This Sunday we will return to an old SWT favorite – the Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Wesley Hill Nature Preserve.  Wesley Hill is a Finger Lakes Land Trust property of 390 acres including stands of northern hardwoods, red and white pines, a woodland pond, and the northern edge of Briggs Gully, as well as the Wenrich Cabin, set in an old forest overlooking the gully, deep in the woods.  A network of trails through the preserve offers excellent hiking routes of various lengths and levels of difficulty.

The preserve was founded in 1999 by the generous donation of 90 acres by the children of three artists – John Wenrich, James Havens and Colburn Dugan – to the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Since that time, the Land Trust has expanded Wesley Hill to over 390 acres through the purchase or donation of four additional parcels.

We will meet at 1:45 and start our hikes at 2 PM at the Wesley Road parking lot.     Click here for map:    Wesley Hill from Wesley Rd

NATURALISTS will take the yellow trail, keeping to the left at the open field.  This trail will then T at the red trail.  Turn right to the Wenrich cabin, then turn back back on the red and yellow trails and back to Wesley Road. (Estimated distance – 1.5 miles)

TOURISTS will take the yellow trail to the red trail and turn left, following the red trail to pond.  Make a right on the green trail,  then another right along the other side of the red trail, down to the stream crossing (descent rope assisted), up to the cabin, and back to Wesley Road by the red and yellow trails.  (Estimated distance – 4 miles)

CLIMBERS will take the yellow trail and go right on the blue trail at the open field, to explore the western end of the property.  From the Wenrich Cabin, follow the red trail down to cross the stream and climb back up with the rope assist. Continue on red trail, turning left on green trail, left again on the red trail to the pond, continue on the red trail to the yellow trail and back to the start at Wesley Road. (Estimated distance 4.7 miles)

Following the hike, the optional social will be at the Honeoye Boat House Grill behind Trident Marina, 5226 East Lake Rd, Honeoye.

Directions to Wesley Road Trail Head:

From Honeoye take route 20A east through Honeoye to East Lake Road (CR-33).  Turn right onto East Lake Road.  Take first left, staying on CR33, then the first right onto Pinewood Hill which becomes Gulick Road.  Travel 3.4 miles, then turn right onto Wesley Road.  Parking area is on the right side in one mile.

From Springwater Head north on Rt 15A toward Hemlock.  Just before Hemlock turn right on Rt 20A.  Follow Rt 20A to Honeoye and the follow directions above.

From Naples From the southern end of Naples, head west on Co Rd 36.  Follow Co Rd 36 for 1.2 miles to the first right turn on Gulick Road.  Follow Gulick Rd for 8.4 miles and turn left on Wesley Rd.  The parking area is on the right in one mile.

Directions to Honeoye’s Boat House Grill:

From Wesley Rd Turn left and head north on Gulick Rd for 3.3 miles.  The road bears left and becomes Pinewood Hill Road.  At the stop sign, turn left to stay on Pinewood Hill Rd (CR33).  In 0.4 miles, turn left on East Lake Road.  In 0.8 miles, turn right onto Deyo Dr at the sign for Trident Marina.  The Honeoye Boat House Grill is about 150 feet down toward the lake.