Explore The Lake Ontario Seaway Trail

The Port of Rochester, at the mouth of the Genesee River, was once a busy destination for ships traveling Lake Ontario. Today, it marks a natural midpoint along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail—a 518-mile scenic route following the shores of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the Saint Lawrence River.

Along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, the Seaway Trail feels less like a single drive and more like a string of distinct landscapes: historic forts, small harbor towns, quiet beaches, birding wetlands, and parks shaped by wind, water, and glacial history. Some places invite a long walk or a picnic by the lake. Others reward lingering with views, stories, or simply the sound of waves against stone.

For a memorable day trip, it helps to choose one direction—either west or east of the Genesee River—drive to your farthest point first, and then make your way back slowly. This is a route best enjoyed at an easy pace, with time for detours, shoreline walks, and unplanned stops.

Fun fact: The Wyandot Nation named the lake “Oniatarí:io,” meaning “lake of shining water.”

West of the Genesee River

West of Rochester, the Seaway Trail follows the Niagara Frontier toward Fort Niagara. This stretch feels expansive and windswept, passing through lakeside parks, fishing villages, and open shoreline with long views across the water.

Fort Niagara State Park

At the mouth of the Niagara River, Fort Niagara State Park anchors the western end of this stretch. Visitors can walk the grounds, hike along the shoreline, swim in the pool, or explore the nature center. On clear days, the Toronto skyline is visible across the water.

Old Fort Niagara dates to 1726 and contains the oldest standing structure on the Great Lakes. The nearby lighthouse marks a strategic point where Lake Ontario meets the Niagara River, though it is not open for tours. Admission is charged separately for the park and the historic fort.

Wilson and Wilson-Tuscarora State Park

Just east of the Niagara River, Wilson offers a small harbor, a pebble beach, and access to Wilson-Tuscarora State Park. The park protects four miles of natural area along Twelve-Mile Creek, with a guarded swimming beach and a quiet trail system that follows the water.

A walk along Wilson Pier, where the creek meets the lake, is a simple way to spend time at the shoreline.

Olcott Beach

Olcott has the feel of a classic lakeside boardwalk town. A stroll through Krull Park, Olcott Beach Carousel Park, and the Lakeview Village Shoppes brings together beaches, small shops, and seasonal attractions.

The replica lighthouse is open daily, and Ye Olde Log Cabin—one of the area’s longtime dining spots—opens on weekends. In summer, the entire area feels lively and walkable, with the lake never far from view.

Golden Hill State Park

Golden Hill sits near the northernmost point of Lake Ontario’s southern shoreline and is known for its dramatic setting and dark night skies. The park is a favorite for stargazing and, on rare nights, viewing the northern lights.

The Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, built in 1875, offers sweeping lake views and is a highlight of any visit. An admission fee is required.

Point Breeze and Orchard Park

At Point Breeze, near the mouth of the Oak Orchard River, a replica lighthouse stands where the original once guided ships into the harbor. During museum hours, visitors can climb the keeper’s ladder for elevated views of the river and lake.

The surrounding area has long been popular with anglers and boaters, and it retains a strong connection to Lake Ontario’s maritime past.

Hamlin Beach State Park

Hamlin Beach State Park stretches along several miles of shoreline and offers a mix of wooded trails, sandy beaches, and open green space. The park includes remnants of a historic CCC and POW camp, along with multiple beach areas suited to different kinds of visits.

Some sections are ideal for quiet walks and reading by the water, while others offer guarded swimming beaches, picnic areas, playgrounds, and seasonal concessions. Trails along the bluffs provide elevated lake views and access to more rugged terrain.

Braddock Bay

Braddock Bay is one of the most ecologically significant areas along this section of the Seaway Trail. The bay and surrounding wetlands form an important bird migration corridor and have been recognized as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.

The Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area includes multiple access points—marinas, trails, ponds, and shoreline areas—each offering a slightly different experience. Whether you’re driving nearby roads, fishing in Salmon Creek, or dining along the bay, you’re engaging with a landscape shaped by water and wildlife.

Hidden Sidewalk

To access the secret half-mile-long sidewalk, start at Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte and walk west along Beach Avenue. You will find the main entrances across from Clematis and Cloverdale Streets, with smaller entrances between roughly every fourth house. Note that the lawns, gardens, and docks along the sidewalk are privately owned and not open to the public. Only the sidewalk itself is available for public use and accessible only on foot.

Charlotte and Ontario Beach Park

At Rochester’s northern edge, Ontario Beach Park marks the point where the Genesee River meets Lake Ontario. The park combines a sandy beach, long boardwalk, pier, and historic attractions.

Visitors can swim, walk the pier, ride the Dentzel Carousel, tour the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, or stop for frozen custard at Abbott’s—first opened here in 1902. The park remains one of Rochester’s most beloved summer destinations.

Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse

Built in 1822, the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse is the oldest surviving active lighthouse on Lake Ontario in the United States. Reaching the lantern room requires climbing a narrow spiral staircase and ladder, but the view from the top rewards the effort.

Fun fact: The 1822 Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse may be the oldest surviving active lighthouse on Lake Ontario in America, but the decommissioned 1802 Gibraltar Point Lighthouse in Canada is the oldest lighthouse on any of the Great Lakes.

East of the Genesee River

East of Rochester, the Seaway Trail feels more varied, passing through historic port cities, nature preserves, sandy beaches, and bluff-top parks. The route generally follows Lake Road and Route 104, with frequent access to the shoreline.

Fort Ontario State Historic Site

Overlooking Lake Ontario and the Oswego Lighthouse, Fort Ontario preserves a series of historic buildings set within star-shaped earthworks. The site played roles in the French and Indian War and the War of 1812, and later served as the only refugee center in the United States for Jewish Holocaust survivors during World War II.

Visitors can explore the grounds independently. An admission fee is required.

H. Lee White Maritime Museum

Located at the mouth of the Oswego Canal, the H. Lee White Maritime Museum focuses on the region’s maritime history and working vessels. Boat tours offer access to the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse, and exhibits highlight Lake Ontario’s role in trade and transportation.

Breitbeck Park

Between SUNY Oswego and the Oswego River, Breitbeck Park offers open lake views, a paved walking loop, gardens, a playground, a splashpad, and seasonal attractions. It’s a popular place for a short stroll or a pause to take in the lake.

Sterling Nature Center

Sterling Nature Center protects two miles of cobblestone shoreline atop glacial bluffs. Trails lead through wetlands, meadows, and woodlands, with frequent overlooks of Lake Ontario.

The center is especially known for wildlife viewing, including a great blue heron rookery and seasonal bird activity along the lake.

Fair Haven Beach State Park

Fair Haven Beach is known for its wide sandy shoreline and dramatic bluffs. The guarded beach offers one of the most scenic swimming spots along Lake Ontario’s southern shore. An admission fee is required.

Chimney Bluffs State Park

Chimney Bluffs rises dramatically above the lake, with fragile drumlin formations sculpted by wind and water. Trails and shoreline access reveal constantly changing shapes and textures.

The area is best explored with sturdy footwear, especially along the rocky shore. While the park charges an admission fee, free parking is available at the end of East Bay Road.

Fun fact: Drumlins are generally teardrop-shaped hills ranging from a few hundred yards to several miles long. They are composed of unconsolidated sediments, such as sand, gravel, and till, deposited by a glacier as it moves over the landscape. Concentrated between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes, this region of New York State contains the most extensive drumlin field in the world, comprising around 10,000 drumlins.

Sodus Bay and Sodus Point

At Sodus Point, a lighthouse museum sits atop a bluff overlooking the bay and lake. The village has a relaxed resort-town feel, with a sandy beach near the pier and a cluster of bars and restaurants nearby.

In summer, live music events often take place near the lighthouse, adding to the atmosphere.

Camp Beechwood State Park

Once home to Camp Beechwood, a Girl Scout camp operating from 1929 to 1996, this park now offers miles of trails through woodlands, wetlands, shoreline, and former orchards. The park is rustic and quieter than many others along the trail.

Swimming is not permitted, but the trails and lake views make it well suited for walking and reflection.

B. Forman Park

B. Forman Park is a small, peaceful lakeside park ideal for a short stop. A bluff-top path offers open water views, and the setting encourages unhurried time by the lake.

Pultneyville

This historic lakeside hamlet sits where Salmon Creek enters Lake Ontario. The Williamson-Pultneyville Historical Society preserves the area’s maritime and agricultural history, while the Bicentennial War of 1812 Peace Garden offers a thoughtful place to pause.

Nearby Gates Hall, originally built as a church in 1825, has been operating as a community theater since 1867 and is considered the oldest continuously operating community theater in the United States.

Cornwall Preserve

Protected by the Genesee Land Trust, this bluff-top preserve includes woodlands, meadows, and lake views overlooking active orchards. Trails offer a quieter alternative to busier shoreline parks.

Webster Park

Webster Park offers both bluff-top and shoreline experiences. Visitors can walk trails through forested areas, enjoy views from the pier, or watch the sunset from overlooks near Whitehouse Lodge.

Irondequoit Bay

The Irondequoit Bay Outlet connects the bay to Lake Ontario. Seasonally, the outlet bridge closes to vehicles to allow boat traffic, creating a different rhythm to travel through the area depending on the time of year.

Durand Eastman Park

Durand Eastman Park spans nearly 1,000 acres and includes multiple lakes, wooded trails, open meadows, and shoreline access. Designed in part during Rochester’s early park-planning era, the park balances natural landscapes with designed spaces.

A pedestrian-only roadway, arboretum paths, and access to the Irondequoit Lakeside Trail make it one of the most varied parks along the Seaway Trail. A city-managed swimming beach sits along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Despite local legends, the White Lady’s Castle here is actually the façade of a former lakeside pavilion—though stories of hauntings persist.

Map of Locations

An interactive map highlights key stops along the Lake Ontario Seaway Trail, from Fort Niagara to Fort Ontario, including parks, preserves, historic sites, and shoreline access points.

View the map separately here.

Where are your favorite places along the Lake Ontario Seaway Trail?

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