22 Monroe County Parks

Monroe County parks are free and offer 12,000 acres of natural, zoological, horticultural, historical, and geological experiences.

Mendon Ponds Park

Explore 21 miles of marked trails across 2,500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and glacially created landforms like kettles, kames, eskers, and bogs. Named for its four most significant ponds—Hundred Acre, Round, Quaker, and Deep Ponds—one of the park’s unique bodies of water is Devil’s Bathtub, a rare meromictic lake with a depth of about 47 feet at its deepest point. Be sure to check out Wild Wings Inc.’s bird of prey facility and nature center, and enjoy a walk along the nearby Fairy Birdsong Trail.

Wild Wings Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that manages the Mendon Ponds Park Nature Center and Bird of Prey Facility. They provide short-term and lifelong sanctuary for animals that rely on human care for their survival. Visitors can see small mammals, amphibians, insects, and reptiles in the nature center building. The Bird of Prey Facility next door houses permanently injured raptor and owl species, a raven, a bobcat, and two red foxes. Both facilities are free to explore, and donations and profits from the gift shop go directly toward the care of the animals. This county park’s most popular walk among bird lovers and families is the Birdsong Fairy Trail, near the nature center. With a broad dirt pathway and slight elevation change, this trail provides an easy way to explore a forest full of woodland creatures and is ideal for a multigenerational nature walk. Wandering counterclockwise along the path, search for over 40 colorful fairy homes and play spaces. When food is scarce in winter and early spring, head clockwise on the trail with a handful of black oil sunflower seeds so chickadees, nuthatches, and tufted titmice can eat them directly from your hand. Make time to explore the other trails in the park, including those around the ponds.

Black Creek Park

Black Creek is one of the largest parks in Monroe County’s park system, second only to Mendon. It features a variety of trails with varying lengths, difficulties, and conditions, with some trails muddy throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk around the pond or launch a kayak in the creek. In the winter, the park offers one of the best sledding hills in the county.

Durand Eastman Park

In 1908, landscape architect Bernard H. Slavin began designing this county park, which now covers 977 acres and includes five lakes. The most prominent lakes are Durand and Eastman. A section of pedestrian-only roadway between Log Cabin and Zoo Roads is perfect for a walk in the arboretum. Walk across Lakeshore Boulevard to explore the seven-mile Irondequoit Lakeside Multi-Use Trail, a paved sidewalk along 5,000 feet of Lake Ontario shoreline with a portion of wetland boardwalk. Additionally, there is a city-managed Lake Ontario swimming beach.

Northampton Park

While Northampton offers several marked hiking trails, certain features make it unique among the Monroe County parks. Operated by Heritage Christian Services, Springdale Farm is an agricultural education facility that serves as a day program site for adults with developmental disabilities. Enjoy farm animals, nature trails, a duck pond, and family-oriented activities throughout the warmer months. You’ll also find the Pulver House Museum, managed by the Ogden Historical Society, which is open for Sunday tours between mid-May and mid-October. Northampton offers the only Radio-Control Flying Field in the county park system. Even if you don’t have an AMA license, it’s fun to watch. Along with Powder Mills, Northampton partners with Swain Ski Resort to offer downhill skiing and snowboarding instruction, including a lodge and tow rope.

Genesee Valley Park

Genesee Valley Park (GVP) was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1888. Located where the Erie Canal, Red Creek, and Genesee River intersect, the park offers visitors the opportunity to rent kayaks and canoes from the Genesee Waterways Center. The park features four beautiful concrete footbridges that connect the park across each waterway. Originally, the Erie Canal ran through Rochester over an aqueduct, which is now the Broad Street Bridge. In 1918, the state changed the canal route to follow the city’s southern border through Genesee Valley Park, leading to the addition of the bridges.

Churchville Park

Churchville Park, one of three Monroe County Parks, is spread across 742 acres and offers a variety of recreational activities. It features a golf course, a disc golf course, soccer fields, tennis/pickleball courts, playgrounds, and an outdoor ice skating rink. Five lodges and five shelters in the park can be rented for events. Churchville Park offers a boat launch specifically for non-motorized boats, which provides access to Black Creek.

Greece Canal Park

Greece Canal Park is a large 577-acre park located along the Erie Canal in Monroe County. It offers a variety of activities for visitors of all ages. You can enjoy hiking on any of the four easy/level trails, bird watching, or cross-country skiing. The park offers various sports facilities, such as a softball diamond, soccer field, and tennis/pickleball courts. Kids can have fun at the playgrounds, and there’s a youth camping area, too. One of the highlights of the park is its off-leash dog park. The park has two playgrounds—one next to the Millennium Lodge and the other between the Rotary Lodge and the Towpath Shelter.

Webster Park

Enjoy panoramic Lake Ontario views from atop the bluff near Whitehouse Lodge or the pier. Both sites are optimal for enjoying the sunset. Hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the park’s trails that wind through the forest and along the shoreline. Additionally, there is an off-leash dog park near the campground. Be sure to check out the trails maintained by the Friends of Webster Trails.

Oatka Creek Park

In this undeveloped county 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.

Ellison Park

Established in 1926, Ellison is the first official Monroe County Park. It features five blazed trails of varying difficulty, making it an excellent spot for outdoor enthusiasts. The park is also a popular spot to launch a kayak or canoe and paddle downstream on Irondequoit Creek toward Irondequoit Bay. Additionally, there is an off-leash dog park. A log blockhouse replica can be found near North Landing Road, marking the presumed site of Fort Schuyler, a 1721 colonial fur trading post. Historical markers provide information about Indian Landing, a portage route used by the Haudenosaunee (“People of the Longhouse”) to avoid the Genesee River’s waterfalls.

Powder Mills Park

Follow the marked trails to take a stroll through Irondequoit Creek’s wetlands, meadows, and woodlands. Bring a handful of quarters to the fish hatchery to purchase food pellets to feed up to 20,000 fish at different stages of development. In partnership with Swain Ski Resort, Powder Mills has a gradual ski slope accessed by a single rope tow, an on-site lodge, rental equipment, and experienced ski and snowboard instructors. Don’t miss the fascinating Mushroom House next to the hatchery parking lot. 

Lucien Morin Park

Irondequoit Creek flows northward to Irondequoit Bay through Lucien Morin’s wetlands. The park is ideal for kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching. Enjoy a flat walk from the 10-car parking lot to the lodge or hike more challenging trails traversing the woodland cliffs.

Seneca Park

The 20-acre Seneca Park Zoo is a small portion of the 300-acre county park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1893. Many people walk through the zoo and hop on the seasonal ZooTram shuttle up to the main entrance for a nominal one-way fee, appreciating Seneca Park’s scenic views along the way. Beyond the zoo, you will find a trout pond surrounded by pavilions, a playground, and hiking trails. The north trail leads toward Lake Ontario over a tiny but steep waterfall, with several risky descents to the river’s edge using deteriorating wood steps. The south trail ends at the scenic Pure Waters Pedestrian Bridge, part of the Genesee River Trail, which spans the river to connect with Maplewood Park.

Highland Park

Highland Park. Host to Rochester’s celebrated Lilac Festival in May, Highland boasts the most extensive collection of lilacs in the country, with over 500 varieties across 1,200 shrubs. You’ll also find a vast Japanese maple collection, 35 types of magnolias, 700 rhododendron specimens, and 300 conifer varieties in the pinetum. Many of the trees are the tallest of their species in the state, though few are native. Highland has even been described as a museum or zoo of exotic plants and trees. Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University sent the original specimens to Rochester for simultaneous scientific study. Meander along paved and mown-grass pathways to Lamberton Conservatory, Poet’s Garden, Highland Bowl, and Warner Castle’s Sunken Garden.

Highland Park’s Lamberton Conservatory. Take a break and unwind in the Lord and Burnham–designed glasshouse filled with exotic, desert, and economic plants, including banana trees. Find turtles lounging by indoor ponds, with tiny button quail and tortoises wandering around. The theme of the Seasonal Display Room changes five times throughout the year, with the beloved Holiday Show in December. The conservatory is open on Friday and Sunday evenings to fully appreciate the beautiful festive lights.

Highland Park’s Warner Castle Estate and Sunken Garden. In 1951, Monroe County Parks purchased the castle and grounds as an extension of Highland Park. The 1854 Gothic-style castle is now the headquarters for the Landmark Society of Western New York. In 1930, landscape architect Alling S. DeForest, who also designed the Eastman estate’s gardens, added the sunken garden to the property. Photographers often capture wedding and family photos in the garden, but it can be a peaceful retreat if you visit when it’s not crowded.

Beikirch Park

In 2021, in recognition of Vietnam Veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch, the memorial section of Highland Park was designated as Beikirch Park. The park stands as a reminder to those lost and those who served to help create better lives for us all.

The memorials within Beikerk Park include the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, the AIDS Memorial, the Victims Rights Memorial, the Workers Rights Memorial, and the War on Terror Memorial.

Beikirch Park is not 15th in size but is truly part of greater Highland Park, and I felt it best to keep them together.

Lehigh Valley Rail Trail

This 15-mile linear park connects Mendon with Scottsville. There are multiple trailheads where you can explore smaller sections of the trail, including Rochester Junction. You’ll find evidence of Rochester’s railroad history, including a historic depot where the Lehigh Valley Railroad branched west toward Rush and north toward Rochester. Walking east along the trail from the parking area, you’ll connect with Great Bend Park. Walking west, you’ll cross a bridge spanning Honeoye Creek. The rail trail interacts with the creek at several points before reaching the bridge crossing the Genesee River, connecting to the Genesee Greenway Trail at Wadsworth Junction.

Abraham Lincoln Park

In 2009, the county renamed Irondequoit Bay Park East in honor of President Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday anniversary. The park features a log cabin replica, playground, and nature play zone. The white trail, a three-mile out-and-back route offering views of Irondequoit Bay, traverses steep ravines to connect with the other color-marked trails.

Irondequoit Bay Park West

Irondequoit Bay Park West is a natural park located in the Town of Irondequoit. It offers over 147 acres of hiking trails and access to the bay for fishing. The park is undeveloped but has a small boat launch for car-top boats. It boasts approximately 2,000 feet of water frontage along Irondequoit Bay. The park is situated on Irondequoit Bay’s southwestern shoreline, north of Empire Boulevard, and east of 590.

Tryon Park

Tryon Park spans 82 acres of undeveloped land on Irondequoit Creek’s western shore. The park features hiking trails and picturesque views, including multi-use trails for both hiking and off-road cycling.

Ontario Beach Park

At the northernmost tip of the city, the Genesee River borders the park to the east. Besides a sandy beach with plenty of parking, visitors can enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk and pier, indulge in the original 1902 Abbott’s Frozen Custard, ride on the 1905 Dentzel Carousel, and tour the 1822 Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse.

Seneca Park Zoo

Although the 20-acre Zoo is part of the greater Seneca Park, it’s worth noting that Monroe County Parks lists it separately as the 22nd park. It’s also important to note that this is the only Monroe County Park with an admission fee.

Devil’s Cove Park

Devil’s Cove Park, located on Irondequoit Bay, is the smallest Monroe County park. It covers an area of 18 acres and has been recognized as a top priority for conservation efforts by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. As a result, the park will be kept in its natural and undeveloped state.

A 23rd Park

The new park’s name and opening date have yet to be announced. It will be primarily wooded and surrounded by East Henrietta Road to the east, Pinnacle Road to the west, Ward Hill Road to the north, and Jeffords Road to the south. In the satellite view of the area above, I added a pink box where I suspect the new park will be located. This is not official; just a guess based on the hints provided: primarily wooded, access to the Lehigh Valley Trail.

March 13, 2023 – “Monroe County is set to acquire a new park in the town of Henrietta, covering more than 70 acres and featuring access to the Lehigh Valley Trail. According to an announcement released on Friday, it contains some low-lying wetlands and marsh areas and has an established network of trails. To finalize the acquisition, the town of Henrietta will complete an Environmental Quality Review and subdivide the property before formally signing it over to the county.”

Monroe County Parks: By the Numbers
From their website

• 12,000 acres
• 22 parks
• 32 athletic fields
• 350+ special events 
• 1 Conservatory (Highland Park)
• 2 arboretums (Durand and Highland)
• ​3 ice skating rinks 
• 1 working educational farm (Springdale Farm) 
• 1 bird sanctuary (Wild Wings, Inc. at Mendon Ponds Park)
• 1 beach for swimming
• 4 canoe and kayak launches 
• 1 fish hatchery (Powder Mills) 
• 6 parks with designated sledding hills 
• 2 parks with downhill skiing (Northampton, Powder Mills)
• 3 parks with groomed cross-country ski trails
• 1 public campground
  • 46 campsites
• 4 scout/youth camping areas
• 1 model airplane flying field (Northampton) 
• 3 off-leash dog parks at Ellison, Greece Canal, and Webster parks
• 2 parks for off-road cycling 
• 7 parks with pickleball courts 
• 4 parks with tennis courts 
• 2 disc golf courses 
• 3 parks with golf courses
  • 5 courses
  • 81 total holes
• Endless fishing
• Countless miles of trails

Which are your favorite Monroe County Parks?

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