This Sunday we will enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Hemlock Lake shore on the northwest section of Rob’s Trail. The Climbers will continue up Rob’s Trail to Route 15A, and from there they’ll be ferried back to the hike start point; Naturalists and Tourists will stay on the lake shore trail and turn back to the start point whenever it suits them.  The mild winter will continue this week so we’re not expecting much snow cover. If the lake level is  low we can walk on the beach, but the trail offers a good flat and mostly well-drained surface. Here and there we will encounter a minor stream to cross by either wading or jumping, so waterproof footwear and poles are advised. Just in case of lingering ice or slippery mud, spikes or Yaktrax are a good idea too.   

Meet at the north boat launch, at the end of the old east lake road, a sharp left after you first enter Rix Hill Road from Route 15A.  This will be an out and back hike for Naturalists and Tourists; may return at any point; while Climbers will walk all the way to Route 15A for a shuttle back to the start point. At about 1.75 miles we will encounter a more substantial stream across the trail, probably too large to leap over. Any Climber wishing to proceed on Rob’s Trail past this point is advised to bring wading boots. Turning around at this point will give you a hike of 3.5 miles and a little under 2 hours. 

Optional Social: Please join us at the Birdhouse Brewing Company in Honeoye – 8716 Main Street, just east of the traffic light, for craft beer and pub food.

Directions: From Springwater: proceed north on Route 15A 19 miles, then make a left on Rix Hill Road and an immediate left on Old East Lake Road, aka Boat Launch Road. 

From Honeoye and points east:  Take Route 20A west from the Bristol Valley and Honeoye. When 20A meets Route 15A, make a left and go about .6 miles to Rix Hill Road. Make a right and then an immediate left on the dead end road to the boat launch parking area in one mile. 

From Rochester and points west: Take Route 15 south from Henrietta or Route 15A south from Honeoye Falls, or Route 390 south to the Lakeville-Livonia exit, then go south on Route 15 and then east on Route 20A  through Hemlock. When Route 20A turns east toward Honeoye, go straight another .6 miles and make a right on Rix Hill Road. Then make an immediate left onto the boat launch road and go to the end, 1 mile. 

To the Social: From the Boat Launch parking area, return to Rix Hill Road, make a right and then a left on Route 15A. Go .6 miles and make a right on Route 20A. In about 4.75 miles you will reach the traffic light in Honeoye. A few buildings beyond the light is Birdhouse Brewing on the left at #8716.

This is a change from the scheduled hike at the Hemlock lakeshore, which is rescheduled to March 5th.  We’re making the calendar change to keep our distance from the Canada Goose hunting activity along the Hemlock Lake Trail, continuing through Jan. 15. 

On Sunday the 8th we’ll hike the familiar Wesley Hill Nature Preserve, a Finger Lakes Land Trust property at 6060 Gulick Road in South Bristol, with an after-hike social at the newly re-opened Valley Inn on Route 20A west of Honeoye.

Meet at the Gulick Road parking area at 1:45 for a 2pm start. The full group will start out following on the Red Trail clockwise. At the Wenrich Cabin, the Tourists and Naturalists will continue on the Red Trail back to the start for a 2.8 mile loop, while the Climbers will continue to the west edge of the preserve on the Blue and Yellow trails, returning on the other half of the Red Trail for at total of about 5 miles.  Trails have some ups and downs, though no sustained climbs. Wesley Hill is a Finger Lakes Land Trust property of 390 acres on the hill east of Honeoye Lake.  including stands of northern hardwoods, red and white pines, hemlocks, a woodland pond, and the northern edge of Briggs Gully, set in an old forest overlooking the gully, deep in the woods.  The preserve was established 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 through the purchase or donation of four additional parcels.

Directions to Trailhead: 

Note: This is a change to the directions previously posted. These are directions to the Gulick Rd Parking area

From Honeoye: take route 20A east through Honeoye to East Lake Road (CR 33). Turn right onto East Lake Road. (If coming from Bristol or points east, it’s a left onto East Lake Road).  Take the first left, staying on CR 33, then the first right onto Pinewood Hill which becomes Gulick Road. Travel about 3.3 miles. The parking lot is on your right.

From Springwater: Take your favorite route to Naples and proceed north on County Road 36 toward Honeoye. In 1.5 miles, make a right on Gulick Road, After about 7.9 miles (pass Camp Cutler and Cumming Nature Center), the parking lot will be on your left..

Directions to the Social from the trailhead:  Turn left out of the parking area onto Gulick Road. Proceed north on Gulick, Pinewood Hill Road, and County Road 33 to East Lake Road. Make a right and then a left on Main Street (Route 20A).  The Valley Inn is at 8970 Main Street, at the NE corner of the intersection of Route 20A and County Road 37, about 3/4 mile past the Honeoye traffic light.

Our Spring Equinox hike this year will be in Ellison Park in the City of Rochester. This city park dates back to 1926, and covers 447 acres of city land. It has woodlands, steep slopes and the level flood plain of the Irondequoit Creek. There is one designated sledding hill and a non-motorized/car-top boat launch allowing boat access to Irondequoit Creek.  This plot of land encompasses much of the history of the locale before the city was built here. Fort Schuyler is a replica of the original Fort; Indian Landing was located on Irondequoit Creek and was used by the indigenous Iroquois as the beginning of the portage route which stretched along Ellison Park. The Lost City of Tryon, originally founded in hopes of creating a commercial settlement, used the Irondequoit Creek for trade. A store was built that bartered with the Seneca Indians, beginning Rochester’s trading roots.

You can print a copy of the park trail map here: EllisonParkMap (monroecounty.gov)  The GPS coordinates of the lodge are 43.15107, -77.5133.

The Hike Meeting Place

From all points south:

1:  Find you way onto the I-490 going north (that’s west in highway terms) towards Rochester

2:  Use the right lane to take exit 21 for NY-590 N. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for State Route 590 N and merge onto NY-590 N

3:  Take exit 6 for Blossom Rd. Turn right onto Blossom Rd

4: Ellison Park is bisected by Blossom Road; turn north onto Ellison Park Road and follow signs to Hazelwood Grove Lodge car park. Note; do not park in the dog park immediately off Blossom Road.

The Hikes

-Naturalists and Tourists will hike from Hazelwood Grove to The Pavilion round the hill, crossing Irondequoit Creek at the Indian Landing site. Visit the Fort Shuyler Trading Post and return via the service road along the creek to Hazelwood Grove.

-Climbers will cross Blossom Road then onto Rich’s Dugway Road to Coyote Trail. From Coyote trail we will take the Overlook Trail to the Overlook. On the return there will be the option of going up a beautiful gorge up to Penfield Road. From there we will return to Hazelwood Grove via the Coyote Trail.

Note; there is a very steep climb, half a mile into the hike. Poles are recommended. If it is icy, it would be good to have some extra traction on your boots.

The Social

Drive to Tryon City Tavern, 2300 Main Street, Rochester, for restorative sustenance and libations. The GPS coordinates of the tavern are (43.15946, -77.54940).

This is a great trail to X-country ski, but it looks like we will just be just hiking this Sunday.  It’s all flat and scenic and usually groomed if there is a good snow base.  There is presently only an inch or two of snow, so not good skiing this time.

This week our Sunday hike will be an easy out and back, hiking with an after social at the Cottage Hotel in Mendon, New York.  The Mendon trail begins where we park at the Little League ball field just off Route 251 west of the four corners of Mendon, 3865 Rush-Mendon Road.  We’ll be hiking west from Mendon out about an hour with a turn-around at Chamberlain Road.  It’s all flat about 4 miles out and back.  Those that wish more distance, if time, can explore the trail east from Mendon toward Fishers.

This linear park has an interesting history.  It’s a 15 mile plus trail extending from Ontario County through Mendon and Rush to the Genesee River with a north extension into Henrietta.  It was purchased in 1995 for $1,300,000.00 and was completed and transitioned in 2004 from the old Lehigh Valley railway to a recreational trail for biking, running, cross country skiing, hiking and horseback riding.

After the hike about 4 pm, we’ll be walking from the ball park parking lot to the four corners of Mendon to the Cottage Hotel on the north east corner.

Directions:  From West Bloomfield at the traffic light head north on Route 65 and in .7 miles, don’t take the curve, go straight and you will be on County Road 35 (West Bloomfield Road).  Travel straight for 5.9 miles, when you reach the stop sign at Route 251, turn right.  In about a mile, right across from the Ye Mendon Tavern on your left, turn right into the parking lot at the Little League Ball Field.  Plenty of parking there.