When I’m looking for the perfect picnic spot, I have a few specific criteria in mind: a picnic table, beautiful scenery, a location near water, some shade, and a bit of privacy. I’ve included Google map links to each picnic table location to help you find the right place. However, please note that tables can be moved or even removed. I would love to hear about your favorite spots in the comments below.
City of Rochester
1. Port of Rochester
Rochester
Like many parks, Ontario Beach Park has a few picnic tables, with many more under the pavilions. I like this one on the riverside, closer to the Port of Rochester restaurants, with a great view of interesting boat traffic at the mouth of the Genesee.
2. Granite Mills Commons
High Falls, Rochester
This public seating area is located right next to the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge in the High Falls neighborhood.
3. Highland Park
Rochester
This is probably the best-known picnic table in Highland Park. Perfectly placed beneath the largest Katsura tree in New York, it’s an easy walk from Highland Drive.
Highland Park
Frederick Law Olmsted’s living landscape in Rochester, New York.
4. Eastman Museum
Rochester
There are a few picnic tables near the University Ave. side of the George Eastman Museum, where you can enjoy the seasonal changes in the formal garden.
5. Genesee Valley Park
Rochester
There are a few picnic spots scattered around Genesee Valley Park, with many more located under pavilions. I especially like the one near the Roundhouse.
Monroe County
6. Brighton Town Park
Brighton
You can find picnic tables along the water’s edge at Brighton Town Park.
7. Charles E. Sexton Memorial (North Ponds) Park
Webster
There are several picnic tables around each of the ponds at Charles E. Sexton Park.
8. Rotary Park
Honeoye Falls
Enjoy the swift current of Honeoye Creek running through the park near this picnic table.
9. Black Creek Park
Chili
A few picnic tables are scattered around the pond at Black Creek Park.
Erie Canal
10. Kennelley Park
Fairport
A great public seating area in Fairport next to the Erie Canal, within a stone’s throw of Moonlight Creamery. It’s the perfect place to watch the lift bridge allow boat traffic through.
11. Port of Pittsford Park
Pittsford
Most people spend their time at Schoen Place in Pittsford, across the Erie Canal. I enjoy the opposite side, relaxing with a good book from the library and watching the Sam Patch and Colonial Belle navigate the water alongside smaller canal boats and kayaks.
12. Lock 32 State Canal Park
Pittsford
It is a fabulous picnic table in the shade and a great spot to watch the canal boats lock through.
13. Holley Canal Park
Holley
Another lovely spot on the Erie Canal where, with a nice flow of boat traffic, you can watch the lift bridge in action.
14. Holley Canal Falls
Holley
Although part of the same Holley Canal Park, the canal is not viewable here at the base of Holley Canal Falls, and it feels like a new destination.
Lake Ontario
15. B. Forman Park
Williamson
The picnic table offers excellent shade and a wide-open view of Lake Ontario.
The park is named after Benjamin Forman, the founder of B. Forman’s department store. According to Wikipedia, the store, established by Benjamin Forman in the early 1900s, used to be the largest of its kind between New York and Chicago. However, it closed down in 1994. B. Forman Co. and McCurdy & Co. were responsible for creating Rochester’s Midtown Plaza, which was one of the first enclosed downtown malls in the United States.
16. Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin
Hamlin Beach offers an overwhelming number of picnic tables under shady trees. Some are closer to the beach, while others are along the walkways throughout the park.
17. Golden Hill State Park
Barker
This particular picnic table is behind the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, so it’s pretty secluded and offers an unobstructed view of Lake Ontario.
Finger Lakes
18. Honeoye Lake Overlook
Honeoye
This is a popular stopping point on US-20A with a great view of Honeoye Lake.
19. Carolabarb Park
Naples
This is a popular overlook on CR-12 with an unobstructed view of the south end of Canandaigua Lake in Naples.
20. Long Point Park
Conesus Lake, Geneseo
A picnic table and a swimming beach are a great combination! Located on the west side of Conesus Lake.
21. Vitale Park
Conesus Lake, Lakeville
A few picnic tables throughout Vitale Park offer great views of Conesus Lake‘s north end.
22. Seneca Lake State Park
Geneva
Seneca Lake‘s north shore in Geneva is lined with picnic tables and shade trees.
More Greater Rochester Picnic Spots
23. Ganondagan
Victor
To find this picnic table at Ganondagan State Historic Site, follow the Trail of Peace to the furthest point with a lovely view overlooking Victor.
24. Papermill Falls
Avon
Papermill offers a picnic table next to a waterfall on a country road.
25. Griffis Sculpture Park
East Otto
There are several picnic tables throughout Griffis Sculpture Park, but I particularly like the one near the pond.
26. Gannett Hill
South Bristol
Gannett Hill is part of Ontario County Park and offers an expansive view of the Canandaigua Lake valley. This is also where you’ll find the Jump Off Overlook.
27. Moss Lake
Houghton
Moss Lake Preserve is a National Natural Landmark, so no boating or swimming here. Just a quiet picnic spot with abundant aquatic life, including the sphagnum moss mat and thousands of bullhead fish.
A note about the directions. Google does not have this area street-mapped. Just know when you pull in to the parking lot, you’ll see the lake and the picnic table is right there.
28. Darien Lakes State Park
Darien Center
The aptly named Picnic Island on Harlow Lake is a perfect spot to spend a few leisurely hours. Also popular for fishing.
29. Silver Lake State Park
Perry
There are a few shaded picnic tables near the marina, which makes for a great spot to watch the boats come and go.
30. Letchworth State Park
Castile
There are arguably hundreds of picnic tables throughout Letchworth that are all worthy of mention! But this area near Wolf Creek is my favorite, with these stone tables at Eddie’s Overlook. And I promise you, these picnic tables won’t move!
Where are your favorite picnic spots around Rochester?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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Enjoy the Journey Together!
Kershaw Park in Canandaigua, I was just at a picnic there!
I guess that there are no great spots in Genesee Park. Strange. The river runs right through it.
There surly must be! I just don’t have a photograph to represent. Happy to add GVP if you have a photo I can share! GVP is wonderful for lots of reasons.