[singlepic id=64 w=320 h=240 float=left]The snow is deep and beautiful to snowshoe on up in the Springwater Mountains. The Springwater Trail is open to the public for weekday, weekend, or upcoming holiday winter recreation opportunities.

The current trail skirts an active maple syrup farm at Sugarbush Hollow in East Springwater and can be accessed just off Pardee Hollow Road and Coates Road.    The trail passes through farm fields that feel like the tundra this time of year at the top of the mountain and a sugarbush of over tapped 3000 sugar maple trees.  On warm winter and early spring days you can see and hear the sap flowing from the trees. The sugarhouse may be open, bring a lunch and warm up, and watch the maple men and women make maple syrup Feburary-April in the afternoons and evenings.

[singlepic id=65 w=320 h=240 float=right]The Springwater Trail has two winter access areas.  Park 1/2 way up Coates Road to  the snowplow area.  You can park along the side of the road but do not block the driveway on your right.    Continue to snowshoe east up Coates Road.  If you want a more difficult snowshoe travel an elevation climb of 200 ft. to the top of the hill on Coates Road to the trailhead sign on your right. Continue down and across the field on the CoyoteTrail and watch for the blue blazes that drop down into the Sugarbush. Follow the blue blazes for about 2 miles to  Pardee Hollow Road just past the pond to the south of the Sugarhouse for a pick up location. Estimate time 1 1/2 hours.   If you would like an easier access route off Coates Road, follow the orange blaze just past the snowplow area on your right.  This orange trail connects with the blue trail in the sugarbush area and ends at the same location. Estimate time one hour.

The other winter access area can be accessed off Pardee Hollow Road.  You can park at the sugarhouse, walk south past the sign and turn right on our West Trail.  This trail is a little more difficult with two 200 ft. elevation climbs to the top of the mountain.  It passes through a wild apple orchard, black cherry and sugar maple plantation, crosses a field and then drops down through a dense forest and skirts another sugarbush area.  Follow the blue blazes, turn right on the orange blazes for a continuous loop back to Pardee Hollow Road and the Sugarhouse.  If you wish you can  follow the blue blazes to the south of the white house for a pick up location on Tabors Corners Road. Estimate time two hour.

The view from the top of the return route.

The Springwater Trail is a moderate to difficult trail with it’s elevation climbs and snowshoers should be prepared. Snowshoes can expect colder weather at elevations of 1800 – 2200 ft. and wind at the top of the mountain.  Please stay on the trail, follow our rules, and do not touch the maple lines or equipment which will be actively working.  For directions to the Springwater Trail contact us at springwatertrails.org.

All trails in the Springwater area are snow covered with 16 to 20 inches of snow.  Dress appropriately.  Snowshoes are highly recommended.

Wheaton Hill Trails: The Springwater Trails hiking group will be walking and doing maintenance on the Wheaton Hill trails from 2:00 to 4:00 on December 30th.