We will visit and hike a little-known gem nestled in the town of Bristol – Patriot Park – this Sunday. Patriot Park was acquired as a donation from Ontario County by the town of Bristol. The park spans 12.6 acres and is located on the south side of CR 32, just west of Mud Creek. Due to generous donations of a picnic table, many benches along the way, and much time and labor the park’s trail system is well-equipped and easy to navigate.

There are four small trails winding into each other for a total of just over 2 miles. This is an easy walk – most of it is flat with the exception of the Uplands Trail, which is a gentle slope of about 5 minutes in length.

We will all do the same hike, meeting in the parking lot in adjacent Levi Corser Park and walking from there to the 3rd trail entrance to Patriot Park, west of Mud Creek. We will head to the Uplands Trail Loop for a lovely view of an open field on CR 32, then head north, then east, to a small pond. Walking north along the creek we will cross the creek right before the road and enter the Codding Conservation Area on our return. This is a pristine woodlands with no new plantings in the last 50 years. There are many wildflowers, trees, the creek and numerous wildlife including a wide array of songbirds, butterflies and deer.

We will also see some interesting ‘found objects’ art displays and natural benches, in the form of trees, along the way and will exit at the first trailhead for Codding Conservation Area, then head back to the cars.

Anyone wishing to extend the hike can walk the track around Levi Corser Park and then walk on to an old cemetery nearby on the east side of Route 64 and explore that. Depending on the weather we will either have a picnic social at Levi Corser Park or travel to Lock, Stock and Barrel, a few minutes drive down Rte 64. There is a pavilion at Levi Corser Park, with several picnic tables, attached to a building so it is open on three sides. There is one grill for use. There are bathrooms with running water on site.

DIRECTIONS TO HIKE: FROM THE WEST: TAKE RTE 20A EAST TO CR32 (WIZARD OF CLAY ON CORNER). RIGHT ONTO CR32, LEVI CORSER PARK IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. FROM THE EAST: TAKE CR32/BRISTOL ROAD WEST, CROSS RTE64, LEVI CORSER PARK IS ON THE LEFT. FROM THE NORTH: TAKE RTE 444 SOUTH TO BLOOMFIELD, TURN LEFT ONTO RTS 5&20, TURN LEFT ONTO RTE 64, LEFT ONTO CR32. FROM THE SOUTH: TAKE RTE 21 TO CR 12, LEFT ONTO RTE64N, LEFT ONTO CR32.