Leaf Peeping in the Finger Lakes [Mid Point] Grimes Glen Hike in Naples!

Look around! We have reached Mid Point of leaf changing here in the Finger Lakes (that is, according to iloveny.com). Like I did at “Just Changing“, I took my family out to explore what Mid Point Fall Foliage looks like in the Finger Lakes.

We hit two spots which promised to show off upstate New York’s beautiful colors. We hiked Grimes Glen to the waterfalls in Naples (first time for us), and then went for our favorite nature drive on West Lightning Corners Rd.

So… hiking to a waterfall with an almost 7 year old and a 2.5 year old. Wouldn’t say I’d necessarily recommend it, but we (all) had a blast. Grimes Glen is in Naples, on the Southern end of Canandaigua Lake. The one-mile (didn’t seem that far) creek stomp leads you to 2 waterfalls (three if you’re gutsy and don’t have small children with you).

About a half mile up the creek, French Hill Falls is at your left. The coolest thing about this one is that you have to walk across it to keep going.

After this first waterfall, you pretty much just need to make peace with getting your feet (and pant legs) wet. It’s unavoidable. There are tons of places to cross the creek as you go up – but the rocks are slippery, and wobbly in most cases.

But once you get to the end, you’ve hit the spot.

 On our way home, the fog was really settling – which was odd for being the middle of the day! But it made for an even more beautiful drive from Naples.

There is one place that we always go when we feel like going for a drive. We always see tons of deer and other animals, and it’s a seasonal use road (so it’s especially fun in the winter months!). I made the hubs stop several times for photo ops.

When we get to the “end” of W. Lightning Road, there is a yellow gates that prevents you from continuing on. Not far down there, it would turn into Pulver Rd and somewhere around there is the highest elevation in Yates County. Some day, we’ll actually park the car and explore the area. We’ve just never done it because it’s not easy to hike with kiddos! So we always turn around, and make our way back to town via Northrup Rd (also a seasonal use road, and one of my favorites). We once had dear literally jump across the road here once. If we could buy a piece of property up here, I think we totally would.