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Quiet Places: 10 Spots to Seek Solitude Around Rochester

We recognize the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle, breathing in fresh air (protected by sunscreen), and immersing ourselves in nature. Spending time outdoors is essential to our physical and mental. Here are some locations where I have experienced abundant space for solitude and inner peace amidst the beauty of nature.

Webster Arboretum

Seek solitude at Webster Arboretum
Solitude in Webster Arboretum
Webster Arboretum
Webster Arboretum

Webster

The 32-acre Webster Arboretum, maintained by local garden clubs, boasts a pond, winding paths, various trees and shrubs, and formal gardens with over 200 daylily cultivars.

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Webster Arboretum at Kent Park

Covering 32 acres, the arboretum boasts a pond, winding paths, various trees and shrubs, and formal gardens with over 200 daylily cultivars.

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Ganondagan State Historic Site

Seek solitude at Ganondagan inside longhouse
Ganondagan summer benches
Ganondagan summer mowed path
Ganondagan autumn longhouse

Victor

Atop Boughton Hill sits Ganondagan State Historic Site, the original site of a significant 17th-century Seneca town, which at its peak had 150 longhouses where a replica stands today. The grounds surrounding the Seneca Art & Culture Center offer two interpretive trails that tell the story of Hodinöhsö:ni life, history, and connection to the natural world.

A third trail, one mile west on Boughton Hill Road, interprets the history and the importance of Fort Hill, a large fortified storehouse for grain. It connects with Dryer Road Park. The website states, “The location of Gah:ha-da-yan-duk is significant to the Seneca. Looking south on a clear day from this hill, the observer can see Bare Hill, the legendary birthplace of the Seneca nation.”

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Ganondagan State Historic Site

Ganondagan is the original site of a 17th-century Seneca town, which at its peak had 150 longhouses where one replica stands today.

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Stone-Tolan House Historic Site

Seek solitude at Stone-Tolan House
VIP Pass: Stone Tolan House
Stone-Tolan House
Sunken Garden
Stone-Tolan

Brighton

Constructed in 1792, the Stone-Tolan House is the oldest building in Monroe County. Although there is traffic noise from the expressway in the backyard and East Avenue in the front, it’s peaceful walking through the apple tree grove and around the garden and historic outbuildings.

Oatka Creek Park

Solitude in Oatka Creek Park
Oatka Creek Park goldenrod birch trees
Oatka Creek Park Wheatland Trout Run
Oatka Creek Park Scottsville NY
Oatka Creek Park

Wheatland

In the undeveloped Oatka Creek Park, some pathways may be muddy and shared with horses, but there is little elevation change. The pathways lead through woodlands and wildflower meadows, offering a peaceful and picturesque experience. Highlights include a bridge over Oatka Creek along the purple trail and a beautiful quaking aspen grove along the black trail.

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Oatka Creek Park

Pathways lead through Oatka Creek Park’s woodlands and wildflower meadows, offering a peaceful and picturesque experience.

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MacKay Wildlife Preserve

Solitude in MacKay Wildlife Preserve
30 Day Trips within 30 Minutes of Rochester: MacKay Wildlife Preserve
MacKay Wildlife Preserve
MacKay Wildlife Preserve
MacKay Wildlife Preserve

Caledonia

There are fascinating man-made and geologic wonders to discover at MacKay Wildlife Preserve. You’ll find a sea of round, moss-covered boulders, a diverse collection of hardwoods, and unusual land formations, yet very few people!

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MacKay Wildlife Preserve

Visitors to MacKay Wildlife Preserve will find a sea of round moss-covered boulders, a collection of hardwoods, and unusual land formations.

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Hamlin Beach

Seek solitude at Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park bridge
Hamlin Beach State Park Yanty Creek Marsh boardwalk
Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach

Hamlin

Hamlin Beach State Park offers seven miles of paved and dirt hiking trails and a self-guided tour of a historic CCC/POW camp. The lake shore is perfect for reading a book in the shade with your toes in the sand. In Area One, you can find green space, an unguarded beach, a kayak launch, and the Yanty Creek Environmental Nature Trail. Areas Three and Four have guarded swimming beaches, picnic tables, pavilions, playgrounds, bathhouses, and concession stands. Area Five has green space, an unguarded beach, and the Devil’s Nose hiking trail along the West Bluff.

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Hamlin Beach State Park

Hamlin Beach State Park has 7 miles of beautiful biking and walking trails, including a mile-long self-guided tour of a CCC/POW camp.

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Hemlock Lake

Solitude on Hemlock Lake
Hemlock Lake Park
hemlock lake robs trail
Hemlock Lake gazebo cover
Hemlock Lake

Hemlock

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) protects Hemlock Lake, situated 45 minutes south of Rochester, as the city’s drinking water source. Because of this conservation effort, the lake is popular for kayaking and night-sky photography. The peaceful surroundings make it a great spot to relax and recharge. At Hemlock Lake Park, on the north shore, quietly enjoy a picnic, read a book, or put in a kayak using the launch. A drive around the entire lake takes about 30 minutes, or you can hike one of several trails through Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, such as Rob’s Trail, which connects Hemlock and Canadice Lakes.

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Hemlock Lake

The DEC protects Hemlock Lake as Rochester’s drinking water source, making it a popular destination for kayaking and night-sky photography.

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Meridian Centre

Solitude in Meridian Centre Park
Meridian Centre Park boardwalk
Winter break: Meridian Centre Park
Meridian Centre Park
Meridian Centre

Brighton

Gravel and wood chip trails, along with a beautiful boardwalk featuring picturesque wooden arches, assist visitors in exploring an arboretum and a wetland, making Meridian Centre Park a popular destination for birdwatching. Follow paths that connect to the Erie Canalway Trail to create a loop back to the parking lot.

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Meridian Centre Park

There are nature paths in Meridian Centre Park & an arboretum in the western part of the park with plantings and wooden arches.

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Mount Hope Cemetery

Solitude in Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery autumn
Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope

Rochester

Established in 1838, Mount Hope Cemetery is a popular destination for Rochester residents seeking a peaceful retreat from the bustling city. Walkers, runners, and bikers often use the well-maintained roadways, even during the colder months. While the landscape is delightful year-round, this beautiful Victorian cemetery is extraordinary in October. The diversity of trees in the arboretum displays a vibrant array of colors, with bold yellows and reds carpeting the ground before the snow arrives. The cemetery is divided into two sections: the south side, which is the newer area, and the north side, which is older and home to notable figures such as Nathaniel Rochester, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Douglass. The north section’s winding cobblestone roads are best explored on foot and provide a glimpse into the cemetery’s rich history, ecology, and geology. Maps and guided tours are available to provide more in-depth information about the land’s fascinating past, including ice age landforms and fossils.

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Mount Hope Cemetery

Mount Hope Cemetery’s winding roads are best explored on foot for a glimpse into the area’s rich history, ecology, and geology.

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Al Lorenz Park

Solitude in Al Lorenz Park Mount Morris
Al Lorenz Park Mount Morris
Al Lorenz Park Mount Morris Pine Grove
Livingston County Al Lorenz Park
Al Lorenz Park

Mount Morris

Located across the Genesee River from Letchworth State Park’s Mount Morris entrance, Al Lorez Park is a true gem that offers a range of walking paths, a pond with beautiful footbridges, and a diverse collection of trees, including a serene pine grove.

Finding Solitude on Hiking Trails & Preserves

These trails are much less traveled than those in our park systems. They are more secluded and rustic, and even in the best of times, they are excellent places to immerse yourself in nature.

Seek solitude on the Braddock Bay Marina Trail
Braddock Bay
Saint Bernards park on the GRT
Saint Bernard’s
Wayne County Butterfly Trail Lock 30
Butterfly Trail
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
Iroquois
Seek solitude at Greater Rochester Region - Keuka Outlet Trail
Keuka Outlet
Lehigh Valley Rail Trail Honeoye Creek
Lehigh Valley
Seek solitude at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge trail
Montezuma
Seek solitude at Christine Sevilla Wetlands Reserve sunfilled boardwalk
Christine Sevilla
Seek solitude at Cornwall Preserve
Cornwall
Gosnell Big Woods Preserve
Gosnell Big Woods
Whiting Road Nature Preserve
Whiting Road
Seek solitude at Trail of Hope
Trail of Hope
Seek solitude at Brickyard Trail
Brickyard
Seek solitude at Ontario County Park Gannett Hill Jump Off Trail
Jump Off
Seek solitude at Sandy Bottom Nature Trail boardwalk
Sandy Bottom

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80+ Hiking Trails Around Rochester

Less traveled than in our parks, these hiking trails around Rochester offer a secluded and rustic area to immerse yourself in nature.

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Colorful Places: Day Trip Ideas to Brighten a Gray Rochester Day

In a city where weather often impacts our mental health, exposing yourself to vibrant hues can help dispel the gloom of a gray Rochester day.

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8 Roadside Attractions Worth Going Out of Your Way For

There are so many interesting roadside attractions near Rochester. As you’re driving around the area, you should at least see these five!

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Easy Waterfalls

Not all waterfalls are hidden in dark ravines. Many of the region’s most stunning waterfalls can be viewed from the road or a short walk.

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Where do you go to find solitude in nature?


I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

Debi Bower, Day Trips Around Rochester NY

Debi Bower is the founder and creative director of daytrippingroc.com and author of the award-winning book Day Trips Around Rochester, New York.

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People often ask if I get free access to the places I visit. The answer is no—unless I’m invited to a special preview or offered behind-the-scenes access through my media role. Most of the time, I don’t even mention Day Trips Around Rochester, New York when I visit a place. I want to have the same experience you would.

I create and share this content because it brings me joy—and I hope it adds value to your adventures, too.

If my work has helped you explore and appreciate the Rochester area, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. You’ll receive an email whenever I publish new content and have the chance to connect with a growing community of local explorers.

Thank you for supporting my efforts to keep producing meaningful and helpful content.

Thank you!
Debi

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5 thoughts on “Quiet Places: 10 Spots to Seek Solitude Around Rochester”

  1. What a gold mine of information! I have lived and hiked around here for more than 60 years, and many of these places are unfamiliar to me. Rest assured, I will be trying them out. Thank you so much.

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