Sunday September18th we will be hiking the trails around Camp Cutler, the scout camp between Gulick Road and Hunt Hollow Road (County Road 33) in Naples. Here’s the trail map: 

The hike – We will meet at 2:00pm at the shelter/pavilion at the edge of the large parking lot at 7131 Gulick Road. We’ll divide 2 groups, climbers, and tourists/naturalists. All groups will start off together, walking north from the parking lot. The trails are well marked with colored blazes and are easy to follow, but always look for the next blaze! Both groups will start out together following the camp roads.

At the first fork, stay to the left at the start of the red trail. A short distance up the hill, you will see a sign for the Nature Trail. Turn left off the road onto the blazed red trail. The Naturalists/tourists will follow the Red Trail which will loop around the pond for a total of 2.54-3 miles.  The Climbers will complete a 5-mile loop around the perimeter of the camp. This hike does not disappoint, with two beautiful lookouts with spectacular views. We will avoid the areas of recent logging activity. Bring water and a snack for this long hike.  There is a place to sit at each lookout. Poles are suggested; if it is wet, it may be slippery in spots.

The Social – After the hike, we will meet at the pavilion at the end of the parking lot for a social. Please bring a dish to pass and something to drink.

Directions:  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 7 miles to Camp Cutler at 7131 on the left side. There is a big sign and a large parking area.

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

From Naples: From the southern end of Naples, head west on Co Rd 36. Follow Co Rd 36 for 1.2 to the first right turn on Gulick Rd. Follow Gulick for about 5 miles, the camp will be on the right. There will be a big sign and a large parking area.

Next Sunday’s hike will take us to this Wildlife Management area run by the DEC Division of Fish and Wildlife for the purposes of conservation and recreation. A “tor” is by definition a hill or mound, therefore not much flatland for hikers. However, I have done my best to accommodate our 3 levels of hikers for this outing.

Meeting Place

Large parking area on Basset Rd. Naples. From Rt. 21 in Naples, heading south, bear left on Rt. 53.. In about .75 miles, turn left on County Rd. 21. aka Italy Valley Rd. Basset Rd is a left turn, about 2 miles east. The parking area is on the left, about .5 miles down.

Hiking Groups

All hikes are on shaded gravel forest roads which lead from the same point in the parking area.

Naturalists and Tourists will head north on the gravel road, soon passing through a gate. They will bear left and pass by two nice ponds, then head uphill on a gradual grade through the woods. The Naturalists can choose to turn around and return to the start at any point, as needed. After about 1 mile another gate is reached and the Orange Bristol Hills Branch of the FLT appears ahead, still on the gravel road. In about .5 miles the orange trail veers left into the woods, but hikers continue straight ahead on the truck trail. In a short distance the DEC lean to and overlook towards Canandaigua Lake appears. Unfortunately the view is limited by trees, but it is a good place to sit and rest for a bit. The return route is back down the same road for a total of 3 miles.

Climbers will take the road to the right after the gate and begin to ascend through the woods for about 1 mile. Eventually the road levels out quite nicely. Another gate is reached at which point the group will turn left and enjoy a nice downhill for about 1 mile to a lovely pond on the right. There is path along the shore if a closer look is desired. The gravel road continues uphill straight ahead to a gate at the intersection with the Orange trail. A right turn on the Orange trail followed by a straight ahead on the DEC road will bring the group to the lean to and overlook. Return route will be down hill via the gravel truck trail back to the parking area. Total trip is about 5 miles.

Social

Following the hike we will meet at Middletown Tavern on the corner of Main Street (Rt 21) and Clark St. (Co.Rd 36).

Please join us for kayaking on Sugar Creek and Keuka Lake or a hike through the marsh preserve to the lake.  Our starting point will be the Finger Lakes Museum site, accessible from Guyanoga Road or from Route 54, both close to the flashing light at the center of Branchport.  The Finger Lakes Museum is a former elementary school which is being gradually converted to a regional museum.  They have an active boat launch site at the rear bordering Sugar Creek, the main tributary into the west branch of Keuka Lake; this kayak launch is difficult to use, so there is a choice of a beach launch across Rt. 54.

Kayakers should arrive by 3:40 to unload their boats and launch from the floating dock or from the nearby beach. Hikers, who will follow the trail along the river, and kayakers will leave at 4:00.

After launching, kayakers will head upstream in Sugar Creek through a woodland waterway. Based on time and conditions we then will turn around and head back past the dock to the lake.  Once on the lake we will start heading west and enter the adjacent marshland owned by the Isaak Walton League. Cattails, water lilies and waterfowl are abundant in the marsh waterways.  Back on the lake we will continue west to the marinas of Branchport. Another U-turn will take us toward Keuka Lake State Park. Finally, we will return to the river and up to the takeout at the Museum’s dock.

Hikers will hike to Keuka Lake along the museum paths, stopping at an observation platform overlooking the marsh and at the Museum’s lakefront pavilion.: After enjoying the lake views, we will return to the museum and explore the museum grounds.

Social:  The social will be at the newly re-opened Blue Eagle, at the top of the hill on the road from Branchport to Prattsburg.

Directions:

From Springwater and Wayland – Take Route 15 south and then Route 21 north to Naples. Coming into Naples, go right on Route 53 toward Prattsburgh. In 1.2 miles make a left on Italy Valley Road. You will remain on Italy Valley  Road for about 8.7 miles, although the county road number changes from 21 to 18 to 34 en route. At the end of Italy Valley Road, go left for .3 miles on Italy Hill Road (CR 35), then follow Itlaly Hill Road as it curves to the right and becomes CR32. In another 4.7 miles you will be at the flashing light in the center of Branchport.  Go straight on Route 54A toward Penn Yan for .2 miles, and turn left into the Finger Lakes Museum across from the Library, and before the Fire Station. Look for the driveway toward the new barn on your right.

From Canandaigua and 5&20:  Take East Lake Road south to County Road 1, or Route 247 from Reed’s Corners into Rushville. Continue South through Rushville toward Penn Yan. Route 247 will become Route 364 shortly before Potter. Continue for 4.5 miles past Potter and make a right on Guyanoga Road (CR 29). Go another 6.5 miles to Branchport. Turn left into the Finger Lakes Museum at 3369 Guyanoga Road, or if you miss it, go left at the flashing light and then left into the FLM drive. If you come in from Guyanoga Road, go to the right around the building and parking lot, and follow the signs to the Creekside Center (a new barn). Park on the grass near the boat rack. If you take the side entrance in from Route 54A heading east toward Penn Yan, turn in to the left, across from the library, and then right into the Creekside Center.

This Sunday we will hike the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) starting at the Mt. Morris Dam and Visitors Center Parking Lot, as well as the Wildlife Loop Trail within the Dam property.  We expect to stop periodically, as we follow the east rim of the Letchworth gorge, enjoying the spectacular views of the gorge and Genesee River below.

The Wildlife Loop trail within the dam property is beautiful in its own right, with forest and grassy fields.

Two levels of hiking are planned – “Climbers” and “Tourist/Naturalists” will both hike south on the yellow blazed (FLT) trail along the rim of the gorge, jogging east slightly away from the river across a boardwalk through a small wet area, stop at Hogsback Overlook to view the Hogsback formation of the river gorge, continue on the trail another .2 miles before turning around to head back.  On the way back, we will follow the same yellow blazes but take the alternate orange blazed trail along the rim of the gorge which joins back up with the yellow trail, back to the parking lot.  Total hike is 2.25 miles.

Once back to the parking lot, the “Climbers” who want a longer hike will follow the blue blazed Wildlife Loop Trail which begins just to the right of the Mt. Morris Dam Visitors Center, adding another 1.1 miles to the hike.

The Hike Assembly Point:

The Visitors Center will be closed.  However, there is a bathroom adjacent to the parking lot that may be open on the day of the hike.  All hikers will begin the hike at the Mt. Morris Dam Visitor Center Parking Lot.  The trail access is at the west end of the parking lot (to your left as you face the gorge).  While this trail is in a non-hunting area, it is recommended that you wear brightly colored clothing.

Social:

After the hike, all are welcome to gather at the larger pavilion located adjacent to the parking lot.  Bring your own snack, drink, and chair (due to limited seating and need for social distancing).

Directions:

The Mt Morris Dam Visitor Center is about 45 minutes from Springwater, so please plan ahead. If you have a GPS, try entering Mt Morris Dam as your destination. Or enter Park Rd or Visitor Center Rd, Mt Morris.

From Springwater: Take Rt 15N and then left on Liberty Pole Rd.  Stay on that road all the way to Rt63. There, take a left, and a quick right, onto Rt 258. At Rt 36, take a right and proceed to Mt. Morris. Turn left onto NY-408 South.

From Wayland: you can take I-390 north to exit 7. Turn left at the exit on NY-408 S to Mt. Morris. NY-408 goes left at Main St, then right on Chapel St.

From Hemlock and Honeoye: follow 20A West through Livonia and Lakeville to 390S. Exit at exit 7 NY 408 S to Mt Morris. Stay on 408 through Mt Morris.

From Rochester: Take I-390S to Exit 7 NY 408S.  Stay on Rt 408 through Mt Morris.

From NY 408 in Mt Morris: Go south on 408 for 1.8 miles to Visitor Center Rd. Turn right at the Visitor Center Road and follow the road all the way to the Dam and Visitor Center Parking lot