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. 

Learn more about the history and geology during a guided walk with the Lower Falls Foundation.

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

Maplewood Rose Garden

From the City of Rochester website:

“Located off Driving Park Ave., the Rose Garden features more than 3,000 rose bushes that include everything from the antique “Malmaison” to the recently-created hybrid “Princess Diana.” The roses infuse an acre of land with their fragrant scent and bold colors from early June until nearly Thanksgiving.

“Each June during the peak bloom time, The Rose Festival celebrates both the neighborhood and the park with a parade, music, gorge tours, garden tours, children’s activities, arts & crafts, and tours of historic homes around the area.”

Guided walking tours of Maplewood Park

Typically, the Lower Fall Gorge Tours begin near the large parking lot. Look for the historical markers for Kelsey’s Landing and Casconchiagon.

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 geologic and human history of the gorge. You will definitely learn something new! The tours I’ve been on walk under Driving Park bridge to Lower Falls, then on to Middle Falls, 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’ll be able to 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 is accessible via the Genesee Riverway Trail, and is managed by RG&E. It’s more interesting than spectacular–not nearly as impressive as Lower and High Falls.

Middle Maplewood Park

Continuing north along the Genesee Riverway Trail will take 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, making it feel part of the park. You’ll can appreciate his work on a grander scale in Buffalo.

Maplewood Park middle
Maplewood Park Memorial Bridge

Upper Maplewood Park

The Upper Maplewood section, about 1.5 miles north of the falls, has a pedestrian bridge over the Genesee River gorge, connecting 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?

Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.

Debi Bower, Day Trips Around Rochester NY

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

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