The Muller family land at the south end of Honoeye Lake is now owned by the Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) and it has expanded into a substantial research and conservation facility. It adjoins DEC land encompassing the rest of the south end of Honoeye Lake, and the FLCC and DEC have restored the water flow through the property and into the lake to salvage the ecology of the area. Springwater Trails has permission to kayak the inlet stream and to hike along it too.
We will do both on Sunday September 17th, 2023. Meet and park in the lot at 1:45 at the Muller Field Station, 6455 County Road 36, Honeoye for a 2pm hike/paddle start. Come earlier if you want to use one of the Field Station’s boats, which are first come first served.
Beavers have done their work to adjust the property to their liking, and signs of beaver activity are plentiful. Tall invasive grasses dominate the trail borders and seasonal wildflowers are plentiful. Snakes are common and harmless to humans.
The hikers will follow the single trail following the inlet south in an out-and-back hike with each group turning back when they feel they should. The site director, Ally Esposito, will accompany the hikers and talk about the flora, fauna and the ecology of the property. There is a gate separating FLCC land from DEC land that can be walked around.The trail on FLCC land is mowed, but the DEC land tends to be more wild but sill very passable. In principle the trail goes all the way around the south end of the lake to the south boat launch on the east side but this hasn’t been tested yet.
The Muller Field Station and the Honoeye Inlet
The kayakers will put in at the luxurious boat launch close to the station complex. They will explore the inlet south as far as a very low bridge that effectively blocks passage by water, and will then turn back to see what’s downstream as far as the lake proper.
The FLCC has kayaks and canoes that are available to be borrowed; Please bring your own PFD if you want to take advantage of this.
Directions:
We will all meet at the Muller Field Station, 6455 Co Rd 36, Honeoye, NY 14471
From Rochester: Take Rt. 65 south to West Bloomfield, then crossing Rt. 20 take Rt. 37 south to Honoeye. At the junction with Rt. 20A turn left, then right at the lights in Honoeye on to Rt. 36 which is West Lake Road. Continue south on Rt. 36 for 5.6 miles; the Muller Field Station is through some imposing gates on the left side of the road. The gates are recessed and angled to the south so they are easy to miss from the north.
From Springwater: Take Rt. 15A south to Wayland, then turn left on to Rt. 21 to Naples. In Naples turn left (north) at the Middletown Tavern on to Rt. 36, also called Hunt Hollow Road. Continue north on Rt. 36 for 10 miles; the Muller Field Station is through some imposing gates on the right side of the road.
By GPS: Program in (42.71266, -77.51203) and follow directions.
The Social
The social will be a pot luck picnic at the Muller Field Station.
Directions: The Field Station is at #6455 on the east side of County Road 36, a.k.a West Lake Road in Honeoye. From Honeoye, it’s 5.8 miles south from the traffic light at Route 20A in Honeoye. From Naples, it’s 9 miles north from Main Street; turn at the Middletown Tavern.