Over the last two years Springwater Trails has held 10 hikes on the Finger Lakes Trail moving west from the Bristol Hills Branch.. We have two more sections, this Sunday and next month, which will bring us to the Genesee River and the Letchworth Branch. Click on the map for a larger view. This Sunday we will hike the section of trail between Dalton NY and Short Tract Rd.

Our best parking seems to be on the shoulder of Short Tract Rd just south of the trail. From Short Tract Rd, we will head east toward Dalton.  The hike will be an in-and-out hike avoiding carpooling for what I hope is the last time. (This is a nudge to get your vaccine!).

The hike starts from Short Tract Rd along the left side of a farmed field.  As of Thursday, there were no crops in this field, but we will be avoid any crops we may come to, staying at the edge of the fields. Throughout the hike, some blazes are old or missing, but there are enough to ensure we will follow the trail. Stay alert!  In a half mile, the trail leaves the field heading left into the woods with nice view of a spring forest. The trail will come out onto Smith Road and turn right onto Smith Hill Road.  Both are dirt roads with little traffic and nice views. The trail turns left onto a private driveway and then another left into the wood. Depending on time, I expect the Naturalists and Tourists to turn around at the next cross road to return to the cars. Climbers may have time to continue across the road, but continuing all the way to Hunt Hollow Rd would mean a 5.5 mile hike, probably more than our 2 hour hike.

As of our pre hike on Thursday, the trail was mostly dry, but with all the rain, your boots will occasionally  get muddy.  Be prepare and you may want  hiking polls to assist your footing crossing the mud.

Social: Bring your own sandwich or salad and beverage and we will meet either at the Nunda Kiwanis Park or at the Oakland Locks Parking area. Please bring a chair if you would like to sit.

Directions:  Please meet on Short Tract Rd about 300 feet uphill from the trail, where the shoulder is plenty wide in front of flat area in front of a small gravel hill.

From Springwater, Naples, Wayland and Dansville: From Springwater head south on NY 15 to Wayland. From Naples head south west on NY 21 to Wayland.  From Wayland, head west on NY 63. In Dansville, at the second light, turn left on Ossian St (NY 36 N). In a half mile, stay straight onto NY 436. Continue for 16.5 miles, through Nunda. The Short Tract intersection is a bit complicated as Short Tract and NY 436 become the same road for 1500 feet.  You will pass Short Tract Rd entering on the right. and then pass Crapsey Rd and CR 70 on the left before your left turn onto Short Tract Rd (CR 20). The trail crosses the road in 2.3 miles. Park on the right hand side, heading south a bit uphill past the trail.

From Mt Morris (and Geneseo and Rochester): Head south on NY 408. In 7.6 miles south of Main St in Mt Morris, turn right onto Short Tract Rd. (If you miss Short Tract, turn right on NY 436 at the light in Nunda). In 5.2 miles, turn right onto NY 436, and in 0.3 miles turn left back onto Short Tract Rd. The trail crosses the road in 2.3 miles. Park on the right hand side, heading south a bit uphill past the trail.