Hemlock Lake and the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest remains a favorite location for Springwater Trails. This Sunday we will return to the North Boat Launch for Kayaking on the lake and Hiking on Rob’s Trail.

All boaters and hikers will meet at the north boat launch at 3:45. Following the hike we will enjoy a pot luck social at the Hemlock Park at the north end of the lake. Boaters must bring their PFDs and hikers will want to bring walking poles.

There are four options available for this hike.

Boaters: We will unload our boats at the boat launch. It is recommended that boaters meet at 3:30 to give a bit of extra time in case the launch is crowded. Once we have a picture of all of the boaters, we will head south along the the east side of the lake. We may get as far of the Rob’s Trail beach. Adventurous boaters will then head across the lake and return to the launch along the west side of the lake.

Naturalists Hikers who prefer a level hike will head south of the old lake road. Hikers should check their watches and turn around at 5:00. That may mean turning around at the bench overlooking the lake, or possibly at the Rob’s Trail beach.

Tourists: Hikers who enjoy hiking down hill, will carpool up to the Rob’s Trail parking area on the west side of NY 15A.  From there, the trail heads across fields and then enter the forest. The trail is well marked and crosses a nice bridge above a falls, and down to the lake, at which time hikers will turn right (north) and follow the old lake road.  They may meet the Naturalists on the way to the boat launch.

Climbers: If any hikers would prefer to climb up to 15A, It will be easiest if they could trade keys with the Tourist drivers, and use those cars to return to the boat launch. Otherwise the Climbers will need to take a couple of cars to the top before the hike. If two climbers would like to leave their cars at the top, please call Mark at 259-4505 and we will meet you at 3:30 at the Parking lot off 15-A.

Following our hiking everyone is invited to a pavilion at Hemlock Lake Park at the north end of the lake for a pot luck social.  Bring a dish to pass (or donate $5 to the social fund) and your own beverage. From the boat launch, head out to Rix Hill Rd. Take a sharp left on Rix Hill Rd and turn in at the 3rd driveway to the left. At the circle, we will find an available table for our social.

Directions

From Springwater: Head north on 15A for 10.1 miles. Turn left on Rix Hill Rd and an immediate left on East Lake Rd. Follow this road to the boat launch.

From Hemlock: Head south on 15A. At 0.7miles past the intersection with 20A, take the first right onto Rix Hill Rd into the Hemlock Lake Park. Take the first left and follow the east lake road to the boat launch.

From Honeoye: Head west on 20A toward Hemlock. At the intersection with 15A, turn left onto 15A South. In 0.7miles  take the first right onto Rix Hill Rd into the Hemlock Lake Park. Take the immediate left and follow the east lake road to the boat launch.

From Penn Yan: Take 54A across the north end of Keuka Lake to Branchport. Continue straight onto Italy Hill Rd (CR32). In 4.9 miles, turn left to stay on Italy Hill Rd and take the 2nd right onto Italy Hill Turnpike (CR34). At the bottom of the hill (3 miles) stay to the left onto Italy Valley Rd (CR18). On entering Ontario County, Italy Valley Rd becomes CR21. Continue to the T and turn right onto NY 53 into Naples. Continue straight onto NY 21 North past the Wayside Market and turn left onto Clark St (CR 36). Continue for about 15 miles along Honeoye Lake. Turn left at the light onto US 20A. In 4.8 miles, turn At 0.7miles past the intersection with 20A, take the first right onto Rix Hill Rd into the Hemlock Lake Park. Take the first left and follow the east lake road to the boat launch.

The Keuka Outlet Trail is seven miles long and follows the winding waterway where Keuka Lake flows eastward into Seneca Lake.  The trail runs along an old railroad bed, has only a slight incline, and the surface is a combination of dirt, gravel, and ballast. You can find more information at www.keukaoutlettrail.org.  There is also an audio tour, so bring a charged phone and you can listen to some of the history along the trail.

Meet up:  We will all meet at the Cascade Falls Access Point parking area, which is right between the two waterfalls, at 3:45 pm.  

Bikers:  After signing in, bikers will ride to the Dresden parking area, ride the full length to Penn Yan, and return for a total 14 mile ride.

Hikers: Head east towards Cascade Mills Falls, enjoy the view of the falls and then turn around and head west towards Seneca Mills Falls.  After viewing the Seneca Mills Falls, continue west to Turtle Pond. Keep heading west until it is time to turn around in order to be back at the parking area around 6:00 pm.

Social:  The bring-a-dish social will be at the Cascade Falls Access parking area.  Bring a lawn chair and a folding table if you have one. Also bring your own beverage and a dish to pass, or make a $5 donation to our social fund.

Directions from Canandaigua:  Take 5 & 20 through Canandaigua, just before you reach Geneva, take 14A south to Penn Yan. Make a left onto Elm St. Sunoco Gas station on one corner and Walgreens on the other corner, Rt. 54A comes in on the right, there is no street sign here.  Pick up directions below continuing on Elm St.

Directions from the south, Wayland, Dansville, Cohocton:  travel north on Rt. 53 towards Naples and make a right onto Italy Valley Rd.  Continue with directions below from Italy Valley Rd.

Directions from the north Honeoye, Springwater: make your way to Rt. 53 just south of Naples and turn left onto Italy Valley Rd.  Continue with directions below from Italy Valley Rd.

Directions from Italy Valley Rd.: Bear right at the Y onto Italy Tpk. Rd. go to the end and make a left onto Italy Hill Road bear right past Blue Eagle Tavern. Take Italy Hill Rd. (rt. 32) past Hunt Country Vineyards to the traffic light in Branchport. Continue straight through the Branchport traffic light this is 54A.  Stay on 54A which brings you right into Penn Yan and onto Elm St.  Go straight through the light and pick up the directions below continuing on Elm St.

Directions from Prattsburgh: Take N. Main St to Prattsburgh Italy Hill Rd., which turns into Italy Hill Rd. (rt. 32) continue around the bend, past Hunt Country Vineyards right into Branchport.  Continue straight through the Branchport traffic light this is 54A.  Stay on 54A which brings you right into Penn Yan and onto Elm St.  Go straight through the light and pick up the directions below continuing on Elm St.

Directions continuing on Elm St. in Penn Yan: Continue straight on Elm all the way to the end. Cornwall St. is to the left and Outlet Road is to the right.  Bear right onto Outlet Road.  Continue straight and you will pass Stiles Rd on your left, continue on and you will see a red barn on the right and a small parking area just past the barn, which is Seneca Mills Access. Go past this parking area and you will come to a road (Ridge Road/Mays Mills Road) on the right and will see another parking area straight ahead where we will be meeting.  This is the Cascade Falls Access Point parking area.

Welcome to the eleventh Annual Mushroom Foray [thanks to both Springwater Trails and the Rochester Area Mycological Association] at the All Western Evergreen Farm.  Three hiking groups are planned, all starting and ending at the parking area at the farm.  The three groups will explore much of the farm, with many opportunities to find mycological specimens.

Please plan to arrive early (1:45 PM) to sign in and to sign the RAMA liability forms.

Maps of the farm, paper bags and paper plates for collecting and displaying mushrooms will be provided.  Those who want to learn how to collect mushrooms will be instructed by Gene and Georgia, and any other Rochester Area Mycological Association members who will be our guests.

The Climbers will follow the driveway up to the fields, turning to the left at the top. We will circle the pond on the southern portion of the farm and the spruce forest along the edge of the Christmas tree plantations. Heading west through the Cathedral Pines will take us to wet spots in the woods. We will return along the edge of several more Christmas tree plantations (Douglas-fir, Nordmann fir, Grand fir, Concolor fir, Canaan fir, Alaska yellow cedar, Norway Spruce, Meyer Spruce).

The Tourists will follow the driveway up through the woods, stopping occasionally to explore for mushrooms.  When reaching saleable size Christmas trees (Lot Z), head to the right around or through the Christmas tree plantation.  At the corner where the small Southwestern White Pine tree row ends and the tall Concolor fir are, follow the trail into the woods and back to the field and head west along the north field road to a hidden corner of the field with some spectacular 35 foot green and blue Concolor fir Christmas trees live, the size seen during Christmas season in a large mall.  If there is still time, follow the north field road next to the hedge row up to Story Road. We will return through the tillable fields, visiting smaller collections of trees and back down through the woods.

The Naturalists will start exploring under and behind the Western red cedars (thuja plicata or giant arborvitae) by the parking area and south to the Alaska yellow cedar, large Concolor fir and spruce, then back up through the woods to the right of the trail up to the main fields.  These are likely full of mushrooms, but you will find some swampy areas, so don’t get lost behind people’s homes along Liberty Pole.

All hikers should check their watches and return to the parking area by 4:00 PM to have their collections identified.  A portapotty with a sink is nearby.

Mushroom Identification

Once again we expect to have several RAMA members with us to identify the mushrooms collected between 4 and 5 PM.  After the mushrooms are identified please join us for a dish-to-pass social (5:00 – 6:30 PM) hosted by Katherine outside the house next to the Furnace Building. Please bring a lawn chair and your own beverage, plus a dish to share or a $5 contribution to the social fund.

We will begin all the hikes at 6840 Liberty Pole Road where there is ample parking at the Christmas tree loading area between the tall Western red cedar and Morton Building and Nursery beds. Follow the parking signs.  When we return from our foray, the mushrooms will be displayed for identification on paper plates on the tables outdoors.  Please dress for the weather, rain gear as needed.  Social distancing and masks are recommended when close together.

Directions:

From Springwater: Go west from the Springwater light on NY-15 North.  Just past the top of the hill and after rounding the tight curve, turn left on CR 38 (Liberty Pole Road).  The farm is on the left (the high side) 1.1 miles from NY-15 at 6840 Liberty Pole Road after you cross Carney Hollow Rd. There is a sign for the All Western Evergreen Nursery & Christmas Tree Farm.  Follow the orange cones to the parking area and park facing the house.

From Geneseo: Go south on NY-63.  About 6.4 miles after passing NY-408, turn left on CR-1 (Groveland Scottsburg Rd) at Groveland Station.  This road becomes CR 1A (Springwater Scottsburg Rd) at Scottsburg (Route 256) and then Liberty Pole Road after you cross Stagecoach Road (CR 71), and finally CR-38 (still Liberty Pole Rd) after crossing Reeds Corners Rd (CR-29).  It is 7.1 miles from Groveland Station to All Western Evergreen Farm.  The farm is on the right (the high side).  Follow the orange cones to the parking area and park facing the house.

From Honeoye: Take 20A west to Hemlock and 15A south to Springwater.  Then follow the Springwater directions above.

From Rochester: Take I-390S from Rochester. Use Exit 9 for NY-15 Lakeville. Turn left onto NY-15. Stay on NY-15 for 16.5 miles, through Lakeville, Livonia, Conesus and Webster Crossing.  When NY-15 curves to the left at the south end of Webster Crossing, continue straight onto CR-60 (Carney Hollow Rd) and take the first right onto Liberty Pole Rd.  The farm is on the left (the high side) at 6840 Liberty Pole Rd.  Follow the orange cones to the parking area and park facing the house.

If using GPS, use the map directions on the www.allwesterntrees.com website and make sure you are on Liberty Pole Road and not being directed to the center of the farm from Swartz Road or Story Road.  Follow the orange cones to the parking area and park facing the house.