Genesee RiverWatch

Indian Fort Nature Preserve, Geneseo Area, 2.2 miles of trails

This heavily wooded preserve, owned by the Genesee Valley Conservancy, is a hidden gem on the east bank of the Genesee River in the town of Geneseo, Livingston County. The 60-acre tract takes its name from 100-foot-long log-and-earth palisades that Seneca residents built centuries ago to protect a settlement there. The palisades are gone but the deep ravines that also guarded the village remain, as do dramatic waterfalls and 2.2 miles of well-marked hiking trails that are easy to moderate in difficulty with some steep sections. One of the trails leads down to the Genesee River, where the conservancy maintains a landing for kayaks and canoes. The property’s history as the site of a Seneca fortification led to its inclusion on the National Registry of Historic Places.

A trail map and other information is available on Indian Fort’s web page.

 The property is on Jones Bridge Road, which runs west from Route 63 about 1.75 miles south of the village of Geneseo. (Note that the preserve is on the east side of the river. Another section of Jones Bridge Road can be found on the west side of the river but there is no bridge connecting the two parts of the road.) If one is driving on I-390, get off at Exit 7 and take Route 63 north two miles to Jones Bridge Road.

For people travelling on the water, the preserve has its own landing on the east bank of the Genesee River. It’s on a straight stretch of water with oxbow turns both north and south of the landing.

York Landing – Fowlerville – Genesee Valley Greenway Trail – 2.7 miles one-way.

Use Google Maps to find York Landing Road on the west side of the Genesee between Rt. 20 near Avon and Rt. 63 in Piffard. York Landing Road is a .2 mile long dirt road ending in a large parking area next to the river.

In the days of the Genesee Valley Canal (1840-1878) York Landing was the site of a canal port for loading grain headed to Rochester. An old photo shows a dam on the river and a large grain handling building.

At low water, parts of this infrastructure are still visible in the riverbed.

You can walk down the short path to the river; however, care should be taken as the path is steep and will be slippery after a rain. At high water levels there is a sharp drop into the water and no easy way to get out. At low water levels, there is a beach with flat rocks, making a nice place for a picnic.

Walk north up the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail through alternating forest, pasture, and farmland. This stretch of the trail has small rises and curves making a nice break from the straight line dictated by the old canal and successor railroad in other sections. At 2.7 miles you will come to Fowlerville Road where there is another large trail parking area midway between the river and the hamlet of Fowlerville.

For an additional treat, visit the Abbey of the Genesee off River Road south of York Landing Road where you can walk the grounds, join them for prayer and buy their Monks’ Bread products. Check the Abbey website for details.

Canadice Lake – West Lake Trail – 4.0 miles one-way

About 2 miles south of Hemlock village on State Route 15A turn east onto Purcell Hill Road. The North Trail Head is at a parking lot about 1 mile down Purcell Hill Road at the lake outlet. The South Trail Head is about 4 miles south of the outlet, down Canadice Lake Road (east side) where there is also ample parking. Both trail heads are marked by yellow vehicle barriers.

The trail is an old cottage access road dating to the mid-1800’s. [See Hike #7 and www.HemlockandCanadiceLakes.com for a summary of the area’s history and role in Rochester’s water supply.] It is well-maintained packed dirt and amply wide to allow for social distancing. Crossing streams are contained in culverts and do not require wading or rock hopping. Canadice Lake is always visible through a thin boundary of trees. The trees along the southern 1.5 miles of trail open up and the bank comes close water level, allowing more expansive views of the lake. The last .75 miles of the trail loops around the south end of the lake through a wetland full of birds and drowned trees. A DEC nature trail extends south off the main trail for several hundred yards into the wetland marsh with ducks and turtles.

Like Hemlock Lake, Canadice is part of the Rochester water supply. All the structures surrounding it were torn down in the late 1800’s and the surrounding land is a state forest. Boat motors are limited to 10hp and most boating is done by canoe and kayak. Thus, the lake is not much changed from its appearance when settlers first arrived in the 1790’s. As such, it is an often-underappreciated rarity in the crowded northeast. To fully appreciate this jewel, try to arrive early in the day.

Hemlock Lake – Old East Lake Road – 3.6 miles round trip

About 1 mile south of Hemlock village on State Route 15A turn west onto Rix Hill Road. Immediately turn south onto Old East Lake Road, passing the Hemlock Water Filtration Plant on your right. After about 1 mile, you will come to the boat launch and an ample parking area. The trail is gravel and dirt, well- maintained and has no steep sections. You will have to cross small streams coming down the gullies to the east, but these are easy to step across in normal weather and may be dry in the summer. The end of the trail is marked by a larger gully and a stone bench just beyond.

In addition to wildlife, flowers and lake views, keep an eye out for old cottage basements. At one time, there were over 200 cottages and five hotels lining the lake. Seeking clean water to solve outbreaks of disease, in 1876 the City of Rochester built a pipeline connecting Hemlock Lake to the city system. Later, the City purchased the land surrounding both Hemlock and Canadice Lakes and, in 1895, began tearing down all these structures. In 2010 the City sold this property to the New York State Department of Conservation which has pledged to keep the lakes forever wild. Today they look much as they did in the 1790’s when white settlers first arrived. Regulations that limit boats to 17 feet and motors to 10hp help maintain a sense of solitude. For period photos, maps and histories; as well as additional trail descriptions go to: www.HemlockandCanadiceLakes.com

Mendon: Lehigh Valley Trails – Chamberlain Road to Quaker Meeting House Road – 1.7 miles one-way

This route is just one of many that can be taken within the Honeoye Creek drainage that flows into the Genesee River. It is part of the 15-mile Lehigh Valley Trail system managed by Monroe County as a “linear” park. Built as part of the Rails to Trails initiative, the trail is level and designed for multi-use to accommodate hikers, bikers and horseback riders. For this route, park at either the Chamberlain Rd or Quaker Meeting House Road junction using the provided pullouts. Follow the 1.7-mile trail through a mixture of wetland, lowland hardwoods and upland hardwoods. In early spring, the tree frog known as “spring peepers” put on quite a show in this part of the Lehigh Valley Trail. Keep an eye and ear out for raptors, woodpeckers, owls, red- winged blackbirds and other songbirds.

For a map and to find out more about the Lehigh Valley Trail, download the park brochure: