Randi Minetor - Best Easy Day Hikes Rochester, New York

Best Easy Day Hikes Series

Best Easy Day Hikes Rochester, New York

Randi Minetor

Copyright 2009 by Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Falcon, FalconGuides, and Outfit Your Mind are registered trademarks of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.

TOPO! Explorer software and SuperQuad source maps courtesy of National Geographic Maps. For information about TOPO! Explorer, TOPO!, and Nat Geo Maps products, go to www.topo.com or www.natgeomaps.com.

Project editor: Jessica Haberman

Layout: Kevin Mak

Maps: Offroute Inc. Morris Book Publishing, LLC

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Minetor, Randi.

Best easy day hikes, Rochester, New York / Randi Minetor.

p. cm. -- (Falconguides)

ISBN 978-1-4930-0546-8

1. Hiking--New York (State)--Rochester Metropolitan Area--Guidebooks. 2. Trails--New York (State)--Rochester Metropolitan Area--Guidebooks. 3. Rochester Metropolitan Area (N.Y.)--Guidebooks. I. Title.

GV199.42.N652R636 2009

917.47'89--dc22

2009018277

The author and Globe Pequot Press assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book.

Contents

The Hikes

Acknowledgments

First, I thank our podiatrist, Dr. Daniel Caiola, whose brilliant work made it possible for my husband and me to undertake this hiking guide and other national park projects.

My hat is off to Scott Adams and everyone at FalconGuides whose work brings so many of our books to fruition. To my brilliant agent, Regina Ryan, I am undyingly grateful for all that she does to keep my career on track.

The members of Geneseebirds, the discussion list for Rochester and Buffalo area birders, were generous with trail suggestions and contacts. My thanks to Richard Ashworth, Jim Bailey, Jill Church, Kelly Close, Kathleen Dalton, Steven Daniel, Doug Daniels, Kyle Gage, Jay Greenberg, Allen Handelman, David and Vanna Harding, Kim Hartquist, Greg Lawrence, and Gail Price.

At the Monroe County Parks Department, I thank marketing and education manager T. C. Pellett, director Lawrence A. Staub Jr., and park staff members Brian Needler, Eileen Kennedy, Mark Quinn, Brian Kirchnaler, and Forest Skelton. Stephen Beauvais of the New York State Department of Transportation and Joan Schumaker of the Genesee Valley Greenway also provided useful information. Kathy Blachowski and Gay Mills of the Genesee Land Trust put up with my endless questions and were gracious and helpful. I also thank Dave Schaeffer, trailmaster of the Crescent Trail Association, for assistance above and beyond the call of duty.

Jennifer Centola, Lorraine Woerner-MacGowan, and Gabriel MacGowan joined me to trudge through snow and ice on chill, overcast days. I have so many friends to whom I am grateful, but Martin Winer, Ken Horowitz, and Rose-Anne Moore stand out from this group for their unflagging encouragement and support.

And finally, to my husband, Nic, who walked and rewalked seventeen trails with me, who still likes to read what I write and would hang it on the refrigerator if that would make me happy, I am beyond grateful. I am ecstatic.

How to Use This Guide

This guide is designed to be simple and easy to use. Each hike is described with a map and summary information that delivers the trails vital statistics including length, difficulty, fees and permits, park hours, canine compatibility, and trail contacts. Directions to the trailhead are also provided, along with a general description of what youll see along the way. A detailed route finder (Miles and Directions) sets forth mileages between significant landmarks along the trail.

Hike Selection

This guide describes trails that are accessible to every hiker, whether visiting from out of town or someone lucky enough to live in Rochester. The hikes are no longer than 8 miles round-trip, and some are considerably shorter. They range in difficulty from flat excursions perfect for a family outing to more challenging treks in the areas hilly glacial moraine. While these trails are among the best, keep in mind that nearby trails, often in the same park or preserve, may offer options better suited to your needs. Ive sought to space hikes throughout the Rochester area, so wherever your starting point, youll find a great easy day hike nearby.

Difficulty Ratings

These are all easy hikes, but easy is a relative term. Some would argue that no hike involving any kind of climbing is easy, but in the Rochester area hills are a fact of life. To aid in the selection of a hike that suits particular needs and abilities, each is rated easy, moderate, or more challenging. Bear in mind that even most challenging routes can be made easy by hiking within your limits and taking rests when you need them.

• Easy hikes are generally short and flat, taking no longer than an hour to complete.
• Moderate hikes involve increased distance and relatively mild changes in elevation, and will take one to two hours to complete.
• More challenging hikes feature some steep stretches and greater distances, and generally take longer than two hours to complete.

These are completely subjective ratingsconsider that what you think is easy is entirely dependent on your level of fitness and the adequacy of your gear (primarily shoes). If you are hiking with a group, you should select a hike with a rating thats appropriate for the least fit and prepared in your party.

Approximate hiking times are based on the assumption that on flat ground, most walkers average 2 miles per hour. Adjust that rate by the steepness of the terrain and your level of fitness (subtract time if youre an aerobic animal and add time if youre hiking with kids), and you have a ballpark hiking duration. Be sure to add more time if you plan to picnic or take part in other activities like bird-watching or photography.

Introduction

Its early morning on a hilltop in upstate New York, and as the sun grazes the treetops and penetrates to the forest floor, a chorus of tiny chirrups starts to swell out from behind the oak and maple leaves. In minutes, the hill is aliveliterallywith the buzzing of black-throated green and blue warblers, the lyrical calls of rose-breasted grosbeak and Carolina wren, and the wood thrushs almost fairylike song, like music flowing out of a tiny bottle.

Now we can see birds darting from tree to tree, their bright colors turning to fiery reds and oranges in the spring sun. Suddenly, not far from our feet, a rustle reveals an eastern cottontail dashing across our path. In the distance, we spy the triangular ears of a red fox just above the understory, cautiously watching us from a safe interval. Tracks in the soft earth tell us that deer were here as recently as a few hours before, and when we look up we spot an eastern screech owl dozing in a hollow tree, a haven hes frequented for the last several seasons.