Scouting Routes: Horizon Hill

This morning, Jordyn and Jack accompanied me on a hiking sojourn out to the Horizon Hill Section of the Crescent Trail in Perinton, NY. My goal, in addition to enjoying a family hike, is to identify some off-road courses for training on. Fortunately for me, Jordyn was there to act as our party’s navigator. Using the book Take a Hike! by Rich and Sue Freeman, as a guide, we set out… I also threw a wrench in the trip at the outset by directing the kids into the exit (as articulated on the map) rather than the entrance! Neither the kids or I wanted to “turn around” so we accepted the challenge of following the map and direction n reverse.

Like The Old Rifle Range Trail, Take a Hike! describes this trail as what I call a “four-booter,” which means “some strenuous climbing is required.” The complete loop, marked by Orange and Blue blazes is roughly 2.2 miles.

Once again, today we set out to walk and photograph the course with the intention of returning at some point to run it. The direction which we started (uh... backwards) led us up a hill and through a large field with tall grasses and quite a few birds (such as the close-up of the one pictured center at the top of the post):



Blue blazes first... we stayed mostly to the right though the trail split off in different directions a few times:



Just about half-way through, you can continue on the Orange path (slightly off course) which takes you to an overlook where you can the southside of the city, as well as the skyline:


The Orange Path is pretty easy to follow for the second half of the loop. Some of the trail blazes are creatively placed on downed trees, stones... it is a fun game to have the kids help you keep track of where the blazes are located throughout:




While often the books and maps exaggerate the level of difficulty of a trail, it is fair to say that Take a Hike! is very accurate in describing this hike as a short strenuous one... I rarely say this, but it definitely "walked" longer than only 2.2 miles!


Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!