The Genesee Valley Greenway State Park is a 90-mile open space corridor that follows the route of the Genesee Valley Canal (1840-1878) and the Pennsylvania Railroad Rochester Branch (1882-1963) from the Erie Canalway Trail in Rochester’s Genesee Valley Park to the Village of Cuba in Allegany County. The Greenway will eventually extend to Hinsdale in Cattaraugus County. This Sunday’s hike will start at Fowlersville Rd parking area in the town of  Caledonia and will follow the Greenway north to US-20 and then to NY-5 and finally will follow the Erie-Attica Trail out to a parking area. on Farmers Rd in Avon.

There are three options for this hike.

1. The Tourists will do an out-and-back two hour hike.  This is a good option for any hikers who would prefer to avoid car-pooling during the pandemic. The Greenway starts by following the Genesee River, crossing a couple of streams that cross under the trail through a deep culvert to get to the river. At about the 1.2 mile point, the river wonders through loops to the east, we nice big fields visible between the trail and the river. , The Tourist group should watch the time and turn around  at 3:00 for a two hour out-and-back hike of less than 5 miles. Don’t go past Rt 20 – at that point the out and back will be over 6 miles. For safety sake, slower hikers should always stay in a group of at least 2 hikers and turn around at the same time.
2. The Naturalists will do a through hike to US Route 20 (Pickup point #1 on the map). There will be a car available at Route 20, to return hikers to their cars.  This option is 3.2 miles and will be limited by the size of the pickup car.
3. The Climbers will continue on the Greenway past Route 20, and across NY 5. About a tenth of a mile past NY 5, the Climbers will turn right just past two bridge abutments onto the Erie Attica Trail. These abutments carried the Erie-Attica Railroad over the Pennsylvania Railroad. Interested hikers may find the planning study report for the Erie-Attica Trail of interest. This hike is 5.4 miles ending at pickup point 2 and will take slightly more than 2 hours if hikers maintain a 25 minute mile pace. If necessary, hikers can stop at the Route 20 crossing or return to that crossing prior to reaching the Erie Attica turnoff. Hikers who complete the hike to cross the Genesee River at Farmers Rd will have a couple of cars to carry them back to Fowlersville Rd. These cars should plan to stop at Rt 20 to pick up any stragglers.

Following the hike, join us for a social hour at either Tom Wahls in Avon or at the Rising Storm Brewery in South Lima.

NOTE: Carpool drivers should plan to arrive at 1:30 at their pickup point. It is about 10 minutes back to the Fowlerville Rd meetup point.

Directions: To the Fowlerville Rd parking area (the Green start point on the map).

From Springwater: Head west on NY-15 from the light in Springwater. Continue on route 15 through Livonia and Lakeville. At 1.5 miles north of Lakeville, turn left onto Triphammer Rd. In 3 miles at the end of Triphammer Rd, turn right onto NY-39. In 2.5 miles, turn left onto Fowlerville Rd. In 2.9 miles, cross over the Genesee River and the parking area is on the left. After parking, you will cross the road to hike north on the Greenway.

From Naples: Head west from Naples on CR 36 to Honeoye.  Turn left on 20A for 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Big Tree Rd, across 15A  and 15 for 7 miles. At the end of Big Tree Rd, turn left on US 20A into Lakeville. Take a slight right to stay on NY-15. At 1.5 miles north of Lakeville, turn left onto Triphammer Rd. In 3 miles at the end of Triphammer Rd, turn right onto NY-39. In 2.5 miles, turn left onto Fowlerville Rd. In 2.9 miles, cross over the Genesee River and the parking area is on the left. After parking, you will cross the road to hike north on the Greenway.

From Canandaigua: Head west on US 20 through Lima to Avon.  At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit to stay on Route 20. In 0.3 miles, turn left onto NY-39 (Wadsworth Ave). In 1.7 miles, turn right onto Fowlerville Rd. In 2.9 miles, cross over the Genesee River and the parking area is on the left. After parking, you will cross the road to hike north on the Greenway.

From Geneseo: Head north on NY-39 toward Avon. In 7 miles, turn left onto Fowlerville Rd. In 2.9 miles, cross over the Genesee River and the parking area is on the left. After parking, you will cross the road to hike north on the Greenway.

Directions to the Route 20/Greenway pickup point 1 (Drivers wanting to hike the 3 miles and willing to leave their cars at the parking area on Rt 20).

From Springwater: Follow NY 15 north through Livonia and Lakeville to Route 5 & 20.  Turn left and follow 5&20 around the traffic circle in Avon. In 1.2 miles past the traffic circle, turn left to stay on US-20 as NY-5 continues straight. The Greenway is 1.1 miles ahead with parking on the right.

Directions to the Farmers Rd pickup point 2 (Drivers wanting to hike the full 5.4 miles and willing to leave their cars at the end.)

From Lima: (I assume you can find Lima!) Follow 5 & 20 west for 8 miles, around the traffic circle in Avon. Just before the Genesee River, turn right into Farmers Rd.  Follow the road for half a mile, passing through the underpass under the trail. The underpass may have a pool of water under it. The parking area is on the north side of the underpass.

Directions From Farmers Rd to Fowlerville Rd: Turn right on 5&20. In 0.4 miles, turn left to stay on US-20. (Stop at the Greenway to pick up any drivers who have parked at the Rt 20 parking area.) In 3.5 miles, turn left onto Casey Rd.  At the end of Casey Rd, turn left onto Fowlerville Rd. The parking lot is on the right in 1 mile.