Whiteman Gully is a unique place – a pristine Finger Lakes gully untouched by any organized hand. It was privately held until recently, when it was bequeathed to the Genesee Valley Nature Conservancy.

This is a different hike to our usual long walk; it will be a hike of exploration along trails which are not long, but unimproved and requiring care. There are potentially 3 trails to explore, only one of which has been pre-hiked. The Conservancy web site speaks of “waterfalls” – plural – but only one has been seen so far. There have been no “improvements” to suit casual walkers on this property; if there has been rain recently the paths will be muddy but the waterfalls and the stream more impressive. To get a good view of the one waterfall that has been seen there is a stream crossing on stepping stones to be dealt with, and the section of the trail to get a view of the waterfall is short but steep; this pattern is likely to be repeated on other trails that we explore.

The gully does not appear to have been farmed or logged and the trees are big and old.

The Meeting Place

We will meet at the point where Whiteman Gully Road in Wayland crosses the stream of the gully (42.55731, -77.65159). There is adequate roadside parking on Whiteman Gully Road. First we will explore the trail to the north west and the gully around the waterfall. We will then return to the meeting point and explore the trail upstream and finally the trail the the north west on the opposite side of the stream to the first trail that we followed.

All hikers will walk in just one group on this hike, and hiking alone is definitely to be avoided given the uncertainty of the trail conditions.

Equipment

Gum boots or high waterproof boots and two walking poles are strongly recommended for the stream crossing, especially if there has been rain, and the poles are generally helpful on muddy and steep ground.

We will bring a rope to help on the steep section of the trail near the waterfall

Directions:

From Naples:  Come into Wayland on Rt 21 from the east. Continue through the two traffic lights when the road becomes Rt. 63 to Dansville. Passing the the Wayland school on the left, continue for about 3 miles to Whiteman Gully Road on the right. Turn right and follow the road for about half a mile; the road turns into dirt and drops downhill; the gully is at the bottom of the hill where the stream is marked by barriers along the side of the bridge.

From Springwater: Come into Wayland on Rt 15 and turn west on to Rt. 21, then follow the directions as from Naples.

From Dansville:  Drive towards Wayland on Rt 63 and take the second Whiteman Gully Road left  – Whiteman Gully Road follows an arc with both ends on Rt. 63 – then follow the road for about half a mile. The road turns into dirt and drops downhill; the gully is at the bottom of the hill where the stream is marked by barriers along the side of the bridge.

The Social

The social will be at the Sunset Family Restaurant in Wayland, NY.

NOTE: This Sunday’s hike was originally planned as a hike/Kayak event.  However, due to Harmful Algal Blooms on both lakes, we have adapted to a hike/social event only.

NOTE #2:  Due to limited parking for guests at Boughton Park, please RSVP to reserve a parking permit.  Offsite parking is available with a shuttle if RSVPs exceed our permits.

Boughton Park is located in the northern part of the Town of East Bloomfield, Ontario County.  From the 1920s to the 1980s Fairport used the two reservoirs at this location for their water supply.  We will have three hikes around these old reservoirs (now often referred to as “ponds”).    The trails are good with very mild elevation changes.  There is poison ivy beside the trails. If you stick to the trails you are okay, but be sure you can identify it if you get off trail.  It is often just beside the trails, but not on them.

Carpooling:  Parking (by permit only) is available at the trail head, but we are limited to 16 parking permits.  If you plan to come, please RSVP to reserve a parking spot. Let Renee know if you plan to carpool.

NOTE #3: If you are unable to RSVP prior to the Sunday hike, please arrive fifteen minutes early to allow time to park at the offsite location. If no permits a still available, we will arrange with you to park offsite and be shuttled back to the Park.  See the map at the end of this post.

Please plan to carpool, to preserve both gas and parking spots. Unsupervised carpools will start from the Springwater Town Hall or from the Sandy Bottom parking area at the north end of Honeoye Lake.  Plan to arrive at Sandy Bottom at 3:15 to leave promptly at 3:25 for the hike.  Or meet at the Springwater Town Hall at 3:00 to leave promptly at 3:10. Or, you may call and plan your own carpool. If you plan to

Hike Meet Location: All hikers will meet at the  Stirnie Road parking lot.   Please park at the Stirnie Road entrance, where the pavilion is located.  We will have parking permits when you arrive – so please be on time!  For clarity there is another parking lot off Boughton Rd, which we are NOT using as our “hike meet location”.

Optional After-Hike Social:  We are planning a social at the pavilion near the parking.  Please bring a dish to pass and your own beverage. Or bring your own sandwich if you prefer to not share, or make a donation to the social fund.

Hike Plans: Boughton Park consists of 330 acres and 5 miles of designated trails. The area has some rolling hills with perhaps 50-100 foot max elevation change.  The park is reserved for residents of Victor, East Bloomfield and West Bloomfield and their guests.  On Sunday, Springwater Trails will be guests. For more information, click on the Boughton Park link.

The Victor Hiking Trails Seneca Trail connects to the north end of Boughton Park and from there, you can hike all the way through Victor to Perinton and the Crescent Trail.

Hike Routes:   For a larger map, click on the map or check the board at the trailhead.

Climbers and tourists:  Renee will lead one group around both ponds, (including a new loop at the southwest corner), then north along the west pond, to the east pond, and south along the east side of this pond, followed by the gravel road back to the north end, and along the west pond back to the pavilion, this is about 4 miles.

Naturalists:  Saralinda will lead the naturalists north to views of the west pond, then on the gravel road to the east pond and to the Boughton Road parking lot and then back to the pavilion, 1 mile total.

Directions:  To carpool locations

Springwater Town Hall: Please be at the Springwater Town Hall at 1:00PM to carpool to Boughton Park.  Click here for directions to the town hall.  Remember, this is an unsupervised carpool and drivers will be leaving promptly at 3:10PM.

Sandy Bottom: If Honeoye is more convenient, please meet at Sandy Bottom at 3:15PM to carpool.  Drivers should leave promptly at 3:25PM.

Directions: TO THE HIKE: Set your GPS to (42.937581, -77.441284) or to 1911 Stirnie Rd (parking is on the east side of the road).

From Honeoye and the Sandy Bottom Park  (carpool location) :

– From Sandy Bottom, head north on West Lake Rd.
– Take Rt 20A east for 5.9 miles
– Turn left onto CR 2 for 1 mile, then continue straight onto Oakmount Rd (CR2 turns right).
– Turn left onto Rts 5&20 and travel 1 mile.
– Turn right onto NY-64
– In a half mile, turn right onto Eddy Rd.
– Take the first left onto CR 39 and continue onto CR 39 for 1.7 miles.
– Turn right onto Boughton Rd (CR 39 will continue to the left)
– Take the first left onto Stirnie Rd.  The parking area is 0.8 miles ahead on the right. (past a curve to the right, and a curve to the left)

From Springwater and the Town Hall  (carpool location):

–Take Rt 15A north from the flashing light in Springwater.
–Turn right onto Rt 20A toward Honeoye. After 4.0 miles
– Turn left on CR 37 to go north to West Bloomfield.
– Turn right onto Rts 5&20 east at the West Bloomfield Congregational Church.
– In 3.7 miles, turn left onto Cannan Rd, (its the first road that crosses US20 both left and right).
– Cross NY64 where the road becomes Bennett Rd.
– At the first road, turn right onto CR 39.
– At the right hand curve on CR39, take a slight left onto Boughton Rd
– Take the first left onto Stirnie Rd. (It’s a VERY VERY short travel on Boughton Rd) The parking area is 0.8 miles ahead on the right. (past a curve to the right, and a curve to the left)

 From Rochester area: 

– Take I490 East to the Victor Exit 29.
– Merge onto Rt 96 S into Victor.
– Turn right onto Maple Ave (Rt 444) (follow the sign to Bristol Mt).
– At the flashing light turn right onto Boughton Hill Rd (CR 41) (At Ganondagan)
– Take the 1^st left onto Murray Rd.
– At the T, turn right onto Town Line Rd.
– Take the 1^st left onto Stirnie Rd.  The parking is on the left after 0.4 miles.

Off Site Parking

We have arranged for permission for hikers to park at Parkview Fairways.  See the map below and be sure to park in the indicated location to avoid interference with Fairway customers. If you have not RSVPed, please come to Stimie Rd parking lot for specific directions to the Parkview lot.

This Sunday, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the unique arboretum at Durand-Eastman Park. Included in their rhododendron collection, are a few trees called mountain laurels, which are common in the Appalachian hills. The mountain laurel is in bloom at this time. It has a unique trick for getting bees to transfer their pollen, which we will attempt to demonstrate. When we tried last year, we were too early. This year, our timing looks better.

We will meet in the circle at the end of Log Cabin Rd. at 3:45 PM. We will then hike the trail, at the south end of the park, to the junction of Zoo and Pine Valley Rds., enter the arboretum at Pine Valley, and walk to the mountain laurels for the attempted demonstration. Afterwards, hikers seeking a more vigorous walk are welcome to enjoy some of the park’s nice hiking trails and return to the Log Cabin Rd. Circle at 6 for our after-hike social.

There are 4 shelters in this area so, in case one of them is unoccupied, perhaps we can appropriate it. If not, we’ll just use the lawn (and hope it isn’t raining). Bring a food item to share or make a $5.00 donation. Also bring lawn chairs. I have a folding table but, we might be able to use more, if you have and would like to bring one.

Mark will bring a small portable grill, in case anyone wants to grill something.

Directions:

From the Springwater area, go north to  I-390. In Monroe Co., use the right lanes to get on I-590. At junction with 490, stay on 590. Get in middle lane, avoid 104 exits, and stay left to go toward Sea Breeze. At the fourth roundabout (you’ll see a bunch of flags), go ¾ of the way around and keep going straight west on Durand Blvd, which turns into Sweet Fern Road, and then Pine Valley Rd and then (at Zoo Rd) into Lakeshore Blvd. DO NOT turn on Zoo Rd, or you will have to walk from Zoo Rd to Log Cabin Rd because that section of Log Cabin Rd is closed to cars. Instead, take the next left on Log Cabin Rd. (past Zoo Road), go to the circle at the end and park in the circle.

Hikers wishing to carpool from Springwater should meet at 2:30 at the Springwater Town Hall and plan to leave promptly at 2:40. Be sure to ask the driver if they are staying for the social. This is a self organizing car pool, so be sure to be on time.

From Naples or Canandaigua, head north to the Thruway and I-490 west. Stay right to exit onto 590 north. Get in middle lane, avoid 104 exits, and stay left to go toward Sea Breeze. At the fourth roundabout (you’ll see a bunch of flags), go ¾ of the way around and keep going straight west on Durand Blvd, which turns into Sweet Fern Road, and then Pine Valley Rd and then (at Zoo Rd) into Lakeshore Blvd. DO NOT turn on Zoo Rd, or you will have to walk from Zoo Rd to Log Cabin Rd because that section of Log Cabin Rd is closed to cars. Instead, take the next left on Log Cabin Rd. (past Zoo Road), go to the circle at the end and park in the circle.

From Honeoye, there are several ways to get to 590 north. Google maps is suggesting Clover St to Monroe Ave and then get on I-590, but it depends on traffic.  So I am going to leave it to each driver to find their way to I-590 or I-490 and then follow the directions above.

Finally, Happy Father’s Day to all my fellow dads.