Powder Mills Park, off Route 96 in the Town of Perinton, is one of Monroe County’s outstanding  hiking parks, matching Mendon Ponds Park for rugged terrain and interesting features. Being inhospitable to farming or development, it was the site of a gunpowder factory in the 19^th century, and some vestiges of this history survive, along with stories of some dramatic explosions. The 380 acre property has been a county park since 1930, and features a fish hatchery and a downhill ski area.

Meet at the Wadhams Lodge Parking Lot at 1:50 for a 2 PM start. Warm layers, hiking poles, water and good boots are advised. Hunting is not permitted in the park, so no need for orange outerwear. The Climbers will follow a winding course of about 4 miles of linked trails through the central and east parts of the park, both north and south of Woolston Road. The Tourists and Naturalists will join the Climbers for the first half of their hike, but will make a looped return to Wadhams Lodge after the halfway point, avoiding the most strenuous part of the hike and going about 2.5 to 3 miles.

Afterwards please join us for an outdoor social at the Wadhams Lodge. The Lodge has sheltered picnic tables on a porch and some open grills where we can make a fire to toast our hands at least, if the temperatures warrant it. Bring your own beverage and snacks – hot soup in a thermos will hit the spot, as it will likely be in the 40s. If you have a leftover bag of charcoal, bring that too. We will have some options for food delivery to Wadhams Lodge after the hike (most likely Pizza). More details on this later.

 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 , and at the center of town continue straight on Route 65 north.  From Honeoye Falls go north 3 miles to the intersection with Route 251 and take a right (east). Continue east on Route 251 for 1.75 miles and make a left on West Bloomfield Road. After 4 miles and crossing the Thruway, make a right on Thornell Road, then in 1.75 miles a right on East Street and a left on Park Road (the third left). Go about another 0.8 mile into the Park, past several parking areas on the left, and turn in to the Wadhams Lodge parking lot on the right. Bear right and go all the way to the building at the end.   If you come to the Fish Hatchery and Corduroy Road intersection on Park Rad, you have gone too far.

From Honeoye: Go west from the center of Honeoye, and turn north on CR 37. In West Bloomfield, continue straight onto NY 65. On the other side of W Bloomfield, continue straight onto CR 38 (NY 65 turns left). In 9.8 miles, turn right on Thornell Road. In 1.76 miles turn right at the 4-way stop onto East St, then left on Park Road (the third left). Go about another 0.8 mile into the Park, past several parking areas on the left, and turn in to the Wadhams Lodge parking lot on the right. Bear right and go all the way to the building at the end.

By Interstate  490:  Take Route 490 to the Bushnell’s Basin exit. Go left on Route 96, pass the Garnsey Road light, and take a right on Park Road. The Wadhams Lodge Parking Lot will be the third one on the left, past the Mushroom House, the Hatchery Lot, and the Rand Lot.