Rob's Trail would make an excellent snowshoe hike, but unfortunately the parking area has about 5 feet of snow blocking the entrance right now! There are no good alternate parking options with all the snow along the roads, so we'll hike the Canadice Lake trail which is located about 1 mile away. The parking lot was plowed when I visited today, and there is space for a dozen cars.
There is certainly enough snow if you wish to bring snowshoes, but they aren't required. This trail is mostly level and would normally be an easy walk, but with all the snow I would rate this as moderate exertion. This will be an out and back, so we'll hike 45-60 min and then return.
Rob's trail was once a hardwood forest that was converted to cropland, and succession is now reverting it back to a northern hardwood forest. A 1.75-mile loop trail offers views of steep valleys and characteristic ridgelines. This parcel is located between Hemlock and Canadice lakes, the only Finger Lakes with (currently) undeveloped shorelines due to the City of Rochester acquiring lakeshore properties starting in the 1890s. Existing cottages were demolished and further development prohibited in order to safeguard its primary source of drinking water.
The first part of this loop trail goes uphill - not mountain climbing, but if you spend a lot of time at a desk during the week you might find yourself breathing a little hard as we work our way to the top. Don't fear, I'm a slow hiker and we'll take the time needed for the slowest hiker. The hike should take 1.5 to 2 hours.
Approximate Travel Times Ithaca - 1.75 hrs Auburn - 1.25 hrs Victor - 35 min
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