Water Feature: Pond View
-
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 loop trail blazed with yellow triangles and takes you through fields, forests and wetlands. This trail shares sections with the Overlook Trail and the Spatterdock… 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 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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Brookdale Preserve
Location: Chili, NY This Genesee Land Trust nature preserve is located 18 minutes southwest of Rochester, NY. According to their website, Brookdale Preserve ” contains wooded wetlands, an open wet-meadow, and hardwood uplands. The Preserve is home to a Floodplain forest which is a rare ecological community in New York State and one of the… Read more
-
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
-
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
-
Charles E. Sexton Memorial Park (North Ponds Park)
Location: Webster, NY This park is located 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. There are two beautiful ponds with a 1-mile paved path around them. There are benches, picnic tables, fitness stations, restrooms near the southern parking area, and a disc golf course. This trail connects to the Hojack Trail and the Bird Sanctuary Trail.… 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 with grassy paths. There were also some inner cutoff trails that you could take – we used AllTrails to make sure we stayed in the… Read more
-
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
-
Genesee Country Village & Museum – Nature Center
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. The nature center has a peaceful pond out front with benches, a bridge, flowers, a picnic pavilion, and a little free library. Inside the nature center are some live turtles and… 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 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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Holley Canal Park
Location: Holley, NY This is a lovely park located on the Erie Canal in Holley, NY. Up near the canal there is a gazebo, a pavilion, a Little Free Library, restrooms and a porta potty, accessible parking, informational signs, benches, and a paved path along the canal. There is a paved path or a gravel… Read more
-
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
-
Kent Park – Webster Arboretum
Location: Webster, NY This park and arboretum is located 20 minutes east of Rochester, NY. There are gazebos, multiple benches, a pond with a fountain, a playground, and a narrow stone dust path. There are a large variety of trees and plants planted around the arboretum. This is a great park to visit in the… Read more
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Mark Tubbs Memorial Park
Location: Lima, NY This park is located 30 minutes south of Rochester in Lima, NY features a playground, gazebo, and a gravel/grass trail that leads to a pond. We walked around the well-marked stone dust trails starting with the Bluebird Crossing trail and made our way to the pond. There was one section of rough… 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 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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Shadow Pines
Location: Penfield, NY This former golf course is now a hiking and walking area as well as located 10 minutes east of Rochester, NY. There are a few different areas of this large park. The map below shows the different sections (the STAR is the parking for the recreation/playground area, the SQUARE is the parking… Read more
-
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
-
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
-
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 1.2 miles via the exercise path or 0.78 miles long if you take the cut through path along the boardwalk next to the pond. 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 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
-
Trillium Nature Center – Grounds
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 outdoor areas outside of the interpretive center are really beautiful. There are wildflower meadows in late summer, informational signs, gardens with a small pond, and a… 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 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
-
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 on grass, so would be stroller friendly only for strollers that can be pushed over uneven grass. There is a stone dust path in the… Read more
-
Webster First Responders Park – Chiyoda Paved Loop
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
-
The Wild Center – Indoor Exhibits
Location: Tupper Lake, NY The Wild Center is located in the Adirondacks 4 hours northeast of Rochester, NY. The Wild Center features a Wild Walk in the treetops, Forest Music Trail, Greenleaf Pond, pollinator gardens, indoor exhibits, live animals, and more! Dogs are NOT allowed at the Wild Center except for service animals. Here are… Read more