Path Type: Dirt Path
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Abraham Lincoln Park – Blue Trail
Location: Penfield, NY Abraham Lincoln Park (formerly Bay Park East) is located 10 minutes east of Rochester, NY. The Blue Trail has a small loop, a branch to Smith Road, and a longer loop. I parked in one of the parking spaces across from the Smith Road Community Residence building and hiked the small loop,… Read more
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Abraham Lincoln Park – White Trail
Location: Penfield, NY Abraham Lincoln Park (formerly Bay Park East) is located 10 minutes east of Rochester, NY. The White Trail begins at the main parking lot off of Empire Boulevard behind the Play Area. The trail begins with a downhill section past a small evergreen tree grove. The white trail can make a short… Read more
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Adirondack Experience – Minnow Pond Trail
Location: Blue Mountain Lake, NY 🚨NOTE: The Minnow Pond Trail is generally open daily, July 1 – August 31, depending on weather, trail conditions, and events. The trail and boathouse may close without notice. This museum is located 4 hours east of Rochester, NY. The Minnow Pond Trail is a family-friendly 3/4-mile out and back… Read more
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Alden Town Park – Joe Panza Nature Trail
Location: Alden, NY This nature trail is located a bit over 1 hour west of Rochester, NY outside of Buffalo. The entire loop trail was around 1.5 miles and starts from the Alden Town Park Loop. The path was a mix of gravel and dirt and would not be considered very stroller friendly. The trail… Read more
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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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Beechwoods Trail
Location: Perinton, NY This small 22.8 acre wooded hiking area is located 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. We parked in the small parking lot on Squirrels Heath Road (approximate GPS: 43.0957189, -77.4121239) and hiked a 0.5 mile loop at the south end of the park. There were a few small wooden bridges and pretty… Read more
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Bicentennial Trail
Location: Pultneyville/Williamson, NY This lovely 0.8-mile hiking trail is located 35 minutes east of Rochester, NY near the shore of Lake Ontario. We parked in the small parking lot right near the fence to the water treatment facility. There are a couple signs and arrows showing the way to the trail across the road. The… Read more
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Bird Sanctuary Trail
Location: Webster, NY This trail is located at 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. It can be accessed via the Chiyoda Trail from Webster First Responders Park or from Charles E Sexton Memorial Park (aka North Ponds Park). The trail itself is 0.8 miles long, but because it is accessed from other trails, it will… Read more
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Bishop Nature Preserve
Location: Waterloo, NY This Finger Lakes Land Trust nature preserve is located 50 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY near the top of Seneca Lake. There are several short trails at the preserve. The packed stone yellow trail is stroller and bicycle friendly and connects to the Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail. The blue and red trails are… Read more
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Black Creek Park – Fairy House Trail
Location: North Chili, NY It was difficult to find information on this Fairy House Trail located 20 minutes west of Rochester, NY. This short trail starts with a small pine tree grove and then goes a short ways down a narrow dirt path. The trail has a handful of small fairy houses on the ground… Read more
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Blue Cut Nature Center
Location: Lyons, NY This beautiful hiking area is located 45 minutes east of Rochester, NY. We parked at the parking lot near the restrooms and picnic area then walked along the line of evergreen trees and past the field to the next pavilion and picnic area. According to the official website there are several trails… Read more
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Braddock Bay – Marina Trail
Location: Greece, NY This trail begins near the marina at Braddock Bay and goes past several small beaches along the shore of Lake Ontario. There is an informational sign and bench at the start of the trail. The trail is short (about a half mile each way). We saw swans and heard many different types… Read more
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Braddock Bay – Owl Woods
Location: Greece, NY Braddock Bay is located 20 minutes northwest of Rochester, NY near Lake Ontario. This trail was really beautiful with pine trees, some benches, and a tree tunnel. There are signs about what to do if you see an owl, but we didn’t see any. There is a big loop and also a… Read more
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Brighton Town Park
Location: Brighton, NY This lovely park is located 10 minutes south of Rochester, NY. There are two walking areas here in addition to baseball fields, pavilions, a lodge, restrooms, and a new playground. There are picnic tables and benches as well. Trail Map: Trail Map AllTrails: Brighton Town Park Trail (this 1.8 mile loop includes the… Read more
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Bullis Park
Location: Macedon, NY This park is 30 minutes east of Rochester, NY. Bullis Park also has a traditional playground, basketball court, tennis court, and two pickleball courts, two pavilions, bathrooms, and grass fields. Official Website: Macedon Recreation Department; Times of Wayne County Read more
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Burroughs Audubon Nature Club Sanctuary
Location: Victor, NY This beautiful trail network is located 20 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. This sanctuary is private property belonging to the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club (BANC). Members may use the trails without a fee. Non-members may also use the trails but should donate to contribute to trail maintenance. The trails pass through woodlands… 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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Canandaigua Vista Nature Preserve
Location: Canandaigua, NY NOTE: Canandaigua Vista Nature Preserve is open for hunting during appropriate seasons. Please use caution. This nature preserve is located 45 minutes south of Rochester, NY. There is a 1.2 mile loop with an optional 0.2 mile cut through path. When we visited, the loop was unable to be completed due to… Read more
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Casey Park
Location: Ontario, NY 🚨 note: the storywalk at Casey Park has been removed due to vandalism. 🙁 They will reconsider it for the spring and I’ll update this page if I hear an update! 🚨 Casey Park, about 20 minutes east of Rochester, has a lovely trail next to a long, narrow lake. The trail… Read more
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Channing H. Philbrick Park
Location: Penfield, NY This park is located 12 minutes east of Rochester, NY. Right by the parking lot is a bridge with a stunning view over the Irondequoit Creek. We hiked east along the trail for about a half mile until we reached the boardwalks and bridges. The trail was pretty flat but had some drop… Read more
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Chimney Bluffs State Park – Bluff Trail
Location: Huron, NY This beautiful state park is located one hour east of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. The 1.3 mile Bluff Trail is the most iconic trail in the park with incredible views over the bluffs and lake. There are a few ways to reach this trail. You can park at… Read more
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Clark Reservation State Park – Cliff Trail
Location: Jamesville, NY This state park is located 1.5 hours east of Rochester, NY near Syracuse. This park has restrooms, an interpretive center, gardens, a nature theme playground, and nature trails. The Cliff Trail is a 0.62 mile trail that starts near the main parking area by the interpretive center. It can be made into… Read more
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Cobb’s Hill Park/Lake Riley
Location: Rochester, NY The bottom part of Cobb’s Hill Park, located along Culver Road in the city of Rochester, has a lot to offer! While there is not an official hiking trail, there is a nice walking path from behind the playground up to the tennis courts that connects all the way to Monroe Ave… Read more
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Dolomite Trail
Location: Walworth, NY This trail is located 25 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This one mile loop trail goes through brush, pine trees, and wooded areas to an observation deck over a marshy area. There is a random bathtub along the trail, a few benches, and some tree identification signs. The trail is dirt and… Read more
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Durand Eastman Park – Daffodils
Location: Rochester, NY Durand Eastman Park is located along Lake Ontario in the city of Rochester. In the arboretum along Zoo Road is an area with many daffodils! We parked at the parking lot on Zoo Road (approximate GPS: 43.2318048, -77.5555822). If you walk down the road (which is closed to vehicles seasonally), you will… Read more
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Durand Eastman Park – Durand Lake Trail
Location: Rochester, NY This trail is located in Durand Eastman Park, right across the road from Lake Ontario in the city of Rochester. The trail can be accessed from the Log Cabin Road or Lake Shore Blvd. The 1.2 mile loop goes around the beautiful Durand Lake. The path is dirt and uneven and would… Read more
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Durand Eastman Park – Eastman Lake Trail
Location: Rochester, NY This 1.7 mile loop trail is located in Durand Eastman Park, right across the road from Lake Ontario in the city of Rochester, NY. The trail goes around the beautiful Eastman Lake and passes through a small pine grove, a section of evergreen Great Laurel bushes, and some wetlands. The trail is… Read more
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Durand Eastman Park – Pinetum
Location: Rochester, NY On my hunt to find all of the pine tree hikes in the Rochester area, I had to check out the pinetum at Durand Eastman Park. We parked in the lot on Zoo Road (near this GPS location: 43.231822, -77.555594 and the sign for the “Labor Center”). During the winter months, Zoo… Read more
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Durand Eastman Park – Trott Lake Trail
Location: Rochester, NY Durand Eastman Park is located along Lake Ontario in the city of Rochester. This trail is an easy to moderate 0.5 mile hike with some hills. The trail brings you around the perimeter of Trott Lake with beautiful views of the lake. This trail connects to the Durand Lake Trail or can… Read more
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Ellison Park – Coyote Den Trail
Location: Penfield, NY Ellison Park is located less than 10 minutes east of Rochester, NY. The Coyote Den Trail is a 1.1 mile out and back trail that goes from Penfield Road to Blossom Road. We parked at Penfield Road where there was a picnic table. The trail goes through a beautiful forest with sloped… Read more
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Ellison Park – Overlook Trail
Location: Penfield, NY Ellison Park is located less than 10 minutes east of Rochester, NY. The Overlook Trail is a 0.6 mile loop trail that branches off of the Coyote Den Trail, making for a hike that will be longer than 0.6 miles. We parked at Penfield Road where there was a picnic table. The… Read more
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Eternal Flame Trail
Location: Orchard Park, NY This magical trail is located 1.5 hours west of Rochester, NY near Buffalo. After parking in the large parking lot, we started walking down the flat gravel trail with a few benches. The trail then enters a beautiful pine forest. There are numbered flame signs on trees along the way, so… Read more
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Fishers Park
Location: Victor, NY This park is located 25 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. There are five miles of trails in the park that include wooded hillsides, wetland areas, and trails along Irondequoit Creek. There are many small wooden bridges. At the entrance on Main Street there is a picnic area along the creek and porta… Read more
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Four Mile Creek Preserve
Location: Webster, NY This network of wooded trails with beautiful creek views is located 30 minutes northeast of Rochester, NY. Throughout the trail are informational signs about different trees as well as helpful trail map signs. There are wooden bridges, benches, sections of boardwalk, and a nice observation deck not too far along the trail.… Read more
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Ganargua Creek Meadow Preserve
Location: Macedon, NY This beautiful nature preserve has so much to offer! Wooded paths, creek views, and wildflower meadows full of butterflies make this trail great in every season. We visited this lovely nature preserve to look for wildflowers and we found a ton as well as many bumblebees and butterflies! We parked at the… Read more
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Ganondagan – Earth is Our Mother Trail
Location: Victor, NY Note: There is hunting allowed at Ganondagan. Do your research before visiting these hiking trails and take safety precautions. Ganondagan, located 25 minutes south of Rochester, is the original site of a 17th century Seneca town. Today, it is home to the Ganondagan State Historic Site and miles of beautiful trails. The… Read more
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Ganondagan – Granary Trail at Fort Hill
Location: Victor, NY Note: There is hunting allowed at Ganondagan. Do your research before visiting these hiking trails and take safety precautions. Ganondagan, located 25 minutes south of Rochester, is the original site of a 17th century Seneca town. Today, it is home to the Ganondagan State Historic Site and miles of beautiful trails. The… Read more
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Genesee Country Village & Museum – Fairy House Trail
Location: Mumford, NY GCV&M is located 30 minutes west of Rochester, NY. Next to the historic village is a nature center and trail system. Just behind the nature center is a short, flat path lined with fairy houses. Just follow the trail behind the nature center and continue the trail to the left. It is… Read more
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Genesee County Park & Forest – Plantation Trail
Location: East Bethany, NY This beautiful trail is located 45 minutes west of Rochester, NY. It is a 0.5 mile loop through several tree plantations planted throughout the late 1960’s. Larch, Norway Spruce, Red Pine, and White Pine. In some areas the trees are planted in perfect rows which is beautiful to look at! A… Read more
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Gosnell Big Woods Preserve – Big Field Trail
Location: Webster, NY NOTE: Gosnell Big Woods Preserve is open for hunting during the appropriate season. Read all posted signs and follow safety precautions during hunting season. This beautiful nature preserve is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY near the shore of Lake Ontario. This preserve has an old-growth forest, a field, and a… Read more
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Gosnell Big Woods Preserve – Big Woods Trail
Location: Webster, NY NOTE: Gosnell Big Woods Preserve is open for hunting during the appropriate season. Read all posted signs and follow safety precautions during hunting season. This beautiful nature preserve is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY near the shore of Lake Ontario. The Big Woods Trail is a 0.7-mile round trip out… Read more
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Gosnell Big Woods Preserve – Meadow Trail
Location: Webster, NY NOTE: Gosnell Big Woods Preserve is open for hunting during the appropriate season. Read all posted signs and follow safety precautions during hunting season. This beautiful nature preserve is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY near the shore of Lake Ontario. The Meadow Trail is a 1/2 mile (round trip) loop… Read more
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Greece Canal Park – Farm Artifact Trail
This park is located 15 minutes west of Rochester, NY. The Farm Artifact Trail is an easy 0.84 mile path over level terrain with beautiful nature and wildlife. Along the trail I found an old rock wall and one piece of old farm equipment – I am not sure if there is more that I… Read more
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Greece Canal Park – West Trail
Location: Greece, NY This trail is located 15 minutes west of Rochester, NY. The West Trail is an easy 0.4 mile path over level terrain with beautiful nature and wildlife. The trail is near a playground, restrooms, tennis courts, a handful of pine trees, and sports fields. Trail Map: Park Map; Trail Map Official Website:… Read more
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Green Lakes State Park – Old Growth Trail
Location: Fayetteville, NY This beautiful state park is located 1.5 hours east of Rochester, NY just south of Syracuse. The Old Growth Trail is a 3 mile trail that can be accessed by the main parking area, the campground, or from one of the other trails. I took a branch off of the Round Lake… Read more
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Grimes Glen Park
Location: Naples, NY This beautiful waterfall hike is located 1 hour south of Rochester, NY. There is a wooden bridge and dirt trail along the creek at the beginning of the hike, but when it became steep and sketchy we went down and walked through the creek instead. It was helpful to have solid, grippy… Read more
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Hamlin Beach State Park – Yanty Creek Nature Trail
Location: Hamlin, NY This state park is located 30 minutes northwest of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. On the east end of the park is the Yanty Marsh with a beautiful nature trail. About 0.2 miles into the hike is a beautiful boardwalk to a viewing platform over the marsh. The trail… 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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Harris Whalen Park
Location: Penfield, NY This park is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY. We started at the playground that had a few older metal structures and a more modern structure with slides and a bridge. We then hiked along the winding network of short trails through the woods. The full loop consisting of the East… Read more
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Hart’s Woods Trail
Location: Perinton, NY This beautiful trail through an old growth forest is located 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. We parked on the street at the dead end of Greenwood Cliff. The trail also appears to go to Minerva Deland School, but I do not know the rules about parking there. There also appear to… Read more
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Helmer Nature Center
Location: Irondequoit, NY This beautiful nature center is part of the West Irondequoit Central School District and is located 15 minutes north of Rochester, NY. There are wooded trails, meadows, wetlands, a stream, and a pond. In addition there are some bridges, benches, and a wildlife viewing area. There are a network of short trails… Read more
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Herman Road Forever Wild Forest
Location: Webster, NY This is a beautiful network of trails through a dense forest. It felt really magical on a cool October afternoon. The trails were dirt and narrow, and had some steeper hills toward the back of the park. The trails are shared use with bikers, so be aware. Supposedly there are a half-buried… Read more
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High Acres Nature Area – Frog Pond Loop
Location: Perinton, NY This nature area is located 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This area contains public trails on Waste Management property. If you don’t mind the occasional smell of the landfill, this is a lovely place to take an easy nature hike! We did the 0.5 mile loop around the Frog Pond which… Read more
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Highland Forest County Park – Hiking Trails
Location: Fabius, NY This beautiful park is located south of Syracuse, NY and 2 hours east of Rochester, NY. Highland Forest County Park contains over 20 miles of year-round trails and is known as the “Adirondacks of Central New York.” Near the Skyline Lodge is the start of several types of trails: hiking/snowshoeing trails, skiing/mountain biking… Read more
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Highland Park – Gary Beikirch Memorial Park
Location: Rochester, NY The memorial section of Highland Park was renamed to Beikirch Memorial Park in recognition of Vietnam Veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch. To visit this park, we park at Lilac Adventure Zone (natural log playground) and enter the park near the restrooms along Highland Ave. There are several memorials… Read more
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Highland Park – Pinetum
Location: Rochester, NY The Pinetum at Highland Park in Rochester, NY contains beautiful evergreen trees! I hiked the dirt path starting at the intersection of Doctors Drive, Pinetum Drive, and Reservoir Ave. It was so peaceful with a bit of an incline and so many beautiful trees. I hiked until the trail ended and met… Read more
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Hipp Brook Preserve – Wild Iris Path
Location: Penfield, NY This Genesee Land Trust nature preserve is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This was a really nice wooded path and wetland walk. The path was compacted soil, mulch, and boardwalk. There is no parking lot as this nature area is in a neighborhood setting. We parked on the shoulder of… 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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Horizon Hill Conservation Area
Location: Perinton, NY This beautiful hiking area, which is part of the Crescent Trail, is located 15 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. We parked at the Crescent Trail Horizon Hill Trailhead on Garnsey Road. There is a whole network of trails, including a big loop trail you can find on AllTrails. However, we followed only… Read more
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Huckleberry Swamp (SEASONAL)
Location: North Rose, NY 🚨Note: this trail is NOT always open for hiking! I believe it’s closed every Monday for trail maintenance and also closed in the fall and winter!! Their Facebook page is the best way to get updated information🚨 This is a gorgeous and peaceful wetland trail 45 minutes east of Rochester! There… Read more
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Irene Gossin Nature Preserve
Location: Penfield, NY This beautiful Genesee Land Trust nature preserve is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This is such a lovely spot to walk and hike! There is a small gravel parking lot right in front of the preserve or you can park across the street at Rothfuss Park and walk over. The… Read more
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Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge – Kanyoo Trail
Location: Basom, NY This beautiful hiking area is located 1 hour west of Rochester, NY. This trail has two loops: the yellow trail is 0.7 mile and the blue trail is 1 mile or the trails can be combined (see the map below). The trails pass through wooded areas and vernal wetlands. There is a… Read more
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Isaac Gordon Nature Park
Location: Pittsford, NY This nature park is located 15 minutes south of Rochester, NY just north of Mendon Ponds Park. We followed the 1 mile “Glazer Loop” trail shown on AllTrails and the trail map below, though there are several branching trails that could make it longer and some cut throughs that could make it… Read more
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John L. Brown Memorial Park – Dr. Henry Foster Trail
Location: Clifton Springs, NY This park and trail are located 45 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This is a super short, mostly flat dirt trail. To reach the trail, we parked at the library and walked past the pavilion and playgrounds to cross the cute bridge over Sulphur Creek. (FYI the bridge is steep and… Read more
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John Ungar Nature Trail
Location: Webster, NY This short 0.34 mile loop trail branches off of the Hojack Trail halfway between Drumm Road and Van Alstyne in Webster, NY. It is a narrow, dirt path through a beautiful forest that starts with a set of stairs. There is a short boardwalk section and a wooden bench. There is also… Read more
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Jones-Blunt Park
Location: Shortsville, NY This park is located 30 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. It is a really cute park along the Canandaigua Outlet in Shortsville. There are swinging benches along the river, an overlook platform, a large gazebo, and a small hiking area with two small bridges. We walked across the grass toward the small… Read more
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Keuka Lake State Park – Lakefront Path
Location: Keuka Park, NY This state park is just over an hour from Rochester, NY on the northwest shore of Keuka Lake. There is a short paved and dirt path along through a small wooded area along the shore. This path is located between two parking areas (labeled as an “Unmarked Trail” on the map… Read more
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Keuka Lake State Park – Yellow and Blue Trails
Location: Keuka Park, NY This state park is just over an hour from Rochester, NY on the northwest shore of Keuka Lake. The wooded trails go from the parking lot on Recreation Drive up to the campground and a playground. We hiked the 0.4 Yellow Trail up and the 0.4 mile Blue Trail back town,… 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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Leolyn Woods and Fairy Trail at Lily Dale
Location: Lily Dale, NY This trail is located in Chautauqua County – 2.5 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 1.5 hours south of Buffalo. Leolyn Woods is a peaceful old-growth forest with towering trees that are hundreds of years old. The Fairy Trail is a beautiful trail through the woods with many fairies, fairy houses, gnome… Read more
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Letchworth State Park – Wolf Creek
Location: Castile, NY This park is located 1 hour southwest of Rochester, NY. There are numerous trails and viewpoints throughout the park. The Wolf Creek area has a beautiful wooden bridge and picnic tables along the creek. If you climb the stone stairs, it leads to the Gorge Trail that spans the park. The trail… Read more
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Lollypop Farm
Location: Fairport, NY There is a lot to do at Lollypop Farm, located 20 minutes southeast of Rochester. You can walk around the farm and look at the animals when they are out. There is a StoryWalk along the fence near the horses. If you continue walking, there is an entrance to nature trails near… Read more
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Lucien Morin Park – White Trail
Location: Rochester, NY Lucien Morin Park is located in Rochester at the bottom of Irondequoit Bay. There are wetlands and wooded trails in the park. We hiked part of the white trail (about 0.75 miles) until we reached the gazebo and then turned around and returned the way we came. There were plastic chairs in the… 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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Lusk Farm Trail
Location: Pittsford, NY This trail is located 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. I parked at the Mile Post School and walked .12 miles down the sidewalk along Mendon Road to the entrance to Lusk Farm Trail. The path becomes grassy then dirt as it enters a wooded area with some small hills. The trail… Read more
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Maguire Family Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Ontario, NY This Genesee Land Trust wildlife sanctuary is located 30 minutes east of Rochester, NY. It is a short, half mile loop hike through woodlands and wetlands with beautiful creek views. There is a small stream crossing at the beginning, but it was pretty easy to hop on the rocks (not sure if… Read more
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MaryFrances Bluebird Haven
Location: Victor, NY We visited this beautiful nature area on an October morning. This park is supposed to be great for birdwatching, particularly bluebirds so I look forward to returning in the spring/summer! There is a 1-mile trail around the perimeter of the park that is through low trees and then a forest area. It… Read more
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McCoord Woods
Location: Perinton, NY This beautiful hiking area is located 15 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. I parked at the “Crescent Trail Dumpster Entrance” on Kreag Road. This 1.5 mile loop through the woods was very hilly, steep, and narrow at times and therefore is not very little kid-friendly. It was a great workout though and… Read more
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Mendon Ponds Park – Birdsong Fairy Trail
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY This super fun trail located 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY is lined with fairy doors and fairy houses that are painted on and built into the trees. There are other whimsical treasures and informative displays to be found along the path. This trail is stroller friendly with a durable stroller, with… Read more
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Mendon Ponds Park – Devil’s Bathtub Trail
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY This beautiful trail is located in Mendon Ponds Park, 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. According to the park website, Devil’s Bathtub Trail is a loop and is described as a ”easy 0.67 mile walk with one steep climb and stair and boardwalk sections.” It has a small viewing platform with benches… Read more
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Mendon Ponds Park – North Meadow Trail
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY This trail located in Mendon Ponds Park, 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. The trail is a 1.8-mile loop with some medium-sized hills and path that switches between grass, dirt, and some gravel. There are some cut through trails that can make this shorter. According to the Monroe County website: “The North… Read more
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Mendon Ponds Park – Pine Woods Trail
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY This trail located in Mendon Ponds Park, 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. The trail is a 1-mile loop through a forest with some small hills and a narrow dirt path. According to the Monroe County website: “This woods demonstrates succession as shrubs and trees such as maple, oak, and black cherry… Read more
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Mendon Ponds Park – Playground and Pond
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY This park is located 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. There is a lovely area on the east side of the Hundred Acre Pond. If you navigate to the Canfield Woods shelter, there is a large parking lot. Here you can find a traditional playground, pickleball courts, and a scenic gravel path… Read more
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Mendon Ponds Park – Southern Meadow Trail
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY This park is located 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. This trail is an approximately 3 mile hike over gently rolling terrain but can be made shorter by using the cut through trails. The grass and dirt path takes you through beautiful woodland areas and alongside large wildflower meadows – perfect for… Read more
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Mertensia Park
Location: Farmington, NY This park is located 25 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. In early May we visited this beautiful park to see the bluebells in bloom along the creek. (Mertensia is the scientific name for Bluebells!) We started by playing at the nice modern playground and then did the hike. According to a sign,… Read more
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Michael A. Johnson Nature Preserve
Location: Webster, NY This short 0.33 mile loop trail branches off of the Hojack Trail halfway between Drumm Road and Van Alstyne in Webster, NY. It is a narrow, dirt path through a beautiful forest. This trail connects to the 0.34 mile John Ungar Nature Trail And can be made into a loop. Trail Map:… Read more
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Mount Hope Cemetery
Location: Rochester, NY This historic cemetery is located in the City of Rochester, NY. I parked near the “1912 Chapel” at the Mt Hope Entrance. There is network of roads and paths throughout the cemetery. Some of it is paved and stroller friendly but some of the paths are dirt and have steps and uneven… Read more
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Northampton Park – Creek Trail
Location: Spencerport, NY This park is located 20 minutes west of Rochester, NY. This trail is a 1.3 mile loop over gently rolling terrain through a forest with many different types of trees. A portion of the trail follows Spring Creek with lovely views of the creek down below. The dirt path is uneven with… Read more
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Northampton Park – Victory Fairy Trail at Springdale Farm
Location: Spencerport, NY This short fairy house trail is located at Springdale Farm 20 minutes west of Rochester, NY. To reach the fairy trail, follow the 0.2 mile paved path with a slight incline through the farm and toward the woods. There are some beautiful apple trees and a lovely pond with a nice deck… Read more
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Oatka Creek Park – Bluebird Trail
Location: Scottsville (Wheatland), NY Oatka Creek Park is located 30 minutes south west of Rochester, NY. The Bluebird Trail follows the blue trail markers and connects the green/black trails and the white trail. The Bluebird Trail has some grass, bumps, and hills and I would not consider it stroller friendly. The trail goes through some… Read more
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Oatka Creek Park – Old Burrell Road
Location: Scottsville (Wheatland), NY Oatka Creek Park is located 30 minutes south west of Rochester, NY. Old Burrell Road trail follows the green trail markers from the main parking lot. This path is flat and likely is stroller friendly. The trail is 0.9 miles one way, and can be made into a loop with several… Read more
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Oatka Creek Park – Woodland Trail
Location: Scottsville, NY Oatka Creek Park is located 30 minutes south west of Rochester, NY. The Woodland Trail follows the yellow trail markers and goes alongside Oatka Creek. The trail itself is 0.82 miles long but needs to be combined with other trails so the total mileage will be longer. The quickest access is from… Read more
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Onanda Park – Uplands Trail
Location: Canandaigua, NY This park is located 45 minutes south of Rochester, NY. The trail started out as wood chips with a bit of an incline. There is a small lookout point about a quarter mile into the hike with two Adirondack chairs where you can see bits of Canandaigua Lake in the distance and… Read more
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Palmyra Community Library
Location: Palmyra, NY This is a very tiny little storybook walk located behind the Palmyra Community Library, 30 minutes east of Rochester. You can park at the front of the library and walk back, or drive back to the lot right next to the path. There is a small bridge over Hathaway Brook, and a… Read more
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Panama Rocks Scenic Park
Location: Panama, NY This park is located in Chautauqua County – 2.5 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 1.5 hours south of Buffalo. This is a beautiful natural area filled with huge rock formations, some as tall as 60 feet, surrounded by forest. The rocks were formed over 300 million years ago and there are… Read more
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Panorama Valley Park – Irondequoit Creek Panorama Plaza Trail
Location: Penfield, NY Panorama Valley Park is located 10 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This little park is located behind Panorama Plaza. There is a small grassy area with a covered picnic table. This is one end of the Irondequoit Creek Panorama Plaza Trail. The trail continues 1 mile along Irondequoit Creek to Channing Philbrick… Read more
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Parma Town Park
Location: Hilton, NY This park is located 20 minutes west of Rochester, NY. There many amenities in this park, listed below. In addition there is a beautiful area with a nature trail. I did not complete the entire hike because much of the trail was closed due to a cross country meet. The website says… Read more
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Powder Mills Park – Grandview and Pine Forest Trails
Location: Pittsford, NY I took a beautiful snowy hike at this park located 15 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. I parked at the lot on Woolston Road (near this GPS: 43.040089, -77.477079). I hiked a bit of the network of trails accessed from this parking lot. I started with Grandview Trail and also hiked some… Read more
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Powers Farm Market – Nativity Trail
Location: Pittsford, NY We love visiting Powers Farm Market in every season! In the winter, there are Christmas trees for sale, an outdoor firepit, a festively decorated door, and a Nativity Trail. This short little path through the farm features animals, nativity scenes, and is lined by lights. This trail is also open after dark,… Read more
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Pratt’s Falls County Park
Location: Pompey, NY This beautiful park features a waterfall and pond and is located near Syracuse, roughly 2 hours east of Rochester, NY. This park features a 137 foot waterfall and is the site of Onondaga County’s first mill operation in 1796. We wandered around the beautiful ponds, checked out the accessible viewpoint over the… Read more
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RMSC Cumming Nature Center – Beaver Trail
Location: Naples, NY RMSC Cumming Nature Center is located an hour south of Rochester, NY. The Beaver Trail is a 1.5 mile loop trail starts with a walk through the picturesque red pine stand. The trail follows a creek and passes through marsh and meadow habitats and leads to a 35-acre beaver pond. The path through… Read more
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RMSC Cumming Nature Center – Gnome Roam (SEASONAL)
Location: Naples, NY 🚨 Read this before visiting!!! This is a seasonal trail exhibit. Check the RMSC Gnome Roam Website to check for open dates 🚨 This 0.75 mile long whimsical trail is located at RMSC Cumming Nature Center, one hour south of Rochester, NY. The Gnome Roam is only open in winter (mid December… Read more
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Rodney B. Janes Park
Location: Pittsford, NY This short, dirt 0.2-mile loop is located 10 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. This tiny little trail goes through a wooded area between neighborhoods. The entrance is located on Roosevelt Road in Pittsford (approximate address is 1104 Roosevelt Rd), near the intersection with Beechwood Drive (as seen on the map below). There… Read more
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Royalton Ravine Park
Location: Gasport, NY This beautiful park is located 1 hour west of Rochester, NY. The park starts with a pavilions, restrooms, grassy fields, and a beautiful pond. There is an opening through the trees beyond the pond that leads to wooded trails. Along the trails are a suspension bridge, a wildflower meadow, a small waterfall… Read more
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Salmon Creek Nature Preserve
Location: Hilton, NY This Genesee Land Trust nature preserve is located 25 minutes northwest of Rochester, NY. This preserve opened in 2022 and is adjacent to the Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area. The preserve is located along Salmon Creek and contains a small pond. There are wooden benches and an accessible observation deck. This is… Read more
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Sanctuary at Crowfield Farm
Location: Arcadia, NY NOTE: The Sanctuary is closed to hikers during hunting season. This beautiful nature trail is located 45 minutes east of Rochester, NY. While there are 1.6 miles of trails, we only did a short section of them. There was a grassy road down to a trailhead sign and a porta potty. I… Read more
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Saunders Finger Lakes Museum – Izaak Walton League Verdi Burtch Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Branchport, NY The Saunders Finger Lakes Museum is located 1 hour southeast of Rochester, NY. There are nature trails, a kayak launch, StoryWalk, and a natural playscape. Other exhibits are currently under construction. Across the road from the Creekside Center is the Verdi Burtch Wildlife Sanctuary maintained by the Izaak Walton League. There is… Read more
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Sawyer Park
Location: Greece, NY This lovely 16.4 acre park is located 20 minutes west of Rochester, NY. Tucked away from the busy Long Pond Road, this park is actually quite peaceful. Near the entrance there is a nice area with tall evergreen trees, a pavilion, bathrooms, and a brand new playground as of summer 2025. If… Read more
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Seneca Park – Zoo Falls
Location: Rochester, NY This waterfall is located right in the city of Rochester, NY in Seneca Park. I hiked this trail on October 30th. We parked at the Wegman Lodge and started walking the paved road behind the parking lot. We then turned left into the woods when we saw an orange trail marker on… Read more
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Seth Green Trail
Location: Rochester, NY This trail is located in the City of Rochester. There is a parking lot located at Seth Green Park. There is a gate that closes the road from public traffic from here, so you need to walk down the road (watch for vehicles and for falling rocks). After about 0.3 miles, there… Read more
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Spencerport Nature Center
Location: Spencerport, NY NOTE: This nature area is located on school grounds and its availability to the public is shown below. Check the official website for any updates or changes. Public Hours of Operation: This nature area is located 20 minutes west of Rochester, NY. Parking for the Spencerport Nature Center is located in the… Read more
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State Road Nature Preserve
Location: Webster, NY This nature preserve is located 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This 84-acre preserve was created in 2019. The area consists of second growth forest, wetlands, meadows, ponds, and Four Mile Creek. We parked in the lot off of State Road and hikes the 1.1 mile Red Trail loop. It started in… Read more
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Sterling Nature Center – Forest Ecology Trail
ocation: Sterling, NY This nature park is located 1.25 hours east of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. According to the official website, the Forest Ecology Trail is a 0.6 mile loop that “circles through several contrasting forest types including a conifer plantation, northern hardwood sugar maple, and a beech-hemlock lowland forest on… Read more
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Sterling Nature Center – Lake Trail
Location: Sterling, NY This nature park is located 1.25 hours east of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. The Lake Trail provides access to the 1.9 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline that are part of the Sterling Nature Center. We hiked down to the shoreline from each of the two ends of this… Read more
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Stewart Park – Renwick Wildwoods Fuertes Bird Sanctuary Loop Trail
Location: Ithaca, NY This trail is located in Stewart Park along the shore of Cayuga Lake, 1 hour 45 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. There are two entrances to this loop trail from Stewart Park – numbers 15 and 16 on the park map below. The trail is a flat, dirt path. The full loop is… Read more
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Thornell Farm Park
Location: Pittsford, NY This park has a large, stroller-friendly 2/3 mile gravel “jogging trail” around the perimeter, a playground, a Little Free Library, pavilions with picnic tables, tennis courts, and athletic fields. Just past the tennis courts there is a small network of wooded trails near a small creek. The trails make a short loop… Read more
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Thousand Acre Swamp
Location: Penfield, NY This trail is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY. We hiked along the 0.4 mile main trail (Founders Way) and also checked out the 0.2 mile Boardwalk Loop. The boardwalks through marshlands were absolutely beautiful with some benches to stop and enjoy the scenery and wildlife. The trails continue to Way… Read more
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Tinker Nature Park – Nature Trail
Location: Pittsford, NY This is a beautiful park located 15 minutes south of Rochester, NY. The Nature Trail is the inner loop, shown in the map below. The loop is 0.45 miles long with a mostly flat surface through beautiful woods. There are several benches along the trail and a short boardwalk section. There are… Read more
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Trillium Nature Center – Beaver Pond Trail
Location: North Java, NY This Buffalo Audubon Society nature center (formerly Beaver Meadows Nature Center) is located 1.25 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 40 minutes from Buffalo. The Beaver Pond Trail is located behind the interpretive center. It goes through the woods to the short of Beaver Pond where there are some wooden platforms… Read more
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Trillium Nature Center – Bypass Trail
Location: North Java, NY This Buffalo Audubon Society nature center (formerly Beaver Meadows Nature Center) is located 1.25 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 40 minutes from Buffalo. There is an unnamed trail heading west along the road starting at the Arboretum parking lot. There is a beautiful evergreen grove here and a small bridge.… Read more
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Trillium Nature Center – Fairy House Lane
Location: North Java, NY This Buffalo Audubon Society nature center (formerly Beaver Meadows Nature Center) is located 1.25 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 40 minutes from Buffalo. A short walk from the interpretive center is the fairy house lane. This very short trail has fun and whimsical structures, fairy houses, and artwork. The nature… Read more
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Trillium Nature Center – Storybook Trail
Location: North Java, NY This Buffalo Audubon Society nature center (formerly Beaver Meadows Nature Center) is located 1.25 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 40 minutes from Buffalo. A short walk behind the interpretive center was a short storybook trail. It was partially on the grassy path and partially in the woods on a dirt… Read more
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Turning Point Falls
Location: Rochester, NY This waterfall is located in Turning Point Park in the City of Rochester. To get to the view of the waterfall, follow one of the trails shown in the map below. I went straight on the paved path from the parking lot as if I was headed toward the boardwalk and then… Read more
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Twin Cedars Environmental Area
Location: Avon, NY This beautiful hiking area is located 25 minutes south of Rochester, NY. The property is owned by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). We hiked the ~1 mile trail clockwise around the pond. It started by an adorable red A-frame and then along a grassy path along the north… Read more
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Vosburg Hollow Nature Trail
Location: Webster, NY This 0.4 mile out and back trail is located in Webster, NY – 15 minutes northeast of Rochester. This trail features stairs, a boardwalk, bridge, bench, creek views, and a small red pine stand. It also connects to the Hojack Trail. Trail Map: Trail Map; Satellite Map AllTrails: Vosburg Hollow Official Website: Friends… Read more
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Washington Grove
Location: Rochester, NY This is one of our favorite spots to hike in the city of Rochester! This old growth forest located in Cobb’s Hill makes it feel like you have escaped the city and got lost in the woods. There is a branching network of easy trails, so you can hike as much or… Read more
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Webster First Responders Park – Chiyoda Trail
Location: Webster, NY This trail is located at First Responders Park 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. According to the website: “The Chiyoda Trails are located at the Webster Recreation Center. They consist of a paved trail (one-mile loop) around the ball fields and the First Responders Memorial Playground, plus a packed-dirt trail through the… Read more
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Webster Park – Ridge Trail
Location: Webster, NY Webster Park is located 25 minutes northeast of Rochester, NY near the shore of Lake Ontario. The Ridge Trail is a beautiful 1.4 mile trail that follows a mowed lane and dirt path through the woods. I especially loved the grove of spruce trees located near the sign for Wolf Cabin. There… Read more
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Whiting Road Nature Preserve
Location: Webster, NY This nature preserve is located 20 minutes northeast of Rochester, NY. There is a whole network of trails in this park (described here). We decided to hike the 0.72 mile blue loop which was perfect for my young kids! The forest was beautiful and I can’t wait to explore more of this… Read more
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The Wild Center – Forest Music
Location: Tupper Lake, NY The Wild Center is located in the Adirondacks 4 hours northeast of Rochester, NY. The Forest Music trail features 24 speakers discreetly placed along a trail to play music that blends with the natural sounds of the forest. The project is a collaboration with the Crane School of Music at SUNY… 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
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Wynd’s Woods Trails
Location: Pittsford, NY This trail is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY. If you park along Landsdowne Lane, you can hike the ~0.5 mile loop through a pretty wooded area. This trail is surrounded by neighborhoods and you can see homes through the trees. There were some hills and uneven surfaces, this is not… Read more
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Zebulon Norton Trail
Location: Honeoye Falls, NY This trail is located 30 minutes south of Rochester, NY. This out-and-back trail is about 0.7 mile each way (1.4 miles roundtrip). There is a trailhead behind the playground at Harry Allen Park and another trailhead at Rotary Park. The trail is wooded and goes along Honeoye Creek. The trail crosses… Read more