Powder Mills Park is a Monroe County Park, with 380 acres of steep hillsides, creek-side meadows and wetlands. Fan favorites would have to include the fish hatchery where you can feed the fish, and a walk along the Daffodil Trail in early May.
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Powder Mills Park Hiking Trails
Before heading out, print the trail map and park map. The color-coded hiking trails and additional details will keep you on the right track.
The Daffodil Meadow Trail
A 0.7 mile (one way) walk that is especially wonderful around May 1 when the daffodils in the meadow are in full bloom. The path is dirt and sand along Irondequoit Creek, and passes through wetlands.
I’ve had such wonderful conversations with people who have struggled to find the meadow. What throws them off is the trail marker, “County Park Boundary.” If you take a look below at the heat map from my Google Photos you can see that the meadow is beyond the formal boundary, almost to Thornell.
So confidently keep following the creek and you’ll find it before you get to the tunnel under Thornell Road. The latitude and longitude for the meadow is 43.0530028,-77.4908444.
Ignore the official label on Google Maps, the blue arrow indicates the meadow’s actual location. I put in an edit request so hopefully it will be updated soon.
Hatchery Trail
A .8 mile walk that takes you through a large field of milkweed which is a favorite spot for butterflies. Keep a look out for hawks circling overhead.
Ridge Trail
A 0.4 mile walk (one way) which has an overlook point that allows you to see west for miles. Also watch along this trail for the remains of the old Rand household.
Trillium Trail
A 0.5 mile (one way) walk that will bring you along the wetlands and through an area of unique plant life.
Powderhorn Trail
A 0.6 mile walk which a small section opens up to a very large field filled with ragweed and other wild flowers. It will also take you through woods filled with maple, oak, and many other types of trees.
The Fish Hatchery
The Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park was established in 1933. Like the Caledonia Fish Hatchery, the hatchery at Powder Mills Park is open all year long. There are 20,000 fish in various stages of development raised here.
The Mushroom House
One of the main draws to this park is a roadside-attraction not located in the park at all; in fact it is private property. That doesn’t stop visitors to Powder Mills Park from admiring The Mushroom House from the road. The best place to park to see the house is in the Fish Hatchery lot.
I will say that the road has very little shoulder so if you plan to peek or take some photos, mind the traffic since cars tend to whip through the park.
More information about Powder Mills Park
Cost: Free
Located in Perinton, roughly 20 minutes / 12 miles from Rochester (get directions)
More information: monroecounty.gov/parks-powdermill, trail map, park map
Monroe County parks are free and offer 12,000 acres of natural, zoological, horticultural, historical, and geological experiences.
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Where is your favorite spot in Powder Mills Park?
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