This Sunday, we’re returning to Sonyea State Forest in Livingston County, to hike along the Keshequa Creek and enjoy early spring flowers.

We will meet at 1:45pm at the gate that marks the head of the Keshequa Creek Falls Trail about 2.7 miles from the beginning of Union Corners Rd.  See directions below.

All hikers will walk around the gate to a well groomed trail the heads down a steep hill to the creek.  Be careful walking down, and on the way back you will want to take your time climbing this hill.  But the hill is not long and most of the rest of the trail is along the old Genesee Valley Canal and railroad bed.

Our hike will take us to the western side of the forest, where we will encounter the gorge along Keshequa Creek.  Within the gorge, we will see remains of the Genesee Canal and a major branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, as well as rapids and falls along the creek.

After the hike, we will enjoy an April weather picnic in the woods.  Bring a dish to pass, or make a donation.  We will select a clear area so, bring folding chairs, and a table, if you have one.  There are no washroom facilities, not even portable ones, but lots of trees.  If the day should turn out to be a rainy one, we will return to the Sunrise, in Dansville.

Directions: Please note: Directions on Google Maps from Springwater takes you on NY 36 North to Craig Rd up through the Groveland Correctional Facility. This road is closed to cars, although walkers and bikers are allowed to use it as part of the Genesee Valley Greenway trail.. This is not a good way to get to our hike.  Please follow the directions below.

From exit 6 on 390, turn south on NY 36.  Then, take the first right onto CR 72, aka Presbyterian Rd.  Follow it for 3.7 miles, bearing right at the intersection with CR 11, to Union Corners Rd.  Turn right here and keep going for 2.7 miles,, till you see the gate.  Union Corners Rd is unpaved, with potholes, making for slow going so, consider this in planning your travel time. Turn around at the gate and park on either side of the road.

From Springwater: Take NY 15 west from the flashing light. At the top of the hill (1.5 mi), turn left onto Liberty Pole Rd.(CR 38). Continue for 8.1 miles as the road number changes from CR 38 to CR 1A to  CR 1. Turn left onto NY 63 S. In just 0.3 miles take the first right onto N 258. In 1.9 miles, continue straight across NY 36 and onto CR 72 (Presbyterian Rd). Follow the directions above to the state forest.

From Naples. Follow NY 21 S to Wayland.  At the first light, turn left to stay on NY 21. In 1.8 miles south of Wayland, turn right on I-390 N. In 16 miles, take Exit 6. Turn right onto NY 36. Follow the directions above.

From Rochester: take 390 south to the Sonyea exit.Turn left onto Route 36 and drive a short distance then turn right on to county road 72. Drive a few miles and turn right onto Union Corners Road. Drive a couple of miles where you will enter the Sonyea State Forest. Drive about half a mile in until you reach the parking area. There is some logging going on so the road is a little bumpy but passable.

From Dansville: and points east, take Route 36 north toward Sonyea. Turn left onto CR 72. From there follow the directions above.

On Sunday we will hike at the southern end of Letchworth State Park on the west side.  People will meet and hike from the Inspiration Point parking lot.

A short description of the history of the site is contained in a plaque near the overlook.: “Inspiration Point is rich in history and natural splendor.  The spectacular view here was once enjoyed by the Seneca Indians and by Mary Jemison, the “white woman of the Genesee”.  In the early 1800’s, however, the pioneers valued the falls and forests for their power and utility, not their natural beauty.  William P. Letchworth came to the valley in 1859 and began restoring the land.  The state of New York accepted his gift of 1000 acres in 1907; and upon his death in 1910, Letchworth State Park was born.”

Climbers will do a loop of 4 miles following parts of the Gorge Trail, the Mary Jemison Trail, the Hemlock Trail and the Trout Pond Trail.  This route has quite a few steps and some steep uphill and downhill sections.

Tourists and Naturalists will leave from the parking area and do a loop of several miles that will take in the Humphrey Nature Center, the Ant Trail, the Old School House and the Cemetery on Trout Pond Road.  This walk is relatively flat.

Directions to Inspiration Point:  If entering the park from the southern end, Inspiration Point is 1.7 miles from the Portageville entrance gate.  If entering the from the northern end, Inspiration Point is 15 miles from the Mount Morris entrance gate.

Social:  Letchworth Pines, 6985 State Route 19A, Portageville, Ny 14536.

Misc: There are restrooms available at Inspiration Point.  Arrive in enough time to be ready to start hiking at 2PM.  The weather report is calling for rain on Sunday so bring your rain gear!  It is my understanding that entrance fees will not be charged until Monday May 1st.

People wishing to make a day of it may want to also go to a park program scheduled for earlier in the day:  Mushroom & Moss Walk – Dishmill Creek Woods.  Meeting at the Parade Grounds at 10AM, entrance on State Route 436, bring a lunch (3hours, 1 mile).   For more information on that contact the Park directly.

Spring is here and trees and flowers are blooming. Springwater Trails will explore Highland Park in Rochester, the site of Lilac Festival held on May 12-21, 2023. We likely will see many lilacs this early, but there should be plenty of other blossoms including daffodils and magnolias.

This hike will be on grass and sidewalks and will include various rolling hills. We will break into two groups and each group can adjust their route based on terrain and hiker’s interest.

The climbers will follow a 3 mile route reaching all corners of the park. We will start at the parking area in front of the castle (directions below). A short walk behind the castle will bring us to the Sunken Gardens. From there we will walk around the houses in the area and explore the park land between Reservoir Ave and Robinson Drive, passing above the Bowl and crossing South Avenue. From there we will head to the Poet’s Garden.  I am planning to head across Highland Ave to see some of the various memorials that have been created.  Returning to to lilacs, we will head for the Rhododendrons which bloom earlier than the lilacs, if I remember correctly. From there I plan to cross Pinetum Drive for a view over the city, and then make our way west, and explore north of Robinson Drive. to end up back at the cars.  If time permits, we will cross Mt Hope and visit the Susan B. Anthony grave site.

The Tourist/Naturalists will follow the same route through the sunken gardens and around by the Bowl to the Magnolias. They will follow the sidewalk around the reservoir, down to the Pansy Bed, back up to the Azaleas and out  to Reservoir Ave. The group can the decide whether to walk the sidewalk back to the cars (about 2 mi. total), or explore behind the Conservatory and continue back around the Bowl to the cars (about 2.5 miles).

Social: Following the hike, we will gather at The Distillery Restaurant 5 blocks south on Mt Hope Ave.

Directions:

From Springwater center: Head north on NY 15A toward Hemlock. Stay on 15A all the way to Rochester. After crossing the canal, continue straight across Westfall Rd, and then bear left to stay on East Henrietta Rd. Bear right onto Mt Hope Ave. Continue for about 3/4 mile, and turn right onto Reservoir Ave (first street after the light at Highland Ave). Take the first left into the park and park in front of the castle.:

From I-390 and points south and west:  At the intersection with I-590, stay left to keep on I-390.  Stay in the right lane and take Exit 16B to merge onto NY-15A. Continue straight across Westfall Rd, and then bear left to stay on East Henrietta Rd. Bear right onto Mt Hope Ave. Continue for about 3/4 mile, and turn right onto Reservoir Ave (first street after the light at Highland Ave). Take the first left into the park and park in front of the castle.:

From I-490, Victor and points south and east: Take I-490 west to Exit 17 (Goodman St). Turn left onto Goodman St and continue for 0.8 miles. At the top of the hill, turn right into the park on Pinetum Rd. Turn left then right onto Reservoir Ave. Cross South Ave and turn right into Castle Park. Park in front of the castle.:

See you next Sunday.