Category Archives: Sunday hikes

Weekly hikes for the Springwater Trails

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Return to Steege Hill

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Description

This preserve, maintained by the Finger Lakes Land Trust, is a perfect refuge during hunting season.  In fact, out hikers will be performing a service to the land trust by patrolling the woods as they walk.  No worries.  In sixteen seasons, patrollers have never encountered a hunter.

Steege Hill Preserve is about 800 acres, acquired in 2001 from an anonymous donor.  The forest is regenerating after heavy logging in the 1970’s and contains many species of hardwoods.  Preserve steward, Bob Corneau, has maintained a network of over 6 miles of trails, constructed largely on the old logging roads.  On some of the steep slopes original hardwoods and conifers remain.  From its hilltop vantage point there is a bird’s eye view of the Chemung River.

Worth mentioning are two notable creatures that inhabit this forest.  Timber Rattlesnakes have long been residents here, especially on the sunlit rocky outcroppings and in the shade of the forest. They may be snuggly out of sight at this time of year, but be cautious when stepping off the trail.  The distinctive nests of Allegheny Mound Ants are a common sight at trailside and in clearings that the ants have fashioned for themselves by destroying shade plants to insure adequate sunlight and warmth for the colony.  Black bears also have been sighted in the area recently.  For more about this preserve go to http://fllt.org/preserves/steege-hill-preserve


Hiking Groups

All groups will depart together from the parking area on Steege Hill Road, heading uphill for about a half mile on a moderate pitch.  There are four trail loops to explore.

Please note:  The parking space is very limited.  Carpooling is highly recommended.  Meet at Springwater Town Hall on Route 15 at 12:45 as the drive is 1 hour.

Naturalists will cruise around the Yellow Loop, a gentle 2 mile jaunt with a few small inclines and a tranquil pond.  We may be fortunate enough to have the steward of the refuge join this group.  If not, a volunteer leader is needed.

Tourists will traverse the blue and orange trails, enjoying a variety of terrain with some moderate climbs, about 3.5 miles.  A volunteer leader will be needed for this group.

Climbers will tackle the white and red trails which offer some up and downhill challenges, as well as a nice valley view. Distance is about 4.5 miles.

Hopefully all groups will arrive back at the starting point at approximately the same time.

Directions   From Springwater, take I 390 south to I 86 E towards Corning.   Follow I 86 east to exit 48, then follow Rt.352 east for 1.5 miles.  Turn right on South Corning Rd. for .7 miles.  After crossing bridge across the Chemung River, turn left on Steege Hill Rd..  Follow up hill for 1 mile.  Preserve is on the left.  Look for green and white sign.

Social  will be at Tag’s Restaurant, 3037 Rt 252 in Big Flats,  It is a very short drive from the hike.  Good food.  We have feasted there previously.

 

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Wheaton Hill Maintenance Hike

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This Sunday’s hike will be a maintenance session on Wheaton Hill in Springwater. We won’t be attempting to whack the grass this year, though if you want to you are welcome to bring a weed whacker and have at it. If you do plan to use a weed whacker, PLEASE BRING EYE PROTECTION! These devices can kick up a lot of dust and small stones. We will be cutting back the roses and other growths, and we’ll be sawing up some trees that have fallen across the trails. If the grass is too long for comfortable walking we will call in the City of Rochester to cut it – they have heavier equipment than we can bring to bear.

Bring gloves to protect your hands, loppers to cut branches and if you have one, a small saw for branches that are too large for the loppers. 

The initial plan for a social afterwards is Sammie’s in Springwater. We’ll take alternative suggestions before we fire up.

Directions: Wheaton Hill is the first right turn north of the intersection of Rt 15 and Rt 15A in Springwater (0.9 mile north of the intersection).  The trail head is 0.5 miles up Wheaton Hill just before the road turns straight east and heads up the main hill.  More details are on the directions page.

What to bring:

  • Gloves and clippers – hand clippers or long handled loppers for larger branches.
  • A weed whacker if you want to cut grass, with gas mixture and extra string. 
  • Small bow saw.
  • Plastic grocery bags in case you find any litter.
  • Water to keep hydrated.
  • Eye protection.
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Hike or Bike at Keuka Bluff

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Hike or Bike at Keuka Bluff

Sunday, Oct. 7, 2-4 PM

Our event for Sunday Oct. 7th has hiking and bicycling options, starting and ending at Keuka Lake State Park, just east of Branchport, on the northwest fork of Keuka Lake.   The park has a sandy beach area and boat launch as well as nice trails through the wooded slopes and gullies along the hillside.  NOTE: Bow hunting is permitted within the park in October, so HIKERS PLEASE WEAR RED OR ORANGE OUTER GARMENTS FOR HIGH VISIBILITY.

Park Fee and Car Pooling – On weekends the park changes a vehicle fee of $7 per vehicle, regardless of age. There is no charge for people entering the park on foot or on a bicycle, and there is a scenic overlook on Route 54A, just west of Pepper Road, which is the park entry road. To minimize vehicle fees, people may rendezvous at the scenic overlook at 1:40 and hitch a short ride with others in the group. Bikers and pedestrians may leave cars there and ride or walk in, about a quarter mile.

Everyone will meet at 1:45 at the lakefront parking lot within the State Park. Turn right after the entry booth and go past the playground to the second lot. All Hikers will start out on the  White Trail into the woods, stopping first at the secluded and charming Beddoe-Rose family burial plot dating from the early settlement period of Yates County (14 burials from 1815-1908).  The White Trail leads to the upper park road, where camp sites are laid out in three loops. Following the road past the camp sites, hikers will take the Green Trail, Orange and Yellow Trails looping through the woods and along several small gullies, ending at the lakeside and boat launch area for a total of about 3 miles.  Tourists may return to the parking area along the park road, while Climbers wanting more of a challenge can follow the Purple and Blue Trails looping back up the hill and down to the cars, for a total of about 4 miles.    Naturalists can explore the White Trail and cemetery at their leisure, climbing as far as the Park Road and returning on the park road or the wooded Red or Blue Trails.

Trailheads are well marked, and trails are well maintained. Total elevation change for the full trail loop will be about 400 feet, while Naturalists and others sticking to the Red, White and Blue Trails will have about a 200 foot change. As always, keep an eye out for poison ivy along the trail sides and check yourself for ticks afterwards.

Cyclists will enjoy a lovely 14 mile circuit on rural roads down the center of Bluff Point and back up the lakeshore road on the west fork.  From the park entry, we will go south on Pepper Road, east on Fingar Road, and turn south on Skyline Drive, riding along the ridge toward the center of Keuka Lake’s Y shape. At the end of the plateau, Skyline Drive turns east into the woods and provides a glimpse of the secluded Garrett Memorial Chapel, a small 1931 Norman Gothic chapel perched on the steep side of the lake bluff. (See http://www.garrettchapel.org/)   Next is a scenic view of the south end of the lake, and then West Bluff Drive past the cottages of  the west fork, back to the south entrance to the park and the cars.  The roads are well paved, without marked shoulders but traffic is light.

Launching of canoes and kayaks is easy from the beach area, so paddling options are also available to group members if the weather is warm and calm.

Following the hike, the optional social will be at Deusy’s Restaurant at Reservoir Creek Golf Course, 8613 State Route 21, Naples, NY.

Directions: 

From Springwater:  Follow Route 15 South to Wayland, and 21 North to Naples, turning right on Route 53 South toward Prattsburgh. After about 1.5 miles, turn left on Italy Valley Road (a.k.a Ontario County Rd. 21, then Yates County Road 18). After about 6 miles, go right on Italy Hill Turnpike (C.R. 34). When it ends, take a left on Italy Hill Road, and soon after a right as Italy Hill Road (now C.R. 32) turns to the east. This will take you down the hill into Branchport. Continue straight through the Branchport intersection, and go 1.5 miles. Pass the scenic overlook (stop for car poolers) and make a right on Pepper Road, and then the first right into the State Park.

From Honeoye/points north and west: Go east on Routes 5 and 20 to Canandaigua. Pass Wegman’s, Walmart, etc and go up the hill, about 2 miles. Take a right on Route 247. Follow Route 247 through Rushville. About 3 miles past Rushville, Route 247 will join with Route 364. Follow 364 through Potter and past some flat valleys. About 4 miles past Potter, make a right on Guyanoga Road (follow road sign for Branchport). Guyanoga Road will take you to the Branchport intersection in 7 miles. Turn left at the intersection and go 1.5 miles up the hill. Pass the scenic overlook (stop for car poolers) and make a right on Pepper Road, and then the first right into the State Park.

Directions to the Social from the Park: return to Branchport, and go straight at the intersection onto Italy Hill Road. When it ends, turn left and the right onto Italy Hill Turnpike. When this ends, take a left on Italy Valley Road, to Route 53, the Naples-Prattsburgh Road. Go right on Route 53, and left on Route 21 to Reservoir Creek Golf Course and Deusy’s.

 

 

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