I have been dying to place a geocache on this trail ever since I learned about the sport but unfortunately most of the trail is private property and the only way to visit all of it is to be a member of the Genesee Valley Hunt. Recently, I have been doing volunteer work for the GVC and one of my projects this summer was to place a geocache on the trail to get more people out to visit the property. (Be sure to check out the beautiful trail-head signs I helped put up!)
History of the Railroad Bed
The original railroad was built in the 1840's from Rochester to Nunda as a replacement form of transportation to nearby canals. (Like the Genesee Valley Greenway) In 1856 the railroad was purchased by the Genesee Valley Railroad and in 1859 the first train arrived in Geneseo. By 1869 the railroad had carried over 43,000 passengers and 3,400 tons of freight. As gasoline powered vehicles became popular the railroad became unpopular and the last train passed over the line in 1940. Stripped of rails and ties, the line became a trail mainly used for equestrian purposes. In 1993, Edward and Jacquelin Harris donated their section of the trail to the GVC to ensure the property would remain a trail for community use.
The Trail
The GVC Railroad Bed is open daily from sun-up to sun-down for equestrian uses, hiking, running, biking, dog-walking, bird watching, and now, geocaching! The trail is mostly hard-packed dirt but you will encounter some mud and tall grasses. Most of the trail is mowed by neighboring volunteers so it should be easy access. Please stay on the trail as all other trails you will see running east/west are privately owned. The publicly available portion of the trail ends shortly after crossing South Avon Road at an underground pipeline, marked by a wide grass strip that cuts east/west across the Railroad Bed Trail. Please do not trespass south of this landmark.
The Cache
To find the cache, you must visit each of the 6 waypoints listed below to complete the coordinates:
N 42° 51.ABC
W 077° 47.DEF
Don't worry, the coordinates won't send you backtracking! Please park on Fowlerville Road at the designated coordinates to begin your journey. I have also included parking coordinates to leave a second vehicle if you're not up for a 6-mile round-trip adventure.
Be sure to geocache at the GVC's other property, Island Preserve.
Thanks to GVCBen for the information on the trail!
Thanks to Caterp1llar for the ammo can!
This is a multi-use trail, please be courteous to all types of trail users. Bikers, we ask that you dismount to allow horses to pass safely.