Category Archives: Sunday hikes

Weekly hikes for the Springwater Trails

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Rock City State Forest – Little Rock City Loop

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Please join us on Sunday June 1 for a visit to Rock City State Forest, a geological tour de force in the Southern Tier town of Little Valley, Cattaraugus County. This requires a longer car trip than most of our hikes, but we predict you will find it worth the extra travel time. Where else can you hike surrounded by enormous slabs of quartzite conglomerate rock formed in the Devonian period, some 400 million years ago?  The core section of the site, called Little Rock City, is a playground of rock-formed passageways, tunnels and passageways with out of the ordinary rocks, trees and forest plants.  The main Finger Lakes Trail passes through the Rock City area, and we will hike a portion of the Little Rock City Loop Trail, which passes through this geological wonderland.  The trails are mostly fairly level and well-marked, so walking will be easy but leisurely because there is so much to see. For more detail and photos of the site, visit https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-york/little-rock-city-nature-loop-trail

Because of the longer-than-usual distance for this hike, plan to spend a good part of the day getting there, hiking and getting home. We suggest carpooling, and have designated two collection spots for carpools – one on Route 5&20 near Interstate 390 Exit 10 (Avon) for those coming from points north of the Thruway, and one in the Village of Wayland, near Interstate 390 Exit 2 (Wayland) for those coming from Livingston and Ontario Counties. See directions below. Of course, you are also free to drive on your own or make your own car pool arrangements.

Also due to the long drive, we are suggesting a change to our usual Social schedule, asking everyone to bring their own picnic lunch to eat on the way down or before the hike, and to bring some finger food or dessert to share afterwards, before the drive home. There is only one picnic table at the site, so the after-hike Social will be along the lines of a tailgate party. Bring a lawn chair if you wish to sit.

Here is the day’s Schedule:

  • North carpool group– meet at DEC Section 8 Headquarters, Avon at 10:45 for an 11 AM start to Rock City  
  • South group– meet at Wayland Post Office at 11 for an 11:15 AM start to Rock City
  • Arrive and park at top of Little Rock City Road between 1:15 and 1:45 for a brief picnic – bring your own lunch and beverage. There is a port-a-potty at the parking area, but no running water, so bring plenty of your own water.
  • Starting at 2PM, Climbers will take an approximately 2 mile out and back hike to the south from the main Loop Trail, followed by an exploration of the central rock metropolis for a total of about 3 miles.
  • Starting at 2PM, Tourists/Naturalistswill take an approximately 1-1.5 mile hike through the central rock city area and the perimeter area.  The path is well marked, so hikers can move at their own pace, with frequent stops to examine and photograph the giant stones, mosses, leather-like lichens, wildflowers, and remarkable trees supporting themselves on improbable exposed root structures.
  • 4-4:30 PM  Return to the parking area for an after-hike social consisting of finger foods only – bring your own beverages and some finger food to share to fortify you for the drive home.
  • Those looking to stop for dinner on the way home can plan to meet at the Sunrise Restaurant in Dansville or elsewhere along the way.

 Important Travel Details:

  1. PLEASE NOTE:Do not confuse Rock City State Forest another site with a similar geology and name, Rock City Park. It is a private commercial park with an entrance fee, gift shop, etc. We are going to the State-owned Rock City State Forest in Little Valley, not Rock City Park in Olean.  For directions through Google, type in Little Rock City Loop Trail.
  2. Our destination is north of the Town of Salamanca, and access to the driveway and parking area is via Hungry Hollow Road, a mostly dirt road. You can approach from the east or the west on Hungry Hollow Road, but it is significantly easier (and shorter) to approach from the east. If your GPS directions send you around to the west side of Salamanca and Whig Street, ignore them and approach from the east side on Route 219, running between Salamanca and Ellicottville.
  3. If you opt to take Route 86 all the way west from Hornell rather than the scenic route on smaller roads, you may encounter a detour on westbound 86 between Olean and Salamanca.  The detour is close to 86 and straight, but it may slow you down a bit. Alternative is to get off at Hinsdale and go across country toward Franklinville and Great Valley.
  4. If you get lost or expect to be late, call Saralinda at 585-705-1865

Directions: 

TO NORTH CARPOOL SITE:  DEC Region 8 Headquarters, 6274 East Avon-Lima Road, Avon.  This is about 1.3 miles to the east of I390 Exit 10 along Routes 5&20, on the south side.  North Carpool Site is at 42.903155, -77.669295 

From North Carpool Site to Rock City, proceed southwest on  I390, to  Mount Morris Exit 7. From Mount Morris take Route 408S to Nunda, 437W  to Portageville, then Griffith Road west to Main Street in Pike, where you take a left and keep going on Dewitt Road (CR36 S) which becomes Fairview Road. At Fairview, take 243W to 98S toward Franklinville, Sugartown and Great Valley. In Great Valley, merge onto 219 South. In about 4 miles, turn right onto Hungry Hollow Road. Follow Hungry Hollow Road going northwest about 4 miles and turn left at the gate to Little Rock City Road. Go up the hill another 1.75 miles to the parking lot at the top of the hill. Total time – about 2.5 to 2.75 hours.    Destination at Rock City Loop is 42.208359, -78.707986

 

TO SOUTH CARPOOL SITE: next to Wayland Post Office, 23 East Naples Street, Wayland. This is about 1.8 miles north of Exit 2 on Route 390. Pull in to the right of the Post Office and park toward the rear of the lot.  South Car Pool Site is at 42.567710, -77.590258

From South Carpool Site to Rock City State Forest:  take Route 21 South to North Hornell, then Route 86 W to Exit 21, Route 219. Follow Route 219 North into Salamanca on Parkway Drive (right), Wildwood Ave (right) and Central Ave (left), a.k.a. Pittsburgh-Buffalo Highway. In 2.2 miles, turn right on Hungry Hollow Road. Follow Hungry Hollow Road going northwest about 4 miles and turn left at the gate to Little Rock City Road. Go up the hill another 1.75 miles to the parking lot at the top of the hill. Total time – about 2 to 2.25 hours.    Destination at Rock City Loop is 42.208359, -78.707986

Alternative route for last leg – more direct from Hinsdale, but slower roads:  Take Hinsdale Exit 27. Take Route 16 North toward Franklinville, turn left on County Road 18 toward Humphrey, then Willoughby. go to the left at CR 87 toward Peth. At Peth, go left on Route 219 S.  In about 1 mile, turn right on Hungry Hollow Road. Follow Hungry Hollow Road going northwest about 4 miles and turn left at the gate to Little Rock City Road. Go up the hill another 1.75 miles to the parking lot at the top of the hill. Total time – about 2 to 2.25 hours.    Destination at Rock City Loop is 42.208359, -78.707986

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Hike Rob’s Trail – Hemlock Lake Side

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See related image detail. Hemlock Lake via Rob's Trail - New York | AllTrails

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 [email protected] 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.

 

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Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill Hike-Naples

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This is one of our group’s favorite hikes!

Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill is one of the highest points in Ontario County and located in the scenic Bristol Hills. At an elevation of 2,256 feet above sea level, you’ll enjoy expansive views to the East and view portions of Ontario County and the hills behind Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.

Location:

6475 Gannett Hill Park Dr, Naples, NY 14512. This address takes you to the entrance to the park. At the top of the Gannett Hill Rd, turn right to drive past the entry booth. Stay on the main loop road around the first curve to the west, then the second curve to the south.  Park in the lot along the right side of the road (All hikes will start at the crosswalk at the middle of the parking area).

The hike on Sunday, April 13th will begin at 2:00pm.   Please plan to arrive by 1:45pm, dress for the conditions and feel free to bring poles.

Hike Details: We have three hikes planned, but we can adjust based on interest.

Linda will lead a 2 hour trail around the upper part of the park. The Naturalists will head out to the Lookout, then back up a bit and take the white trail around the north end of the park. They will take the 2nd right out to the fields, across the fields to the lodges and back to the cars. This  hike can be extended by heading down the fields and across the road to the yellow trail, and stay near the road back to the cars.
Rick will lead the Tourists out to the lookout and will continue to follow the Finger Lakes Trail (Bristol Branch) orange trail to the mailbox. He will sign the group in and then follow the yellow trail back to the south side of the loop road and make his way back to the cars.
Meanwhile, Mark will lead the Climbers across the fields to the yellow trail, then follow the yellow trail to intersection 10 and join the FLT Orange trail. We hope to follow the orange trail down to W Hollow Rd where we will stage two cars to get climbers back to our cars.

The Social:

After the hike, please join us at Lock Stock Bar & Grill 5432 NY 64 Canandaigua, NY  14424.  All are welcomed!

Directions:
— From Rochester: The easiest route to the park is to take NY 64 (Pittsford Mendon Rd). When NY64 meets 5&20, turn left. It’s still NY64. Stay on 64 as it turns right onto 20A. Continue on Rt 64 thru South Bristol and turn right (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.  From the camping check in booth, follow the park road around the loop for about 1/2 mile to our meeting place at the crosswalk on the west side of the loop.

— 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). From the camping check in booth, follow the park road around the loop for about 1/2 mile to our meeting place at the crosswalk on the west side of the loop.

—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. From the camping check in booth, follow the park road around the loop for about 1/2 mile to our meeting place at the crosswalk on the west side of the loop.

—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. From the camping check in booth, follow the park road around the loop for about 1/2 mile to our meeting place at the crosswalk on the west side of the loop.
Directions to the social: From the parking area, continue around the loop and continue straight at the first stop sign down Gannett Hill Rd.  Turn left on NY 65 for 3 1/2 miles. Lock Stock Bar and Grill is on the left, past Bristol Mountain.
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