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Maplewood Park

Maplewood Park & Rose Garden

Maplewood Park is a linear park that follows the river from Driving Park Blvd. and the Lower Falls to just north of Route 104, ending at the pedestrian bridge over the Genesee.

Lower Maplewood Park

The parking lot at the Maplewood Rose Garden in Lower Maplewood is your starting point when visiting the Lower Gorge and Falls.

Maplewood Rose Garden
Maplewood Rose Garden yellow
Maplewood Park red yellow rose garden
Maplewood Park pink rose garden
Maplewood Rose Garden orange

Maplewood Rose Garden

Maplewood showcases 300 rose varieties that bloom between mid-June and late November. The Greater Rochester Rose Society formally dedicated it in 1951 and has lovingly cared for the fragrant flowers ever since.

Tours of the Lower Falls Gorge begin near the parking lot near the historical markers for Kelsey’s Landing and Casconchiagon. Tours are offered periodically and are typically included in Rochester’s Flower City Feeling Good Guided Walks schedule.

Maplewood Park Cascongiagon Indican Village
Maplewood Park Kelseys Landing
Maplewood Park stairs from Rose Garden
Maplewood Park guided walking tour
Maplewood Park foundation
Maplewood Park under Driving Park Bridge

Expert guides will share the gorge’s geological and human history. You will definitely learn something new! The tours I’ve been on go under the Driving Park bridge to Lower Falls, and then on to Middle Falls, which is managed by RG&E.

Maplewood Lower Falls
Maplewood Park bridge waterfall
Maplewood Park Lower Falls park path
Maplewood Park Lower Falls Park sculpture
Maplewood Park seat of forgetting and remembering

Lower Falls Park

This area, below the YMCA, is where you can observe the Genesee River’s Lower Falls, with walking paths that meander throughout the green space to a fairly unusual art installation.

Maplewood Middle Falls

Middle Falls

Middle Falls can be reached via the Genesee Riverway Trail and is managed by RG&E. It’s more intriguing than spectacular, though not nearly as impressive as Rochester’s Lower and High Falls.

Middle Maplewood Park

Continuing north along the Genesee Riverway Trail takes you through Middle Maplewood, located in the Seneca Parkway area just south of Route 104. The GRT takes you under both the Driving Park and Memorial Bridges.

Fun fact: Frederick Law Olmsted designed Seneca Parkway as a way to connect the residential neighborhood to the Seneca Park system, creating a seamless transition between the neighborhood and the park. You can see his park-system philosophies at work on a larger scale in Buffalo.

Maplewood Park middle
Maplewood Park Memorial Bridge

Upper Maplewood Park

About 1.5 miles north of the waterfalls, the Upper Maplewood section connects to the Pure Waters Pedestrian Bridge over the Genesee River gorge, linking to Seneca Park.

Maplewood Park pedestrian bridge ramp
Seneca Park Maplewood Park Pedestrian Connection Bridge
Maplewood Park Genesee River

More information about Maplewood Park

Cost: Free

Located in the City of Rochester (get directions)

More information: cityofrochester.gov/maplewoodpark

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Where is your favorite spot in Maplewood Park?


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.

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Thank you!
Debi

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  1. Pingback: Seneca Park Zoo | Maplewood Park | Flower City Virtual Tours

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