On our way home from hiking Indian Pass and Santanoni Peak in Adirondack Park last fall, we saw a sign near Long Lake pointing toward Buttermilk Falls. Several of us remembered it from an earlier visit with friends about 20…
Best Trails in the Western Finger Lakes Region!
Growing up near the Finger Lakes in New York State – and taking frequent trips to some of its state parks – I didn’t realize until I was much older just what a beautiful part of the country I’d hiked…
Paddle Irondequoit Bay
Irondequoit Bay is a bit of a fixture on the northeast side of Rochester, New York. It’s a favorite with marinas, pleasure-seekers, and amusement park-seekers (due to Seabreeze right up the hill). It’s also famous because of the so-called “Bay…
Cornwall Preserve
Last summer, I had the great opportunity to take a spontaneous hike. Actually, we planned it about 10 minutes before we left, so it wasn’t completely spontaneous. While bicycling on a scenic but not-quite-local road, we’d run across a sign…
Paddling Irondequoit Creek – Ellison Park to Irondequoit Bay
Last fall, I had the opportunity to kayak down Irondequoit Creek. It was fun, not too hard (as creeks in the Rochester area go), and we got to see quite a bit of flora and fauna along the way. It’s…
Eagle Cliff Falls in Havana Glen
Today I’m super excited to post about Eagle Cliff Falls, a little waterfall hike near Watkins Glen, New York! It’s mostly off the radar, and it’s privately owned, though I would guess that it could be busy on weekends. I…
Santanoni Peak: My First 46er!
Last fall I climbed my first 46er in the Adirondacks! It was super challenging on a crazy trail – in fact, it’s more scramble than trail in many places – but the views were great and the forest was peaceful…
The Big Bend Road in Letchworth
A few years ago, a couple of us were riding our bicycles on the Genesee Valley Greenway through Letchworth State Park. As a side-trek, we ended up on the Big Bend Road in the state park. It was fun, so…
Biking the Hemlock Lake North Trail
Did you know that there are trails along the shore of Hemlock Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York? The lake itself is popular with canoeists and kayakers because very few motorized boats are allowed on the water…
Devils Hole, Whirlpool, and Niagara Gorge Railroad Grade
One of my favorite hikes I did around New York State last fall was the Whirlpool Trail Whirlpool State Park (though it might as well be in Niagara Falls State Park given how close it is to the falls –…
