We will visit the picturesque and historic Village of Hammondsport on Sunday September 29th, with two options. Those in favor of a vigorous woods walk will hike a combination of hillside trails southeast of the village including the June Bug Trail, while those interested in a more leisurely but scenic walk around the village will stay at lake level and enjoy a tour of the historic village and waterfront.  We will meet at 1:45 and start together in separate directions at 2 PM from the Glenn Curtiss Museum, at 8415 Route 54, just southeast of the village. The two groups will reconvene at about 4PM for a dish-to-pass social at Champlin Beach, a mile to the north on Route 54, just north of the fire station. Come early if you’d like to explore the Museum, which features exhibits on Hammondsport and Keuka Lake history as well as on the career and exploits of Hammondsport’s own Glen Curtiss, early 20th century pioneer in the fields of bicycling, motorcycling and aviation. See   https://glennhcurtissmuseum.org/   for more on the museum, which is open until 5. Watch for the airplane in the front yard.

Climbers and Tourists will cross Route 54 and head up the June Bug Trail to the hilltop ridge along the east side of Pleasant Valley – a significant climb, but well worth it. At the hilltop, we will join the a beautiful section of the Finger Lakes Trail going south along the ridge, returning the same way for a hike of about 3.5 miles. Poles will be helpful on the climb and descent.

Naturalists and History Buffs will drive from the meeting place to public parking next to the Post Office at 76 Pulteney Street in Hammondsport and begin the walking tour at the Pulteney Square Gazebo. The tour, led by local historian Terry Bretherton, will highlight the history of the village, its public square, and the very intact Victorian cottage neighborhoods over about an hour and a half. The walking tour group will then return to Champlin Beach to enjoy the social, along with swimming or wading opportunities.

Social – Please bring your favorite goodies for our dish-to-pass social at Champlin Beach, just north of the Route 54A intersection and the fire station on Route 94. Bring your own beverage and chairs/folding table in case the pavillons are reserved. A $5 contribution to our social fund is fine in lieu of the edibles.

Directions –  From Springwater area, head south to Wayland and pick up 390 South to Bath. Take Exit 38E from 390 to Bath, and follow Route 54 north 8 .5 miles to the Glenn Curtiss Museum at #8415, on your left.

From Canandaigua and points north – take the most direct route to Penn Yan, then head south on Route 54 toward Hammondsport. Pass the intersection with Route 54A, and continue another .75 miles to the Glenn Curtiss Museum at #8415, on the right.

From Honeoye/Naples area – go the Naples and head south on Route 53 through Prattsburgh. Continue on Route 53 for 18 miles and make a left on Gardner Road, then right on County Road 13/Mitchellsville Road. At the end of Mitchellsville Road in Urbana, turn left onto Route 54. Go 1.8 miles to the Museum, on your left.

Hi everyone, This Sunday is our first maintenance hike of the year. As many of you know, as a group, we have been responsible for maintaining a section of the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail. Unfortunately, the section of the trail from Seman Rd to Mt Pleasant St in Naples has been closed and converted to a road walk, so now we are going to maintain the blue trail.  On our first time, we are going to do some minimal maintenance while we explore the northern section of the blue trail.  So, please bring a pair of clippers to trim back small branches and weed that are encroaching on the trail, and a walking stick that you can use to flick branches off the trail. Cloves may also be useful when the weed has thorns. And of course, bring water. Please arrive at 1:45 to allow time to plan a car pool. We expect the Tourists and Climbers will return to the cars by 4:30 after 3.5 miles of hiking.

We will not be cutting trees that cross the trail, although we may discuss future plans.

We also will not be pulling out roses and other invasives. And we will not be mowing the paths.  These items will wait until spring.

There are three options for this Sunday hike.  We will select based on attendance. All hikers will meet at the Ontario St parking lot in the Village of Naples.

The Climbers and Tourists will car pool to the Parish Hill parking lot, which is also known as the Blue Trail parking lot, because the Blue Trail starts there. From there, we will follow the Blue Trail down to where it joins the yellow trail (click on the map to see a larger copy where you can follow the trails [or CTRL-click for a new tab]). We will follow the yellow trail (also blazed with blue) over a ridge and down to the Tom Noteware bridge across the top of Conklin Gully. There is a steep climb after the bridge, which will require care from all hikers. Unfortunately, this route is not recommended for hikers who prefer level ground.  There is an backup route if needed.  From the top of the climb, we will find enjoy views of Conklin Gully from the top. The Tourists will turn around at the lean-to/overlook and return to the cars at Parrish Hill Rd, again being careful with the steep areas. The Climbers will continue on the blue trail which follows a fire lane to join the orange trail.  We will turn right and follow the orange trail down to the cars on Ontario St.

The Naturalists will start out on the orange trail across the Naples Creek.  But at the register, they will turn left onto the Burgandy Trail along the creek. About half a mile down the trail, they will turn left onto a smaller trail and follow it back to the orange trail and turn left towards the cars. But before the bridge the will turn left and follow a trail south along the creek. This trail exits onto E Hill road. At that point, hikers can choose to turn around an walk back to the cars on the trail by the creek, or continue on the road up to  S Main Street and walk on the sidewalk back to Ontario St and the the cars.

Following the hike, we will gather at a Bob and Ruth’s on the north end of Main St.

Directions:

From Springwater and Wayland, come south on Rt. 15 to the traffic light at Rt 21. Turn left on 21 and keep going all the way to Naples. Go through the downtown business area and turn right on Ontario Street, opposite the school. Go to the bottom of the hill and the parking lot is on the left.

From Dansville, follow Rt. 63 to Wayland where the road turns into Rt 21; continue on 21 all the way to Naples. Go through the downtown business area and turn right on Ontario Street, opposite the school. Go to the bottom of the hill and the parking lot is on the left.

From Naples, go to the school on Main Street (Rt. 21). Turn down Ontario Street opposite the school, go to the bottom of the hill and the parking lot is on the left.

From Canandaigua, head south on Rt 21 through Chesire and Woodville to Naples. Turn left on Ontario Street, opposite the school. Go to the bottom of the hill and the parking lot is on the left.

From Honeoye, head south on CR 36 (West Lake Rd) from 20A for 15 miles to Naples.  Turn left onto Main St (Rt. 21). Turn down Ontario Street opposite the school, go to the bottom of the hill and the parking lot is on the left.

From Penn Yan, head west on North St and continue onto Rt 364W for 12 miles. In Middlesex, join NY 245 and continue for 9 miles.  Turn left on NY 21 South (N Main St) into Naples. Turn left on Ontario Street, opposite the school. Go to the bottom of the hill and the parking lot is on the left.

Please join us on August 11 for one of our multi-mode events at Onanda Park on the west side of Canandaigua Lake, 4965 County Road 16, Canandaigua – trail hiking, creek hiking, boating and/or biking. Onanda Park is an 80-acre public property, formerly a YWCA Camp, with 8 acres of level lakefront for water-related recreation and 72 acres of woods and trails on the west side of West Lake Road, including the picturesque Barnes Gully and Barnes Creek.  The lakefront and upland sections of the park have different parking fee rules; parking is free in the upland lots, but there is a fee of $10 per car on summer weekends at the lakefront lots. Lakefront walk-ins are free. For details on the park’s facilities, history, and ecosystems, see:  http://www.townofcanandaigua.org/portfolio_detail_page.asp?id=5

Meet at 3:45 for a 4 PM start at the upper Upland Parking lot, where we will get organized into groups according to your preferred activity.  Hikers will divide into the Climbers and the Tourists/Naturalists, cyclists will head out from here and boaters will drive down to the lakefront lot for easier access to the lake (note the $10/car fee) or walk their boats in. We will reassemble at the cars at 6:00 for our dish-to-pass social in one of the upland lakeview pavilions. Swimming and fishing opportunities are available throughout the afternoon; a lifeguard is on duty until 7 PM.

Climbers – will first hike the Upland Loop of about 1.5 miles, then head to Barnes Creek and walk upstream to the waterfall, then downstream to the lake, passing under the West Lake Road bridge. Bring a bathing suit and towel in your pack if you would like to swim after the hike; rest rooms are available for changing. Bring bug repellent and  water shoes with good traction for the creek walking section – your feet are guaranteed to get wet. Trails are well maintained and marked, with moderate climbs and descents and two overlooks into Barnes Gully. Poles will be helpful for the uneven surfaces in the stream bed.

Tourists/Naturalists – will hike the Lowlands Loop, then head down to Barnes Creek for some level walking in the water down to the mouth of the creek within the park, where you can sit and watch the action at the fishing pier and the swimming beach. Bring bug repellent and a bathing suit and towel in your pack if you would like to swim after the hike; rest rooms are available for changing. Bring water shoes with good traction for the creek walking section; poles will be helpful too.

Cyclists – will follow West Lake Road to the north as far as Butler Road, then loop over to Middle Cheshire Road and back to West Lake Road for a total of about 11.5 miles. There are two moderate hills to navigate, but most of the trip is at lake level and close to the water, and the road has a good shoulder and a 35 mph speed limit, making it a favorite for cyclists.

Boaters will drive to the lower lots east of West Lake Rd and carry their boats to the water, or carry them in from the upland lot. Portable wheels may prove useful. Once in the water, we will stay near the shore, heading south for a couple of miles toward Seneca Point (about 3 miles south). Bare Hill will be across the lake when we turn around to return to the park.

Social – Bring your own beverage and join us for the optional dish-to-pass social starting at 6 PM in one of the park pavilions (site to be announced at the start). In-lieu-of-cooking fee of $5 if you arrive without edibles.

Directions: From Springwater, go south to Naples, then north on Route 21, bearing right when it splits with Route 64. Five miles after the intersection with Route 64, turn right on County Road 16. In 2 miles, Onanda Park Upland Trails Area will be on your left.

From Honeoye/Hemlock, take Route 20A east toward Bristol. Turn right on County Road 32 at the Wizard of Clay. Continue straight through the intersection at Bristol Center, then at the top of the hill, turn right on Montanye Road, which will take you into Cheshire. At the end of Montanye (now called Goodale Road), go right, then left on Wells Curtice Road. At the end of Wells Curtice Road (in 1.9 miles), make a right on West Lake Road (a.k.a County Road 16). Onanda Park Upland Trails Area will be on your right in 1.6 miles.

From Rochester and points north: Take the Canandaigua or Victor exit from the Thruway, whichever is closer for you. Go south to Route 5&20. From the Canandaigua side, take Middle Cheshire Road to the south end, then go left on Wells Curtice Road and right on West Lake Road (County Road 16). Onanda Park Upland will be on your right in 1.6 miles. From the Victor/Bloomfield side, take Route 64 south to Bristol Center, left on County Road 32, and right on Montanye Road. At the end of Montanye (now called Goodale Road), go right, then left on Wells Curtice Road. At the end of Wells Curtice Road (in 1.9 miles), make a right on West Lake Road (a.k.a County Road 16). Onanda Park Upland Trails Area will be on your right in 1.6 miles.

See  http://www.townofcanandaigua.org/page.asp?id=263   for trail map.