down East Lake Road to the South Boat Launch and back. Cyclists may go at their own speed; please bring plenty of water.  Bike helmets are required.

Social:  Please join us after the workouts at the Bird House Brewery,  8716 Main St, Honeoye, NY 14471. For menu see: https://commerce.arryved.com/location/BeNKYUPu/modality/pickup

Directions:
From Springwater: Head north to Route 20A in Hemlock. Turn east on 20A. Turn south on County Road 36 (west Lake Road) at the red light intersection. Go 0.4 miles to Jack Evans Drive, and park in the large parking lot next to the ball field.

From Naples:  Go north on County Road 36, and right on Jack Evans Drive just before reaching Honeoye Village.

From the east (Bristol, Canandaigua, etc): Take Rte 64 south to Rte 20A, make right onto 20A, left onto West Lake Road at the Honeoye traffic light, left on Jack Evans Drive.

From the west (Hemlock, Livonia, etc): Take Rte 15A to Route 20A, make left onto 20A, right onto West Lake Road, left on Jack Evans Drive.

On the last Sunday before the 4th of July we will have a leisurely walk around the magnificent Maplewood Rose Garden in the northwest quadrant of Rochester, at the junction of Lake Avenue and Driving Park Avenue. Maplewood Park is one of two original parks laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted to highlight the Genesee River. There is good parking at the Rose Garden at the driving Park Avenue entrance. The link to the Rochester city web site pages for Maplewood Park is here

All groups will walk together on this hike. It is intended to be an slow, easy, relaxing afternoon in a lovely part of Rochester.

The Hike

We’ll take up about an hour of the hike with walking around the avenues of roses – there are over 250 varieties on display –  then we’ll walk across Driving Park Avenue to the Lower Falls Park, which surrounds the lowest waterfall on the Genesee River. The walk down to the level of the park is fairly steep, but then it’s easy walking on level pathways. This park offers superb views of the park, a sculpture installation reminiscent of a small Stonehenge and finally Rochester’s own hydroelectric plant. The hydroelectric plant is downstream of a large salient in the river which acts as a supply pond for the turbines.

The Social

For the social we’ll drive to the Genesee Brewing Company plant at High Falls, the highest and most upstream waterfall on the Genesee River in Rochester. The address is: Genesee Brew House, 25 Cataract St, Rochester, NY 14605. It is 2 miles away, going south down St. Paul Street.

Directions to the Maplewood Rose Garden

The address is Maplewood Rose Garden, 250 Maplewood Ave, Rochester, NY 14613. The first choice for getting there is to tell your GPS that this is where you want to go, and then follow instructions.

GPS isn’t always first choice; here are traditional directions:

From the South:

1:  Take your favorite route to the I490 heading west – which is compass north for those of us living south of the city

2:  Take exit 13 for the Inner Loop

3: Take the exit toward Downtown/St Paul St/Clinton Ave, then use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto St Paul St

4:  Follow St. Paul Street until you come to Avenue E; turn left onto Avenue E

5: Continue onto Driving Park Ave. After you cross the Genesee River the road becomes Driving Park Ave; turn right shortly after the river into Maplewood Park. There’s plenty of parking there

Directions to the Social at the Genesee Brewery

The address is Genesee Brew House, 25 Cataract St, Rochester, NY 14605. Again, the first choice for getting there is to tell your GPS that this is where you want to go, and then follow instructions.

Traditional instructions are:

1:  Exit the Rose Garden parking lot and turn left on to Driving Park Avenue, which turns into Avenue E across the river

2:  Turn right on to St. Paul Street and continue for 1.4 miles.

3:  Turn right on to Cataract Street and the brewery is a hundred yards away in front of you, overlooking the High Falls waterfall.