Our hike this Sunday will be at the Ganondagan State Historic Site, 7000 County Road 41 (Boughton Hill Road) in Victor.  Ganondagan is the site of a large 17th century Seneca town, and offers hiking trails with interpretive markers illustrating the history and traditions of the Seneca people. The trails will take us through wooded rolling hills and meadows just south of the Village of Victor. Highlights will include the Granary Trail, where the Seneca protected and distributed their corn supplies on a palisaded mesa, and the Earth is Our Mother Trail, where interpretive markers describe local plants and their particular roles in Seneca life.  The Seneca Art and Cultural Center (Interpretive Center) will be open for hikers to explore at the end if they wish, for a modest admission price.  A portion of the hike will be in the Town of Victor’s Dryer Road Park, adjacent to the Fort Hill (Granary) portion of Ganondagan.

Marquis de Denonville

We will meet at 1:45 at the Interpretive Center parking lot, about .2 miles west of the intersection of Route 444 and Boughton Hill Road.  Leaving some cars behind, Climbers and Tourists will car pool to Dryer Road Park and follow the Victor Hiking Trails pathway up the hill, past an open field and through a mature hardwood forest. Mountain bikers will know this area for its dense pattern of bike trails off to the sides of the main walking path. The trail leads to the open mesa at Fort Hill, where the circular Granary Trail offers expansive views as far as Bare Hill, and where interpretive markers describe Seneca life and history, their use of the protected mesa, and the conquest and destruction of Ganondagan during the 1687 Denonville Raid.

From the Granary Trail we will head east down the Eagle Trail, through more beautiful hardwood forest and across School Street to the Ganondagan village site and surrounding woods and fields. Climbers will explore the Seneca Trail and Grasslands Trail, through the hardwood forest and then an open meadow, returning to the Interpretive Center by the Earth is Our Mother Trail for a total hike of about 4 miles.  Tourists will follow a similar but shorter route ending at Route 444 where cars will be driving back to the Interpretive Center, for a total of 3+ miles.

Naturalists may take one car to the School Street crossing and hike up the Eagle Trail to the Granary Trail and back, a total of about 1.5 miles including a climb of 200 feet with switchbacks). Then driving back to the Interpretive Center, there will be the options of Earth is Our Mother Trail, or the warm and informative museum center (small fee).

Senaca Bark Longhouse

The Interpretive Center (Seneca Art and Culture Center) is open until 5 PM, (4:30 if there are no visitors inside) and costs $6 for adults, or $3 for seniors aged 62+.  The Barn Longhouse is closed for the season.  See the Ganondagan web site for details on the interactive multi-media exhibit and the orientation theater featuring the Iroquois Creation Story film.

Special Feature for Technology Enthusiasts: See the Ganondagan web site for the Self- Guided Tree Tour, a description of some of the majestic trees to be seen along the Ganondagan trails, together with GPS coordinates for an outstanding example of each one.

Likewise see the web site for a description of the Medicine Walk Hike, which provides additional information through GPS waypoints on medicinal plants to be seen along the Earth is Our Mother Trail.

Social – Will be at Cheap Charlie’s Restaurant, 8 Elm Street (a.k.a. Route 444), Bloomfield – just before you come to Main Street (4 miles from Boughton Hill).

BE ADVISED The trails can be slippery, gradual ups and downs.  Wearing appropriate footwear and poles will be helpful.  Also bring a camera (very nice views and informative markers).

Carpool: You may meet at the Springwater Town Hall at 12:50 (Leave promptly at 12:55), or at Sandy Bottom Park in Honeoye at 1:15 (Leave promptly at 1:20). Click here to add a comment if you want to carpool so others will know.

Directions:

From Springwater/Honeoye area: Go north to Honeoye and then east on 20A to Route 64.  Go north on 64 for 3.7 miles to the 5 and 20 intersection. Go west on 5 and 20 for 1.25 miles and make a right on Route 444 (Maple Ave.).  Proceed 5.3 miles to Boughton Hill Road (County Rd. 41).  Turn left at Boughton Hill Road (flashing light), proceed 0.2 mile down the hill. The Seneca Art and Culture Center (a.k.a. Interpretive Center) is the white and glass contemporary building on your right, with a large parking lot in front.

From points east:  Take 5 and 20 west toward Bloomfield. Go right at the Route 444 intersection, and proceed 5.3 miles north to Boughton Hill Road (County Rd. 41) (flashing light).  Turn left at Boughton Hill Road, proceed 0.2 mile down the hill. The Seneca Art and Culture Center (a.k.a. Interpretive Center) is the white and glass contemporary building on your right, with a large parking lot in front.

From Thruway:  Take Exit 45, and follow Route 96 east to the Village of Victor. In the village center, turn right on Route 444 (Maple Avenue). Go 1.5 miles to the top of Boughton Hill (flashing light). Turn right on Boughton Hill Road. Proceed 0.2 mile down the hill. The Seneca Art and Culture Center (a.k.a. Interpretive Center) is the white and glass contemporary building on your right, with a large parking lot in front.