Please join us for kayaking on Sugar Creek and Keuka Lake or a hike through the marsh preserve to the lake.  Our starting point will be the Finger Lakes Museum site, accessible from Guyanoga Road or from Route 54, both close to the flashing light at the center of Branchport.  The Finger Lakes Museum is a former elementary school which is being gradually converted to a regional museum.  They have an active boat launch site at the rear bordering Sugar Creek, the main tributary into the west branch of Keuka Lake.

Checking the weather, expect a very warm day with scattered showers.

Kayakers should arrive by 3:40 to unload your boat and launch from their floating dock. Hikers, who will follow the trail along the river, and kayakers will leave at 4:00.

After launching, kayakers will head upstream in Sugar Creek through a woodland waterway. Based on time and conditions we then will turn around and head back past the dock to the lake.  Once on the lake we will start heading west and enter the adjacent marshland owned by the Isaak Walton League. Cattails, water lilies and waterfowl are abundant in the marsh waterways.  Back on the lake we will continue west to the marinas of Branchport. Another U-turn will take us toward Keuka Lake State Park. Finally, we will return to the river and up to the takeout at the Museum’s dock.

Hikers will hike to Keuka Lake along the museum paths, stopping at an observation platform overlooking the marsh and at the Museum’s lakefront pavilion.: After enjoying the lake views, we will return to the museum and explore the museum grounds.

Social:  Bring your own snack or a dish to pass at the Museum’s pavilion. Or contribute $5 to the social fund and snack from the dishes available.

Directions:

From Springwater and Wayland – Take Route 15 south and then Route 21 north to Naples. Coming into Naples, go right on Route 53 toward Prattsburgh. In 1.2 miles make a left on Italy Valley Road. You will remain on Italy Valley  Road for about 8.7 miles, although the county road number changes from 21 to 18 to 34 en route. At the end of Italy Valley Road, go left for .3 miles on Italy Hill Road (CR 35), then follow Itlaly Hill Road as it curves to the right and becomes CR32. In another 4.7 miles you will be at the flashing light in the center of Branchport.  Go straight on Route 54A toward Penn Yan for .2 miles, and turn left into the Finger Lakes Museum across from the Library, and before the Fire Station. Look for the driveway toward the new barn on your right.

From Canandaigua and 5&20:  Take East Lake Road south to County Road 1, or Route 247 from Reed’s Corners into Rushville. Continue South through Rushville toward Penn Yan. Route 247 will become Route 364 shortly before Potter. Continue for 4.5 miles past Potter and make a right on Guyanoga Road (CR 29). Go another 6.5 miles to Branchport. Turn left into the Finger Lakes Museum at 3369 Guyanoga Road, or if you miss it, go left at the flashing light and then left into the FLM drive. If you come in from Guyanoga Road, go to the right around the building and parking lot, and follow the signs to the Creekside Center (a new barn). Park on the grass near the boat rack. If you take the side entrance in from Route 54A heading east toward Penn Yan, turn in to the left, across from the library, and then right into the Creekside Center.