Hike Description – Hike at Mendon Ponds Winterfest 2019
Once again, we host our mid-January hike at Mendon Ponds Park, coinciding with Monroe County’s 24th annual Winterfest. The park will be teeming with cold-weather fun activities between 10:30 and 4, including programs on nature and winter sports for kids and adults – see https://www2.monroecounty.gov/parks-winterfest for full details.
Dena sent a picture she took back in 2009. She fed the chickadee with her left hand and took the picture with her right hand – what a challenge!
We will meet at 1:45 at the Nature Center Lot – the first lot on the right, just inside the Pond Road entrance off Route 65/Clover Street. Come earlier if you’d like to take advantage of the refreshments from Chef’s Catering, the free coffee and hot chocolate, or the Wild Wings Birds of Prey demonstrations, all at the Nature Center, or for other free activities scheduled throughout the park. We will all start out hiking the Birdsong and Swamp Trails (2 miles), and the Naturalists will return to the Nature Center after the loop. From the Birdsong Trail midpoint, the Climbers and Tourists will continue around the Quaker Pond Loop Trail for another 2.7 miles, returning to the Nature Center by the rest of the Birdsong/Swamp Trail, for a total of 4.7 miles. Both trails are relatively level and pass through an interesting variety of habitat types. The Birdsong Trail is well known for its tame chickadees, and if you bring a handful of seeds or nuts, you may be rewarded with birds eating directly from your glove!
The Seneca Siberian Husky Club’s Sled Dog Races are scheduled for the Southern Meadow Trail at 11-1, though the forecast is questionable for snow. Anyone with other dogs, please keep your dog on a short leash throughout the day, and stay away from the race course during these hours.
Social: Afterwards please join us for the social at the Brewery Pub and Grill at 8 West Main Street, Honeoye Falls, overlooking the picturesque falls.
Directions:
From Springwater: Head north on 15A for 21.6 miles through Hemlock and Lima. Take a right at the exit to Honeoye Falls. Stay on W Main St into the village where you will pass the Brewery Pub and Grill on the right at the intersection with NY 65 (1.9 mi). Continue straight onto NY 65 for 4.4 mi. (At 2 miles, you will go around a traffic circle. Stay on NY 65.) Turn right onto Pond Rd at the park entrance. The Nature Center is just inside the entrance, on the right.
From Honeoye, take US 20A west and head north on CR 37 for 8.2 miles to W Bloomfield. Continue straight on NY 65 for about 3 miles, and make a right on Quaker Meeting House Road just before you come into Honeoye Falls. When Quaker Meeting House Road ends at Route 251 (Rush-Mendon Road), go left and then right on Route 65/Clover Street. The Pond Road entrance to the park is about 2 miles to the north, on the right. The Nature Center is just inside the entrance, on the right.
From Rochester: Exit I590 at Monroe Ave toward Pittsford. Turn right (south) onto NY 65 (Clover St). In about 6.7 miles you will come to the Canfield Road entrance to the park – this is not the one you want. Continue another 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Pond Rd, the second entrance into the park. The Nature Center is just inside the entrance, on the right.
Directions to the Social: From the Nature Center lot, go left back to Route 65/Clover Street. Make a left and go 4.4 miles to the village center of Honeoye Falls. The Brewery Pub and Grill is on the left, just after the traffic light.