80+ Hiking Trails Around Rochester: A Trail for Every Season

Shade in July. Fire in October. Bones of trees in January. Not one path transformed—but a region full of trails, each waiting for its moment.

With more than 80 trails to explore, the question is not where to go—it is when.

Traveling close to home is an act of discernment. The best trail is not the most popular or the most familiar. It is the one that meets the season well.

In spring, when the ground softens and streams swell, look for paved paths, canal towpaths, and sturdy boardwalks. These routes protect fragile soil while still offering access to rushing water and early signs of life. It is also the best time to seek out waterfalls, at their most powerful after snowmelt and rain.

Summer opens your options. Shoreline trails along Lake Ontario, breezy marsh boardwalks, and shaded woodland loops offer relief from the heat. Some days call for sun and horizon; others for deep shade and stillness. Let the temperature and light guide your choice.

Autumn draws you into hardwood forests and higher ground. Hillsides and ridgelines offer the best vantage points for fall color, while rail trails and preserves provide long, steady walks through changing landscapes. Timing matters—peak color shifts quickly, and the right trail one week may not be the next.

Winter simplifies the map. Look for well-marked preserves, snow-packed paths, and areas suited for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. With leaves gone, the landscape reveals its structure—stone walls, frozen creeks, and long views through the trees.

There are dozens of trails to choose from in every season. The key is not choosing once—it is choosing well, again and again.

Use this guide as a starting point. Return often. Try a new trail when conditions change. Revisit a favorite when the season transforms it.

The right trail at the right time is what turns a simple walk into something memorable.

Less traveled than in our parks, these hiking trails around Rochester offer a secluded and rustic area to immerse yourself in nature. One of the best ways to discover new trails in your area is to follow and join a local friend’s group, like:

• Crescent Trails Association
• Finger Lakes Trail Conference
• Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway
• Friends of Webster Trails
• Ontario Pathways
• Parks & Trails New York
• Penfield Trails Committee
• Trail Works Inc.
• TrailsROC
• Victor Hiking Trails

Are you looking for a group to hike with? Check out the Genesee Valley Hiking Club! You can also use the AllTrails App to find more trails near you.

Waterside Trails

Waterside Trails

Monroe County

• Bird Sanctuary Trail Webster
• Braddock Bay Marina Greece
• Charles E. Sexton Memorial Park Webster
• Finn Park Nature Trail Webster
• Four Mile Creek Preserve Webster
• Genesee Riverway Trail (GRT) Rochester
• Historic Erie Canal Trails Pittsford
• State Road Nature Preserve Webster
• Thomas Creek Wetlands Walk Fairport
• Thousand Acre Swamp Preserve Penfield

Greater Rochester

• Bergen Swamp Bergen
• Butterfly Nature Trail Macedon
• Huckleberry Swamp North Rose
• Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Basom
• Manchester Gateway Manchester
• Palmyra Wetland Nature Trail Palmyra
• Whistlewood Huron
• Wolcott Falls Hiking Trail Wolcott

Surrounding Counties

• Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Seneca Falls
• Outer Harbor and Greenway Buffalo
• Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve Seneca Falls
• Sterling Nature Center Sterling
• Tifft Nature Preserve Buffalo

Rail Trails

Rail Trails

Monroe County

• Genesee Valley Greenway State Park Chili, Scottsville
• Hojack Trail Webster
• Lehigh Valley Trail Mendon, Rush, Henrietta
• Rochester, Syracuse, and Eastern Trail (Perinton Trolley Trail) Fairport
• Pittsford Rail Trail Loop Pittsford

Greater Rochester

• Auburn Rail Trail Victor
• Erie-Attica Rail Trail Avon
• Genesee Valley Greenway State Park Caledonia, Geneseo, Mount Morris
• Keuka Outlet Trail and Preservation Area Penn Yan
• Ontario Pathways Rail Trail Canandaigua, Newark

Surrounding Counties

• Auburn-Fleming Rail Trail Auburn
• Cato-Fair Haven Rail Trail Fair Haven
• Great Gorge Rail Trail Niagara Falls

Genesee Land Trust

Genesee Land Trust

Monroe County

• Brookdale Preserve Chili
• Eva and Harlan Braman Preserve Webster
• Gosnell Big Woods Preserve Webster
• Hipp Brook Preserve Penfield
• Irene Gossin Nature Preserve Penfield
• Manitou Beach Preserve Greece

Greater Rochester

• Christine Sevilla Wetlands Preserve Caledonia
• Cornwall Preserve Williamson
• Ganargua Creek Meadow Preserve Macedon
• Kraai Preserve Arcadia
• Macyville Woods Nature Preserve Sodus Point
• Sanctuary at Crowfield Farm Arcadia

DEC State Land

DEC State Land

Monroe County

• Rush Oak Openings Unique Area Rush

Greater Rochester

• Bare Hill Unique Area Gorham, Middlesex
• Hemlock-Canadice State Forest; Rob’s Trail Livonia, Conesus, Springwater, Richmond, Canadice
• High Tor Wildlife Management Area Naples, Italy, Middlesex
• Ossian State Forest Ossian
• Rattlesnake Hill State Wildlife Management Area Nunda, Ossian, Grove
• Sonyea State Forest Groveland, West Sparta, Mount Morris
• Turtle Pond Savanah

Surrounding Counties

• Catharine Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area Montour
• Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve Depew
• Rock City and McCarty Hill State Forest Mansfield, Little Valley, Ellicottville, Great Valley
• Sugar Hill State Forest Orange, Tyrone, Reading, Dix
• Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area Otto, Persia, Collins

Additional Trails

Monroe County

• Beatty Point Greece
• Brickyard Trail Brighton
• Chiyoda Trail Webster
• Herman Road Forever Wild Forest Webster
• Hickory Bark Trail Webster
• Indian Hill Perinton
• John Ungar & Michael A. Johnson Trails Webster
• Midnight Trail Webster
• Royal Coach Trails Pittsford
• Sherwood Field Penfield
• Vosburg Hollow Nature Trail Webster
• Whiting Road Nature Preserve Webster

Greater Rochester

• Alasa Farms Sodus
• Domine Trail Victor
• Groveland Secondary Groveland
• Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area Springwater
• Hickory Ridge Preserve Naples
• Indian Fort Nature Preserve Geneseo
• Monkey Run Victor
• Trail of Hope Lyons

Surrounding Counties

• Baltimore Woods Marcellus
• Finger Lakes Trail
• Great Bear Recreation Area Phoenix
• Town of Lockport Nature Trails Lockport

Hike smart!

Before you travel, check weather and trail conditions, regulations, and advisories. Does the weather look clear for my hike, or is there a chance of rain, thunderstorms, snow, wind, hail, etc.?

When does the sun set? Always bring a headlamp and extra batteries if your hike takes longer than expected.

Cell phone batteries are unreliable and will likely die on your hike down if you use them as flashlights or capture numerous photos and videos. They also tend to drain quickly in colder temperatures.

Carrying a paper map of your route, notes of junction locations, trail marker colors, and trail conditions will ensure you always stay on the correct trail. Cell phones are not reliable in remote areas due to poor service.

Communicate your trip plans with someone, including the start and expected return times. This person should also know the emergency dispatch number and call immediately if you do not return within your scheduled time frame.

To ensure you have everything, check a checklist of all gear, food, and clothing needed before leaving.

Google Map of Locations

View the map separately here.

There are dozens of trails to choose from in every season. The key is not choosing once—it is choosing well, again and again. Use this guide as your starting point. Explore by trail type, location, or season—and let the landscape lead.

Where are your favorite hiking trails around Rochester?

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.