Structure: Viewing Platform

  • Akron Falls Park – Akron Falls Trail

    Location: Akron, NY This beautiful waterfall is located 1 hour west of Rochester, NY just outside of Buffalo. It was about 0.1 mile each way to the lookout over the Read more

  • Audubon Community Nature Center – Big Pond 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 Big Pond Trail is a 2 mile long Read more

  • Audubon Community Nature Center – Overlook 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 Overlook Trail is a 0.6 mile long loop Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • Cayuga Nature Center – TreeTops Treehouse 

    Location: Ithaca, NY We had so much fun visiting this nature center 1.5 hours south of Rochester! We especially enjoyed climbing the six-story treehouse in the woods! To reach the Read more

  • Chili Nature Trail

    Location: Chili, NY We really enjoyed the Chili Nature Trail at the Town of Chili Nature Area, located 20 minutes west of Rochester. It was a nice 1-mile loop trail Read more

  • Corbett’s Glen Nature Park

    Location: Brighton, NY This beautiful nature park is 7 minutes east of Rochester, NY. There are two entrances to the park: the parking lot on Penfield Road provides access to Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • Genesee County Park & Forest – ACORNS Outdoor Learning Center

    Location: East Bethany, NY This outdoor learning center is located 45 minutes west of Rochester, NY. The ACORNS Outdoor Learning Center is located right next to the Interpretive Center. There Read more

  • Genesee County Park & Forest – Forestry Trail

    Location: East Bethany, NY This beautiful 0.61 mile loop trail is located 45 minutes west of Rochester, NY. The Forestry trail is connected to many other trails in a large Read more

  • Greece Town Campus Walking Path

    Location: Greece, NY The Greece Town Hall Campus Walking Trail is located 20 minutes northwest of Rochester near the Greece Public Library and Community Center. There is a 1/2 mile Read more

  • 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, Read more

  • Hickory Bark Trail

    Location: Webster, NY This trail is located 15 minutes northeast of Rochester, NY. This short trail is hidden away in a tiny wooded area behind a shopping plaza and the Webster Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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!! Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • Kennelly Park

    Location: Fairport, NY This park is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY. The park is on the Erie Canal just next to the Fairport Public Library. There is a Read more

  • Krull Park

    Location: Olcott, NY This park is located on the shore of Lake Ontario, 1.5 hours west of Rochester, NY. It’s a lovely view with the lake down below, with many Read more

  • Legion Eyer Park

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    Location: East Rochester, NY We enjoyed this peaceful park located 15 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. We first parked at the small parking lot just outside of the park entrance. Read more

  • Letchworth State Park – Middle Falls and Upper Falls

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    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 Read more

  • Lime Hollow Nature Center – Eric Kroot Art Trail

    Location: Cortland, NY Note: There is hunting allowed at Lime Hollow Nature Center. Do your research before visiting these hiking trails and take safety precautions. This 0.32 mile trail is Read more

  • Lime Hollow Nature Center – Trail for All

    Location: Cortland, NY Note: There is hunting allowed at Lime Hollow Nature Center. Do your research before visiting these hiking trails and take safety precautions. This 0.25 mile, flat accessible Read more

  • Lock 32 Canal Park

    Location: Pittsford, NY This park is located 10 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This is a beautiful spot to access the Erie Canalway Trail for a stroll along the canal. Read more

  • Luensman Overview Park

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    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 Read more

  • Manchester Gateway Trail

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    Location: Manchester, NY This trail is located 30 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. We parked in the small parking area at the northern end of the trail at Route 96 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill – “The Jump Off”

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    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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • Sandy Bottom Park and Nature Trail

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    Location: Richmond, NY This park is located 40 minutes south of Rochester, NY at the north end of Honeoye Lake. There is a beautiful view of the lake and surrounding Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • Sherburne Park Nature Trail

    Location: Walworth, NY This park with a nature trail is located 25 minutes east of Rochester, NY. There is an easy and flat 1 mile nature trail around the perimeter Read more

  • Sterling Nature Center – Lakeview Trail

    Location: Sterling, NY This nature park is located 1.25 hours east of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. The Lakeview Trail is a short, accessible stone dust path Read more

  • Thomas Creek Wetland Walk

    Location: Fairport, NY This is a really lovely wetland walk located in the village of Fairport located 20 minutes east of Rochester. We parked in the small gravel lot at Read more

  • Tinker Nature Park – Woodland Trail

    Location: Pittsford, NY This is a beautiful park located 15 minutes south of Rochester, NY. The woodland trail is the outer loop, shown in the map below. The loop is Read more

  • Trail of Hope

    Location: Lyons, NY This short, flat trail (about 0.5-0.75 miles) is located near the Lyons Community Center. The trail contains a LOT of wooden signs, art, and gardens. There’s a Read more

  • Trillium Nature Center – Arboretum

    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. Down the Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • Trillium Nature Center – Fox Trail & Hawk Watch

    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 Fox Read more

  • Turning Point Park

    Location: Rochester, NY This beautiful park is located in the City of Rochester and includes a section the Genesee Riverway Trail. After parking at the lot on Boxart Street, we Read more

  • 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 Read more

  • Veterans Memorial Park (Rush)

    Location: Rush, NY This small park is located 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. There are no trails in this park but there is a veterans memorial, gazebo, and you Read more

  • Victor Municipal Park

    Location: Victor, NY This nice park located 25 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY features a StoryWalk, fitness area, playground, and a fishing pond with a small dock. The StoryWalk is Read more