Trail Length and Type: Short Trail (<1 mile)
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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 falls and about 0.2 miles each way if you add in the hike down to the base of the falls. The trail was pretty narrow… Read more
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Audubon Community Nature Center – Arboretum
Location: Jamestown, NY This nature center is located 2.5 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 1.5 hours south of Buffalo, NY. One great spot in this nature center is the arboretum with 60 native trees! There are winding grass paths through the arboretum with small signs to identify each tree. Dogs are NOT allowed at… Read more
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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 blazed with blue circles. The paved, stroller-friendly section of Overlook Trail takes you past ponds to the Blue Heron Overlook. The rest of the trail… 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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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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Breese Park
Location: West Henrietta, NY We love this short, flat, stroller friendly trail located along the Genesee River 20 minutes southwest of Rochester, NY. The trail is a 1/2 mile stone dust loop with nature-themed play/exercise stations, informational signs, and musical instruments along the trail. There is also an exercise area for adults tucked in the… Read more
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Brickyard Trail
Location: Brighton, NY This flat, accessible, stone dust trail is located 10 minutes south of Rochester, NY. The path is 0.8 miles long one-way and passes through a small wooded area with a bridge over a small creek as well as a wetland area. We usually park at the Historic Buckland Farmhouse and use the… Read more
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Brighton Memorial Library – Children’s Literary Garden
Location: Brighton, NY This super short paved garden trail is located just next to the Brighton Memorial Library. The path starts out with several wooden archways and is lined with literary quotes related to gardens and wonder. There is a bench, a small fairy garden, and a memorial. Around the other side of the library… 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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Butterfly Nature Trail at Macedon Canal Park
Location: Macedon, NY This unique trail located 25 minutes southeast of Rochester is considered a “Forever Wild for Everyone Trail”. Along this accessible, stone dust trail there are numerous things to look at including informational signs about birds and butterflies, gardens, fairy houses, benches, painted rocks, and some old relics and info about the history… Read more
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Camp Eastman
Location: Rochester/Irondequoit, NY This is a super duper short (~0.1 mile) little paved loop path near Lake Ontario in Rochester, NY. The path passes by playground equipment (including accessible features), a gazebo, benches, animal trackers interactive signs, and some percussion instruments. There are sports fields nearby and a splashpad. There was construction going on when… Read more
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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 tree house, walk through the gate to to the left of the lodge and walk around back. Then follow the gravel path that winds back… Read more
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Center Park West
Location: Perinton, NY This park is located 25 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This park is located behind the Fairport Rec Center and is home of the amphitheater where performances occur. There is a brand new playground as of summer 2025 that is musical themed and has inclusive features. When we visited in August 2025,… Read more
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Chimney Bluffs State Park – Meadow Trail
Location: Huron, NY This beautiful state park is located one hour east of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. The Meadow Trail is a 0.2 mile out and back path from the main parking lot to the shore (0.4 miles round trip). The trail is flat, paved, and stroller friendly. There is a… 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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Clift Park
Location: Skaneateles I visited this park in Lake George in 2015 and we enjoyed the festive gazebo, lit up tree at the end of the pier, and the views of the lake. I didn’t take many pictures or explore much, so I’ll have to go back and will share more photos and information then! Official… 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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Cobb’s Hill Reservoir
Location: Rochester, NY Cobb’s Hill Reservoir, located in the city of Rochester, has a great view of downtown. There is a 0.7 mile flat paved loop around a fenced-in reservoir. There are benches at the overlook as well as several wooded areas around the reservoir. There is an additional path through the woods that leads… Read more
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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 Corbett’s Glen North and the street parking on Glen Road provides access through the tunnel to Corbett’s Glen South. (*Park patrons must park at the… Read more
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Cornwall Preserve – Cass Meadow Trail
Location: Williamson, NY This Genesee Land Trust nature preserve is located 30 minutes east of Rochester, NY on the shore of Lake Ontario. We parked at the trailhead on Lake Road and walked about 0.4 mile on the Cass Meadow Trail to the Lake Bluff Trail and enjoyed beautiful views of the lake and informational… Read more
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Delphi Falls Park – Lower Falls
Location: Cazenovia, NY This waterfall park is located south of Syracuse, two hours from Rochester. We walked along the brand new ADA accessible stone dust trail to the beautiful overlook of the 62-foot tall lower falls. There is parking just inside the gate and a trail that leads over a pedestrian bridge. There are also… 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 – Log Cabin Road
Location: Rochester, NY Durand Eastman Park is located along Lake Ontario in the city of Rochester. There are several trails in the park with beautiful views. We drove the Log Cabin Road and parked at the loop near the shelters. This spot is surrounded by a canopy of tall trees. There is a traditional playground… 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 – 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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Erie Canal Nature Preserve – Frog Pond Trail
Location: Pittsford, NY This nature preserve branches off of the Erie Canal east of Rochester, NY. The path is stone dust with short boardwalks. The Frog Pond Trail is 0.35 miles from the canal path to the end where it meets up with the Auburn Trail. The trail passes by a forested meadow, wetlands, frog… 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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Frank Baker Park
Location: Canandaigua, NY This park features a loop path with a StoryWalk, a playground, sports fields, and seasonal restrooms. Instagram Link: Instagram Facebook Link: Facebook Official Website: City of Canandaigua, Visit Finger Lakes AllTrails: Frank Baker Park Loop 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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Gates Memorial Park
Location: Gates, NY This basic park is located 10 minutes west of Rochester, NY. It has a 0.5-mile paved walking path around some fields that passes by small wooded areas. It can be connected with the paved path at Lions Park to make a 1-mile loop. The park has a memorial, sports fields, a pond… 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 – 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 is a wildlife observation deck, gazebo, benches, large field, sensory garden, “messy materials” area, “discovery trail”, and more! I can’t wait to check this out… Read more
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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 network. We accessed the trail via the 0.08 mile connector trail past Turtle Pond starting from the Interpretive Center parking lot, but there are other… 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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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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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 – 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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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 paved, accessible, stroller friendly path around the pond that includes a StoryWalk, benches, exercise stations, dock platform, Little Free Library, and pickleball court. Near this… 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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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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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 Library! This trail is only 400 feet long and consists entirely of wooden boardwalks. There are benches along the path, birdhouses in the trees, a… Read more
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Hidden Sidewalk
Location: Rochester, NY This “hidden” sidewalk is located along Lake Ontario in the City of Rochester. We parked at the northwest corner of the parking lot at Ontario Beach Park (map link) and walked west about a half mile along Beach Ave until we reached the sidewalk entrance near Clematis Ave. We walked about 0.4… 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 Park – Lamberton Conservatory
Location: Rochester, NY This indoor conservatory is one of our favorite spots in Highland Park! We love to walk the loop to see all of the beautiful plants, trees, and flowers as well as the button quails, turtles, tortoises, and fish. There are benches to sit and enjoy the sights. It is always warm and… Read more
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Highland Park – Lamberton Conservatory Holiday Show (SEASONAL)
This annual holiday light show at the Lamberton Conservatory at Highland Park is one of our favorite activities! My main post on the Lamberton Conservatory can be found here. 2024 Holiday Show Schedule 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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Highland Park – Poets Garden
Location: Rochester, NY This 275-foot long pathway is a peaceful spot in Highland Park located across from the Lamberton Conservatory. There are stone benches with Shakespeare’s quotes, a sundial, bird bath, and a variety of plants and trees. Just next to this path is the paved walking path, a hollowed out tree, and a traditional… 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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Hoskins Park
Location: Henrietta, NY This tiny park is located 15 minutes south of Rochester, NY. There is a 0.25 mile loop path through this park. The surface is mostly stone dist but one small section is grass. There is a spot with two benches and a small trellis. There are also two new picnic tables. The… 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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Irondequoit Bay Outlet Pier and Beach (Sea Breeze Pier)
Location: Rochester, NY This beach and pier are located in Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. There are parking areas along Culver Rd with a paved path that leads to the pier. You can walk out the pier to the lighthouse and views of Lake Ontario. The path is stroller… 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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Ithaca Children’s Garden
Location: Ithaca, NY This is a magical and wonderful place to walk around in Ithaca, located 1.5 hours southeast of Rochester. There is so much to do! There is a giant turtle you can walk on, multiple gardens, a play area, story walk, music garden, troll house, playground, and so much more! Important Info from… 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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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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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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Kent Park – Hiking Trails
Location: Webster, NY This park is located 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. Behind the Webster Arboretum at Kent Park is a network of short hiking trails. The paths are grassy and can be very muddy and wet after rain. There is a bench, a boardwalk, a small bridge, a swamp area with a poem,… 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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King’s Bend Park
Location: Pittsford, NY This park is located 12 minutes south of Rochester, NY. This small park has a playground and several shelters. There is a pond for catch-and-release fishing, benches, and a stone dust trail that makes a small 0.1 mile loop and also goes 0.2 mile each way to the end of the pond… 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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Labrador Hollow Unique Area – Boardwalk Trail
Location: Tully, NY This trail is located south of Syracuse – just about 2 hour east of Rochester, NY. This nature area is located in the middle of a valley that was dug out by glacial movement around ten thousand years ago. This accessible and stroller-friendly trail is a 0.4 mile loop boardwalk with views… Read more
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Labrador Hollow Unique Area – Tinker Falls
Location: Tully, NY This trail is located south of Syracuse – just about 2 hour east of Rochester, NY. This nature area is located in the middle of a valley that was dug out by glacial movement around ten thousand years ago. We hiked the accessible part of the trail (0.25 miles each way) to… 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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Legion Eyer Park
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. From here you can hike part of the the Rochester, Syracuse, & Eastern Trolley Trail (RS&E Trail). This was a pretty flat dirt and grass… Read more
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Letchworth State Park – Autism Nature Trail
Location: Castile, NY The Autism Nature Trail is located one hour southwest of Rochester, NY at Letchworth State Park. According to its website, “The Autism Nature Trail is for everyone—especially those with ASD and those with different levels of abilities—to visit, enjoy and explore nature.” It is a beautiful trail through the woods with sensory… 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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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 “accessible to wheelchairs during most times of the year, and to strollers and people with mobility challenges throughout the year.” It’s a beautiful flat trail… Read more
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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 trail is located near the beautiful log cabin visitor center which had accessible parking spots, a ramp, a covered bridge, benches, and restrooms. The trail… Read more
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Linear Garden
Location: Rochester, NY This lovely pocket park is located in the North Winton Village neighborhood of the City of Rochester. There is a short and narrow stone dust path, about 500 feet long, that is stroller friendly. There are some benches, beautiful flowers, and garden beds. There is a small wooden structure with chairs underneath… Read more
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Lions Park
Location: Gates, NY This park is located 10 minutes west of Rochester, NY. There is a 0.4 mile stroller-friendly paved path around the perimeter of the park. It passes by a pond and a small wooded area. According to the official website: “The park features 3 lighted tennis courts, lighted basketball court, sand volleyball, ball… 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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Lucille Ball Memorial Park
Location: Celoron, NY This park is located 2.5 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 1.5 hours south of Buffalo, NY. This park is dedicated to Lucille Ball whose hometown was Celoron. There are two statues of her and a memorial plaque. We enjoyed the huge and inclusive playground with many fun structures for kids of… 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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Mead Square Park – Holiday Lights
Location: Victor, NY This small park is located right on Main Street in Victor. The brick path is only 200 feet long. There are several benches along the path. The holiday lights make this a nice spot to visit in December! Trail Map: Park Map Official Website: Town of Victor 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 – 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 – Wild Wings Nature Center
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY We really enjoyed our visit to Wild Wings at Mendon Ponds Park after hiking the Birdsong Fairy Trail and playing at the natural log play area. We walked around and enjoyed looking at the birds of prey. If you’re looking for an alternative to the zoo for looking at animals, it helps… 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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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 – 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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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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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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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 – Daffodil Meadow
Location: Pittsford, NY This beautiful meadow of daffodils is located 15 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY in Powder Mills Park. There are two ways to reach the Daffodil Meadow. Trail Map: Trail Map; Satellite Map AllTrails: Daffodil Trail Official Website: Monroe County Parks Other Websites: Day Trips Around Rochester 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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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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Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve – Boardwalk
Location: Depew, NY This wonderful nature preserve is located a little over an hour west of Rochester, NY. Brick paths lead to a network of trails and a woodchip path to a natural log play area. There is a short (less than 0.1 mile), accessible boardwalk trail that starts near the main entrance. The end… Read more
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Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve – Lily Pond Loop
Location: Depew, NY This wonderful nature preserve is located a little over an hour west of Rochester, NY. Brick paths lead to a network of trails and a woodchip path to a natural log play area. This 0.3 mile flat path over crushed stone and mowed grass circles Lily Pond. The trail has views of… Read more
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Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve – State Symbols Trail
Location: Depew, NY This wonderful nature preserve is located a little over an hour west of Rochester, NY. Brick paths lead to a network of trails and a woodchip path to a natural log play area. The State Symbols Trail is a 0.1 mile flat stone dust path but can only be reached by hiking… Read more
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Richard P. Outhouse Memorial Park
Location: Canandaigua, NY This small park is located 30 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. This basic park has a 0.75 flat paved perimeter path with several benches and very little shade. There is a small fitness station, a pirate theme playground, several pavilions, and public restrooms. The path is stroller friendly. Leashed dogs are allowed.… 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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Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: Pittsford, NY This beautiful arboretum is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY in Pittsford. We parked in one of the parking lots at the Old Pickle Factory and started on the Auburn Trail. We then made a left onto the Frog Pond Trail and then a quick left onto the Meadow Trail. We… 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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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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Saunders Finger Lakes Museum – StoryWalk
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. At the Creekside Center, there is a StoryWalk trail. It begins near the Natural Playscape and goes along the creek, passing… Read more
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Saunders Finger Lakes Museum – Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve
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 Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve. The Sugar Creek Trail goes from a grassy parking… 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 – Trout Lake
Location: Rochester, NY Trout Lake is located right in the city of Rochester, NY in Seneca Park. There is parking at the several shelters around the lake or alongside the lake. A paved path circles the lake (about a half mile around the lake) with benches and lots of waterfowl (with signs saying NOT to… Read more
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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 of the park. When we visited in March, the road all the way to the playground and dog park was closed with a gate so… Read more
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Sterling Nature Center – Eagle’s View Trail
Location: Sterling, NY This nature park is located 1.25 hours east of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. This hike leads to the most beautiful view of bluffs high above Lake Ontario. We parked at the end of McIntyre Road and walked the path a quarter mile to the “eagle’s view” of Lake… 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 – 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 that leads from the interpretive center down to an observation deck looking out over Lake Ontario. There is also a wildflower meadow with benches. The… 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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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 the end of Liftbridge Lane. First we visited the interactive sundial, where you stand on a brick with the current month, put your arms above… Read more
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Thompson Park at Bear Creek Harbor
Location: Ontario, NY This beautiful park on the shore of Lake Ontario is located 30 minutes east of Rochester, NY. There is a short stone and stone dust path to several memorials and a viewpoint over the lake. There is also views over Bear Creek and people were fishing there and a boat launch area.… 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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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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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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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 covered bridge, a yellow brick road, benches, artwork, picnic tables, a wooden ship, a butterfly garden, a deck overlooking the creek, and more! Official Facebook… 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 – 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 – 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 Trail starts in the Arboretum. The path is grassy and goes through a beautiful wildflower meadow and passes small groves of evergreen trees. Branching off… Read more
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Trillium Nature Center – Jenny Glen Boardwalk
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 quarter mile down the road from the interpretive center is the Jenny Glen Boardwalk with its own parking area. This 0.3 mile accessible boardwalk makes a… 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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Veterans Memorial Park (Henrietta)
Location: Henrietta, NY This park is located 15 minutes south of Rochester, NY. To access the hiking trail, park in the lot near Bushman Cabin or walk down Cabin Rd from one of the other parking areas. This short ~0.75 mile loop trail is part of the Lehigh Valley Multi-Use Trail (North Branch). The path… Read more
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Vitale Park
Location: Lakeville, NY This is a lovely lakeside park located 30 minutes south of Rochester. There are two parking lots: a gravel lot on the west side of the park and a larger paved lot near the playground on the east side. Vitale park has two paved loops that connect by the “Freedom Bridge”. My… 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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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 – Beeches Trail
Location: Webster, NY This hiking trail is located 15 minutes east of Rochester, NY near Lake Ontario. We recently were sledding at Webster Park off of Holt Road and decided to hike the short Beeches Trail to the Webster Pier. There were a few pine trees, bridges, and walking through the tunnel under Lake Road.… Read more
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Webster Park – Fishing Pier
Location: Webster, NY Webster Park is located 25 minutes northeast of Rochester, NY near the shore of Lake Ontario. At the northeast end of Webster Park is the fishing pier. There is a seasonal parking area that leads to a paved path over a bridge that goes along the shore to the pier. The path… 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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The Wild Center – Wild Walk
Location: Tupper Lake, NY The Wild Center is located in the Adirondacks 4 hours northeast of Rochester, NY. The Wild Walk is a trail of bridges in the treetops of the forest. There is a four-story twig tree house, a spider’s web to walk on, and a bald eagle’s nest at the highest point with… Read more
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Winter Festival of Lights (CLOSED)
Location: Macedon, NY NOTE: IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT THIS EVENT IS CLOSED DURING THE 2025-2026 SEASON. The Winter Festival of Lights is located behind the Log Cabin restaurant 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. This experience includes tractor rides and horse drawn wagon rides through a huge holiday light display in a hay field.… 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