This is a great trail to X-country ski, but it looks like we will just be just hiking this Sunday.  It’s all flat and scenic and usually groomed if there is a good snow base.  There is presently only an inch or two of snow, so not good skiing this time.

This week our Sunday hike will be an easy out and back, hiking with an after social at the Cottage Hotel in Mendon, New York.  The Mendon trail begins where we park at the Little League ball field just off Route 251 west of the four corners of Mendon, 3865 Rush-Mendon Road.  We’ll be hiking west from Mendon out about an hour with a turn-around at Chamberlain Road.  It’s all flat about 4 miles out and back.  Those that wish more distance, if time, can explore the trail east from Mendon toward Fishers.

This linear park has an interesting history.  It’s a 15 mile plus trail extending from Ontario County through Mendon and Rush to the Genesee River with a north extension into Henrietta.  It was purchased in 1995 for $1,300,000.00 and was completed and transitioned in 2004 from the old Lehigh Valley railway to a recreational trail for biking, running, cross country skiing, hiking and horseback riding.

After the hike about 4 pm, we’ll be walking from the ball park parking lot to the four corners of Mendon to the Cottage Hotel on the north east corner.

Directions:  From West Bloomfield at the traffic light head north on Route 65 and in .7 miles, don’t take the curve, go straight and you will be on County Road 35 (West Bloomfield Road).  Travel straight for 5.9 miles, when you reach the stop sign at Route 251, turn right.  In about a mile, right across from the Ye Mendon Tavern on your left, turn right into the parking lot at the Little League Ball Field.  Plenty of parking there.