Category: Viewpoints
Viewpoints that do not require any hiking to reach
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Audubon Community Nature Center – Spatterdock Trail
Location: Jamestown, NY This nature center is located 2.5 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 1.5 hours south of Buffalo, NY. The Spatterdock Trail is a 1 mile loop trail blazed with orange squares. The trail passes by ponds, goes through both hemlock and hardwood forests, and leads to a photo blind and a side… Read more
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Canadice Lake – East Shore
Location: Canadice, NY This tiny Finger Lake is located 50 minutes south of Rochester, NY. Canadice Lake is a water reservoir for the City of Rochester and there is no development permitted along the shoreline. It feels so woodsy and peaceful. While there is a hiking trail along the west shore of Canadice Lake, the… Read more
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Carolabarb Park
Location: Naples, NY This scenic overlook has a beautiful view of Canandaigua Lake. There are viewfinders for a closer look. There is no trail here, just beautiful views! Instagram Link: Instagram Facebook Link: Facebook Official Websites: Finger Lakes Land Trust, Visit Finger Lakes Read more
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Farmington Town Park
Location: Farmington, NY This small park located 25 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY has a short storybook walk around the playground. The walk is only through grass and doesn’t have a designated path. Official Website: Town of Farmington Read more
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Glen Park
Location: Williamsville, NY We visited this beautiful park on a recent trip to Buffalo, located 1.5 hours west of Rochester, NY. We parked near the Nature Play Playground which had fun signs for kids, a mural, a pavilion, a Little Free Library, and beautiful hand painted benches. We walked across the street to the view… Read more
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Hamburg Clock Tower
Location: Hamburg, NY This clock tower on the shore of Lake Erie is located near Buffalo, just over 1 hour west of Rochester. We stopped here to park and stretch our legs on a drive and enjoyed the beautiful lake views and the informative historical signs. There were a few benches and a paved deck,… Read more
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Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area
Location: Springwater, NY This beautiful park is located about an hour south of Rochester, NY. There are wooded hiking trails and an amazing scenic view with a bench overlooking Honeoye Lake. According to their website “Overlook Road leading into the park from the parking lot passes by a spectacular view of the length of Honeoye… Read more
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Hemlock Lake Park
Location: Hemlock, NY This beautiful park on the north end of Hemlock Lake is located 40 minutes south of Rochester, NY. There is a pine tree grove, picnic area, pavilion, restrooms, pond and some basic playground equipment. Then there are stairs and an inclined gravel path up to the beautiful views of the lake and… Read more
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Highland Park – Sunken Garden at Warner Castle
Location: Rochester, NY This beautiful garden is a peaceful place to walk around at Highland Park. The Warner Castle is home to the Landmark Society offices, but the garden in the back is open to the public. There is parking in front or it can be reached by walking from the other parts of the… Read more
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Holley Canal Falls
Location: Holley, NY Holley Canal Falls is a waterfall located 40 minutes west of Rochester, NY that can be viewed without any hiking. You can park right near the falls (porta potty at the parking lot) and enjoy the view from your car or one of the benches, picnic tables, or the pavilion. There are… Read more
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Honeoye Falls
Location: Honeoye Falls, NY We visited this beautiful and accessible waterfall located 25 minutes south of Rochester, NY. We parked in the lot next to the Mendon Town Clerk (also shown as Vest Pocket Park on Google Maps). From there, you can walk right up to the viewing platform next to the building overlooking the… Read more
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Hopkins Farm Sunflower Field
Location: Pittsford, NY This free, roadside sunflower field can be found near Calkins Road and Clover Street (the location changes each year). There is no parking area here – people pull over their cars to take pictures (look out for signs in case this changes) and be very cautious of very fast traffic. There isn’t… Read more
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Ithaca Falls
Location: Ithaca, NY This beautiful Finger Lakes waterfall is located 1.5 hours southeast of Rochester, NY. There is a short 0.2 mile rocky, gravel trail to the waterfalls with a small hill. I do not think it was very stroller friendly due to uneven terrain. However, there is an accessible partial view of the waterfall… Read more
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Kraai Preserve
Location: Arcadia, NY This nature preserve is located 45 minutes east of Rochester, NY. I visited in late April and the spring ephemerals were absolutely beautiful. I started by making a quick left and walked a short way down the path to the field of virginia bluebells. I then returned to the trailhead to do… Read more
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Letchworth State Park – Archery Field Overlook
Location: Castile, NY This park is located 1 hour southwest of Rochester, NY. There are numerous trails and viewpoints throughout the park. The Archery Field Overlook is one of my favorite accessible viewpoints at the park. The location is indicated with a star on the map below. Park here and enjoy the incredible view of… Read more
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Letchworth State Park – Inspiration Point
This park is located 1 hour southwest of Rochester, NY. There are numerous trails and viewpoints throughout the park. Inspiration Point has breathtaking views of Middle Falls from above! There is a short, stroller friendly path through the woods to the overlook with benches to sit and take in the views. You can also find… Read more
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Letchworth State Park – Middle Falls and Upper Falls
Location: Castile, NY This park is located 1 hour southwest of Rochester, NY. There are numerous trails and viewpoints throughout the park. Middle Falls and Upper Falls are two of my favorite views in Letchworth. You can park at either of the waterfalls. There is a stone dust path between the waterfalls allowing you to… Read more
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Letchworth State Park – Tea Table Area and Eddy’s Overlook
Location: Castile, NY This park is located 1 hour southwest of Rochester, NY. There are numerous trails and viewpoints throughout the park. Tea Table Area and Eddy’s Overlook have some beautiful views over the river. There are picnic tables and a pavilion near the overlook and there are restrooms, a playground, and more picnic tables… Read more
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Luensman Overview Park
Location: Portland, NY This park is located in Chautauqua County – 2.5 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 1.5 hours south of Buffalo. Just near the parking lot you can find a pavilion, a large mowed sloped area, and two observation decks with wide views of the surrounding hills and Lake Erie in the distance.… Read more
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Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill – “The Jump Off”
Location: Naples, NY Ontario County Park is located less than an hour from Rochester. The “Jump Off” is a 0.1 mile stroller friendly, ADA accessible trail and is one of our absolute favorite hikes in the area. It’s a flat, stone dust path through beautiful woods that leads to a viewing platform with a stunning… Read more
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Papermill Falls at Papermill Park
Location: Avon, NY This roadside waterfall is located 30 minutes south of Rochester, NY. There is a bridge to walk over the Conesus Creek with views of another bridge to one side and a view over the small waterfall on the other side. There are several picnic tables here and a sign about the history… Read more
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Pont de Rennes
Location: Rochester, NY I visited this scenic bridge located in Rochester, NY on a beautiful snowy day. This pedestrian bridge spans 858 feet and is 114 feet above the Genesee River. Along the bridge are beautiful views of High Falls and the Genesee River as well as iconic buildings of Rochester, the Genesee Brew House,… Read more
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Powder Mills Park – Fish Hatchery
Location: Pittsford, NY The fish hatchery is located 15 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. This is a nice spot to walk around to see the fish, feed them, or just enjoy the park. There are machines to buy fish food for a quarter. Be sure to read all of the signs and follow directions. There… Read more
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Sandbar Park
Location: Webster, NY This new little park is located just northeast of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. There is an accessible path along the water with beautiful views, especially at sunset. The path is quite short (about 0.2 miles or so) but there is also a sidewalk path along the road and… Read more
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Taughannock Falls State Park – Falls Overlook
Location: Trumansburg, NY NOTE: Deer hunting (bow only) is permitted in season. Take precautions. This beautiful state park in the Finger Lakes is located 1.5 hour southeast of Rochester, NY along Cayuga Lake near Ithaca. The Falls Overlook is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the amazing waterfall below. There is a paved path to the top… Read more
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Tinker Nature Park – Demonstration Gardens
Location: Henrietta, NY This cute little garden is right near the main parking lot at Tinker Nature Park. According to the sign the garden has an alphabet garden, native perennial garden, vegetable garden, mini garden, hummingbird garden, flowering shrub garden, butterfly garden, and herb garden. Be sure to stay on the grass path and not… Read more
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Wolcott Falls
Location: Wolcott, NY This roadside waterfall is located 50 minutes east of Rochester, NY. There is a viewing platform right next to the parking lot to view the waterfall from above. There is also a trail down to the bottom. I did not hike this trail, but according to CNY Hiking: “The short 0.18 mile… Read more