Rochester-Area Parks

These parks do not fit neatly into the gorge trails, waterfalls, nature centers, gardens, or swimming holes found elsewhere on this website. Instead, they offer distinctive landscapes, recreational opportunities, and other points of interest.

City of Rochester

Cobb’s Hill Park

Cobb’s Hill Park is bounded by Culver Road to the west, Monroe and Highland Avenues to the south, and Interstate 490 to the north. Although the lower park is primarily recreational, the hill itself makes it distinctive. A paved 0.7-mile walking path encircles the reservoir, offering a panoramic view of the Rochester skyline. A trail through Washington Grove passes through a tranquil urban forest of mature oak trees before reaching a series of ever-changing graffiti-covered water towers.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square sits next to The Strong National Museum of Play and hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including Party in the Park on Thursday evenings during the summer, the Rochester Fringe Festival in September, Roc Holiday Village in December, and community festivals such as the Juneteenth Festival. In winter, the reflecting pool transforms into an ice-skating rink. The park’s most notable feature is its 2,000-person sunken concrete amphitheater, designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin in 1972. Following an extensive rehabilitation in 2017, the fountains were restored with renewed public art and a partial quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “…Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Monroe County

Abraham Lincoln Park

Abraham Lincoln Park in Penfield features a log cabin replica, playground, and nature play zone. The White Trail, a three-mile out-and-back hike with views of Irondequoit Bay, traverses steep ravines and connects to the park’s other color-marked trails.

Lucien Morin Park

Lucien Morin Park in Penfield borders Irondequoit Creek as it flows north through extensive wetlands toward Irondequoit Bay. The park supports kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching. A flat trail leads from the small parking area to the lodge, while more challenging trails traverse the wooded cliffs.

Ellison Park

Ellison Park in Penfield features five blazed trails ranging from easy walks to more challenging routes. It is also a popular place to launch a kayak or canoe and paddle downstream on Irondequoit Creek toward Irondequoit Bay, and includes an off-leash dog park. Near North Landing Road, a replica log blockhouse marks the presumed site of Fort Schuyler, a 1721 colonial fur trading post. Historical markers interpret Indian Landing, a portage route used by the Haudenosaunee to bypass the Genesee River’s waterfalls.

Powder Mills Park

Powder Mills Park in Perinton features marked trails through Irondequoit Creek’s wetlands, meadows, and woodlands. At the fish hatchery, visitors can purchase food pellets with quarters to feed up to 20,000 fish at various stages of development. In partnership with Swain Ski Resort, the park offers a gradual ski slope with a single rope tow, an on-site lodge, rental equipment, and ski and snowboard instruction. The Mushroom House stands next to the hatchery parking lot.

Mendon Ponds Park

Mendon Ponds Park in Honeoye Falls offers more than 30 miles of trails across 2,500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and glacial landforms, including kettles, kames, eskers, and bogs. Named for its four largest ponds—Hundred Acre, Round, Quaker, and Deep—Mendon Ponds also contains Devil’s Bathtub, a rare meromictic lake about 47 feet deep. Wild Wings Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that manages the Mendon Ponds Park Nature Center and Bird of Prey Facility. Nearby, search for fairies along the Birdsong Fairy Trail and feed chickadees, nuthatches, and tufted titmice from your hand during winter and early spring.

Charles E. Sexton Memorial Park

Charles E. Sexton Memorial Park in Webster features a one-mile paved path that circles two large ponds with little elevation change. Eight fitness stations along the path accommodate a variety of abilities. The park also connects with the Bird Sanctuary Trail, Hojack Rail Trail, and Route 104 Trail, making it a convenient starting point for longer hikes or bike rides.

Meridian Centre Park

Meridian Centre Park in Brighton features gravel and wood-chip trails and a boardwalk framed by wooden arches that wind through an arboretum and a wetland popular for birdwatching. Paths connect with the Erie Canalway Trail, allowing visitors to create a loop back to the parking lot.

Lehigh Valley Rail Trail

Lehigh Valley Rail Trail is a 15-mile linear park connecting Mendon and Scottsville, with multiple trailheads for exploring shorter sections, including Rochester Junction. The restored depot at Rochester Junction marks the former junction where the Lehigh Valley Railroad branched west toward Rush and north to Rochester. East of the depot, the trail connects with Great Bend Park. To the west, it crosses Honeoye Creek and continues to the Genesee River, where it joins the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail at Wadsworth Junction.

Black Creek Park

Black Creek Park in North Chili offers trails of varying lengths and difficulty through woodlands and wetlands, with some trails remaining muddy year-round. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk around the pond or launch a kayak in Black Creek. In winter, the park’s large hill becomes a popular sledding destination.

Northampton Park

Northampton Park in Spencerport offers several marked hiking trails, along with features unique among the Monroe County parks. Operated by Heritage Christian Services, Springdale Farm is an agricultural education facility and day program for adults with developmental disabilities, featuring farm animals, nature trails, a duck pond, and seasonal family activities. The park also includes the Pulver House Museum, open for Sunday tours from mid-May through mid-October, and the county park system’s only radio-controlled flying field, where visitors can watch model aircraft from designated viewing areas. In winter, Northampton partners with Swain Ski Resort to offer downhill skiing and snowboarding instruction, with a tow rope and an on-site lodge.

Oatka Creek Park

Oatka Creek Park in Wheatland is an undeveloped county park where trails may be muddy and shared with horseback riders, but there is little elevation change. The trails pass through woodlands and wildflower meadows. Highlights include a bridge over Oatka Creek along the Purple Trail and a grove of quaking aspens along the Black Trail.

Greater Rochester

Al Lorenz Park

Al Lorenz Park in Mount Morris offers walking paths that wind through mature pines and around a series of man-made ponds connected by footbridges. Gazebos, a log cabin, and picnic areas provide places to relax throughout the park.

Genesee County Park & Forest

Genesee County Park & Forest in East Bethany features an Interpretive Nature Center open year-round and 10 miles of trails through woodlands and wetlands across 430 acres of rolling hills. Black Creek begins its journey here before flowing through Churchville and Chili on its way to the Genesee River.

Ontario County Park

Ontario County Park in Bristol is home to the Gannett Hill Jump-Off, an overlook with broad views across the Bristol Hills and surrounding valleys. The view is especially beautiful during peak fall foliage in late October.

Surrounding Counties

Knox Farm State Park

Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora preserves the former country estate of industrialist Seymour H. Knox I. More than 16 miles of trails wind through meadows, woodlands, and horse pastures, passing historic barns, split-rail fences, and the Knox family mansion. A memorial sculpture garden and a former reflecting pool that has naturally evolved into a wetland habitat offer another glimpse into the estate’s history.

Griffis Sculpture Park

Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto combines hiking trails with more than 250 contemporary sculptures displayed across 450 acres of forests, meadows, and ponds. The park is divided into two sections, Mill Valley Road and Rohr Hill Road, about two miles apart.

Allegany State Park

Allegany State Park in Salamanca is New York’s largest state park, encompassing 65,000 acres of forests, lakes, and mountainous terrain along the Pennsylvania border. Three main park roads—ASP Routes 1, 2, and 3—provide easy access to 18 marked trails, nine named peaks, scenic overlooks, campgrounds, and picnic areas. The park is divided into two distinct sections: the Red House Area, home to the historic Tudor-style administration building, Red House Lake, Thunder Rocks, Summit Fire Tower, and the Stone Tower; and the Quaker Area, featuring Mount Tuscarora Fire Tower, Quaker Lake, Science Lake, Bear Caves, an amphitheater, and a museum.

Fun fact: Adirondack Park is not a state park, nor is it a national park. Rather, it is a National Historic Landmark covering six million acres of state-owned and privately held land. It is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States and is a permanent wild forest preserve. While it may be a bit of a drive for a day trip, some Rochester residents still make the journey to the mountains. It takes about three hours to reach Old Forge and five hours to reach Lake Placid.

What are your favorite Rochester-area parks?

I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.