Powder Mills Park, off Route 96 in the Town of Perinton (just west of Eastview Mall), is one of Monroe County’s outstanding hunting-free hiking parks, with a nice group of wooded glacial ridges and lowlands on a 380-acre property with a fish hatchery and a ski hill. It has been a county park since 1930, after an interesting history as a gunpowder factory.

As you enter the park via Park Road, off of Rt. 96, on the left hand side you will see the infamous Mushroom House. This eclectic private house, built in 1970, resembles giant mushrooms. The architect, James H. Johnson, designed its five concrete stems and pods to suggest Queen Anne’s Lace (wild carrots). Even though it is a private home, there is a lane leading up to other homes, which you can drive up for a closer look prior to the hike. Please be respectful and stay near the end of the driveway for viewing and taking pictures.

Also, prior to the hike, just past the Mushroom House on the left, you can check out the Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park, which was established in 1933. The hatchery is open all year long. Throughout the year, up to 20,000+ brown and rainbow trout in various stages of development are raised there.

The Meeting Place:

Meet at the Rand Lodge Parking Lot on Park Road at 1:45 PM for group photo and 2 PM start. Water bottle, warm layers, hiking poles and good boots are strongly advised. Due to prior and same day rain forecasts, anticipating some slick, wet leaves, & muddy conditions.

On the day of the hike, two restroom options will be available: restrooms at Rand Lodge & a handicapped port-potty next to the Oak Tree Lodge.

The Hike:

The Climbers and Tourist/Naturalist groups will start off together, briefly stopping by a marker which tells the story of Powder Mills. From there, the groups will hike along the easy Trillium Trail (yellow trail markers), a .5 mile (one way) of wetlands and unique plant life. The groups will then cross over Woolston Road and enter the Pine Forest Trail (black trail markers), staying to the left; woods filled with pine, maple, oak, and many other types of trees. There will be a short uphill climb at the start, but the Tourist/Naturalist group should be able to manage it. When the groups reach a newly-built wooden trailhead, the groups will veer off to the right, picking up the Creek Trail (white/pale yellow markers). The groups will hike along this trail till reaching an impassible point (too wet and muddy); at this point, the groups will turn around and head back to the Pine Forest Trail (black markers).

The Tourist/Naturalist group* will then go right, heading back down the Pine Forest Trail, and then turn to the right to pick up the Creek Trail (white markers); once crossing over a small muddy patch of the trail, the group will go left, continuing on the Creek Trail, returning to Woolston Road; the group will crossover the road and return to the Rand Lodge via the Trillium Trail (yellow markers), exiting via the trail along the chain-linked fence and over the bridge (~2+ miles total). If enough time, the Tourist/Naturalist group are welcome to drive over and check out the Fish Hatchery before the optional Social.

The Climbers group* will then go left, completing the Pine Forest Trail loop, and then turn to the right to pick up the Creek Trail (white markers); once crossing over a small muddy patch of the trail, the group will go left, continuing on the Creek Trail, returning to Woolston Road; the group will crossover the road, continuing on the Trillium Trail (yellow markers). At the second Ridge Trail (green markers) path, turn right to hike up trail to the top, hike most of the Ridge Trail (has an overlook point that allows you to see west for miles & the remains of the old Rand household), before returning down the same path to the Trillium Trail, exiting via the trail along the chain-linked fence and over the bridge (~3.5 miles total).

The Social:

Please join us afterwards for our optional post-hike Social at Champps Kitchen & Bar on Route 96, located at 819 Eastview Mall, next to the main central entrance facing Route 96. Menu at: https://www.champpsfead.com/victor-menu

Directions:

From Springwater: Head north on 15A and make a right on Kellogg Road to County Road 37. Continue on CR37 to West Bloomfield, then continue straight on County Road 35, (a.k.a. West Bloomfield Road). Continue past Route 251, and make a right on Smith Road. Continue past Route 64 and make a left on Mile Square Road, which becomes East Street. In 2.6 miles make a right on Park Road. The Rand Lodge parking area will be on your right.

Via 490: From Interstate 490 – take the Bushnell’s Basin exit. Go left on Route 96, pass the Garnsey Road light, and take a right on Park Road. Go past the Fish Hatchery and Corduroy Road, then take the first left into the Rand Lodge parking lot.

The water in Hemlock Lake is very low at the moment and a wide swath of beach is exposed. We will take advantage of the unusual conditions to walk a few miles to the south and back on this Sunday hike. The beach is generally 12-15 feet wide and varies between stony and rough stone chips. It will be a slow and careful walk but there’s plenty to see along the way and the lake and the late autumn woods on the opposite shore are very scenic. For those who prefer the easier dirt road parallel to the shoreline, there are several points to switch back and forth between the beach and the road. As a bow hunting season precaution, please wear some red or orange outerwear.

Meet at the north boat launch, at the end of the old east lake road, a sharp left after you first enter Rix Hill Road from Route 15A.  This will be an out and back hike; we will all start out with a group on the beach and a group on the shore. All hikers may return at any time they are ready, or switch between groups at about the one mile point or about the two mile point. Ambitious hikers may want to head partway up Rob’s Trail after about 3 miles, where it veers to the east and up the hill.

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.

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.

From Penn Yan:  Take 54A across the north end of Keuka Lake to Branchport. Continue straight onto Italy Hill Rd (CR32). In 4.9 miles, turn left to stay on Italy Hill Rd and take the 2nd right onto Italy Hill Turnpike (CR34). At the bottom of the hill (3 miles) stay to the left onto Italy Valley Rd (CR18). On entering Ontario County, Italy Valley Rd becomes CR21. Continue to the T and turn right onto NY 53 into Naples. Continue straight onto NY 21 North past the Wayside Market and turn left onto Clark St (CR 36). Continue for about 15 miles along Honeoye Lake. Turn left at the light onto US 20A. In 4.8 miles, turn At 0.7miles past the intersection with 20A, take the first right onto Rix Hill Rd into the Hemlock Lake Park. Take the first left and follow the boat launch road to the end.

To the Social: From the Boat Launch parking area, return to Rix Hill Road, make a right and then a left on Route 15A. Go .6 miles and make a right on Route 20A. In about 4.75 miles you will reach the traffic light in Honeoye. A few buildings beyond the light is Birdhouse Brewing on the left at #8716.