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Hiking in Yates County

Bare Hill

 

 

Bare Hill Unique Area is located about half way between Canandaigua and Naples, near the hamlets of Vine Valley and Middlesex, overlooking Canandaigua Lake from the east side. It has two separate parcels, the southern one covers approximately 298 acres in the town of Middlesex in Yates County and the northern one covers approximately 95 acres in the town of Gorham in Ontario County, for a total of 393 acres.

The main recreational activity in this Unique Area is hiking.  There are two main trails in Bare Hill Unique Area, an Upper Trail and a Lower Trail.  The Upper Trail heads left from the kiosk and ends 0.9 miles later at Council Rock.  The Lower Trail heads right from the kiosk and dead ends after 0.25 miles at a primitive campsite.  Both trails have nice views.  There are other minor trails located in the area. 

Every year on Labor Day there is a ceremonial lighting of a bonfire at Council Rock to start the "ring of fire" or "The Festival of Lights" in which landowners around the perimeter of Canandaigua Lake light fires in celebration of peace and bountiful harvests.

The north end of the southern parcel has one parking area on Van Epps Rd. The northern parcel has road frontage on County Route 11/East Lake Rd, but no designated parking areas.  Look below for a few pictures, a video and a couple of maps of Bare Hill Unique Area.

 

Pictures from Bare Hill Unique Area

Entering Bare Hill Unique Area

Council Rock

 

Directions

From Naples, take NY 245 north to Middlesex. Turn left onto north NY 364, then left onto County Route 10/North Vine Valley Rd. Right onto Bare Hill Rd. and left onto Van Epps Rd. To reach the northern parcel, continue on County Route 10/North Vine Valley Rd to County Route 39/East Lake Rd. That turns into County Route 11 at the County Line.

From Canandaigua, take NY 364 south to a right onto County Route 10/North Vine Valley Rd. Right onto Bare Hill Rd and left onto Van Epps Rd. To reach the northern parcel, take NY 364 south to County Route 11/East Lake Rd.

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