Wesley Hill Nature Preserve – Bristol, NY

Wesley Hill Nature Preserve in Bristol, NY is a part of the Finger Lakes Land Trust and is a wild and geographically diverse destination. This beautiful preserve is a great place to enjoy moderate hiking trails while keeping an eye open for waterfalls and wildlife.

The Pond at the Wesley Hill Nature Preserve

We used to love bringing our daughter to the Wesley Hill Nature Preserve years ago in the spring to look for frogs and toads. The pond, which you can get to by taking a right at the first fork in the trail, is teaming with aquatic life, especially in the spring. She would have a blast trying to catch frogs and toads in the pond. It was always a fun outing for our family.

While the majority of the trails here are not suitable for young children, the hike to the pond is perfect for little kids. After you reach the pond, the hiking terrain gets a lot rougher and there is a bit of a drop-off on one side when you get to the creek. Not great for young children or novice hikers.

Just a warning, the trails at Wesley Hill Nature Preserve can be extremely muddy in the early spring and after it rains. Be prepared to get dirty.

Waterfalls at the Wesley Hill Nature Preserve

While there are several trails in Wesley Hill Nature Preserve, the most stunning is the one that follows the creek. During the spring, after the winter runoff, the waterfalls along this creek are large, full, and truly impressive. There is a massive staircase-like waterfall that is easily a hundred feet tall. You can catch glimpses of it as you head down the ravine.

We have taken this hike in the fall, after a dry summer, and the creek was almost dry creating a whole new hiking experience. We were able to hike right in the middle of the creek and get off the beaten path a little bit. We were able to climb up several of the waterfalls, which at any other time of year would have been impossible.

Additional Information

This hike is secluded. Be sure that you have plenty of water and watch the time. This is not the place to get stuck in the woods after dark. There are lots of drop-offs and deep gullies. This can be a dangerous place to walk in twilight or dark. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back to your car before dark. Also, the terrain is rough in places, so good sturdy footwear is essential. This is a beautiful and breathtaking hike. A must-do for any nature lover.

Out and About with Nova

This is a very dog-friendly destination. Something to keep in mind, the trails at Wesley Hill can be steep and slippery (when muddy), if you have a dog who likes to pull, this might not be the trail system for them. We speak from personal experience. While trying to see the largest waterfall, Nova had some serious spring fever and was full-on trying the barrel down the hills, and at one point my husband hit a patch of mud and ended up on his backside. We decide that for safety reasons, we should probably come back without her at a later date and visit the large waterfall at that point.

Getting to Wesley Hill Nature Preserve

Located on Gulick Rd, the preserve sneaks up on you and can be easily missed if you aren’t paying attention. There is a tiny sign on the road. A much larger sign is located off the road as you turn into the preserve. However, as I mentioned, if you aren’t paying attention is very easy to drive right by it.

6280 Gulick Rd, Naples

Google Map Link

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