NOTE SPECIAL HIKE STARTING TIME

It has been an interesting Maple season this year, with temperatures having wide swings all winter.   Come learn about the experience of the Wohlschlegel Maple Farm just over the Coates Rd from Springwater. Springwater Trails will take advantage of Maple Weekend for a lunch of pancakes with this year’s maple syrup, followed by a revisit to a hike along the Snowmobile Trail and through the Wohlschlegel’s Sugar Bush.  The pancake lunch will be today’s social.

We will meet at Wohlschlegel’s Maple Farm, near the east end of Coates Rd., west of Naples.  For $7.00, you can get all the pancakes you can eat, 2 sausages and beverage.  Their pancake kitchen opens at 8 AM but closes at 1 PM so, you will need to get there by 12:30 to enjoy your meal.  If there’s time after your meal, you can enjoy tours of their farm as well as samples of some of their maple products.   For more information on Wohlschlegel’s Naples Maple Farm you can check out their website at: http://www.fingerlakesbulkmaplesyrup.com/

Because you have to get there by 12:30 for your pancake lunch, we’re going to start our hike today at 1:30.  We will have our usual 3 hiking groups, starting on the snowmobile trail on their farm.  The climbers will follow the Snowmobile trail south toward Richards Rd and then will return through the sugar-bushto the Sugar House. Naturalists and Tourists will walk through the sugar-bush, take a quick peek into the pump house followed by a hike up through the eastern half of the sugar-bush.

Directions to Wohlschlegel’s Maple Farm, 8064 Coates Rd. Naples.  

Although Wohlschlegel’s is just over the road from Springwater, you can’t get there directly from Springwater because of seasonal roads. Check your GPS and note that Warner Rd/Garlinghouse Rd, Liddiard Rd, Coates Rd and Richards Rd are all closed until April 1 as they cross over from Springwater to Naples.  (And you likely won’t want to drive them even when they are open). You must enter Coates Rd from Garlinghouse Rd on the Naples side of the hill.

From Wayland and the hamlets of Springwater and Webster Crossing.  Go south on NY-15 to Wayland. Turn east on NY 21(N) for 5.6 miles.  Left on to CR 38 (Rowe Rd).  At the tee (3 miles), go left onto Garlinghouse Rd.  Take the second left on Coates Rd (watch for Maple signs).  Farm is on the left, about 1/2 mile.  Look for the bright purple roof.  Don’t attempt to enter Coates Rd. from Pardee Hollow, as it is not be plowed and is a rough seasonal road at the top of the hill.

From Tabors Corners and East Springwater: Head south on Tabors Corners Rd. Turn left on Pardee Hollow Rd. At the tee, turn right to stay on Pardee Hollow Rd.  Continue past Coates Rd and Richards Rd, ignoring any directions from your GPS. At the tee, turn left on Atlanta-Garlinghouse Rd. At the next tee, go left onto Garlinghouse Rd.  Take the second left on Coates Rd (watch for Maple signs).  Farm is on the left, about 1/2 mile.  Look for the bright purple roof.  Don’t attempt to enter Coates Rd. from Pardee Hollow, as it is not be plowed and is a rough seasonal road at the top of the hill.

From Naples and Canandaigua. Head south on NY-21. On the southern side of Naples, turn right at the Middletown Tavern on Clark St (CR 36) which becomes Hunt Hollow Rd. In 2 miles, turn left on French Hill Rd. At the tee, turn right to stay on French Hill Rd, which becomes Garlinghouse Rd at the next intersection. In 1.4 miles, turn left onto Coates Rd. Farm is on the left, about 1/2 mile.  Look for the bright purple roof.

From Hemlock and Honeoye. From US-20A, turn south on CR-36 (West Lake Rd) for 13.9 miles. Turn right onto French Hill Rd. At the tee, turn right to stay on French Hill Rd, which becomes Garlinghouse Rd at the next intersection. In 1.4 miles, turn left onto Coates Rd. Farm is on the left, about 1/2 mile.  Look for the bright purple roof. NOTE: do not take CR 37 south from Honeoye into Springwater. This would put you on the wrong side of the hill and you will need to go through Springwater into Steuben County to get to the Sugar House.