Explore the best rated trails in Rochester, NY. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Hojack Trail and Brickyard Trail. With more than 28 trails covering 581 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
*PLEASE NOTE that the portion from Bridge Street to the Onondaga Creek, Syracuse NEEDS UPDATING on the Trail map, as connecting trail is now available and this isn't reflected in the map.* Today was our 3rd ride (each out and back) on this trail, completing the section from Port Byron to the Inner Harbor in Syracuse. Today's ride in nice weather was 21 miles round trip to the Camillus Museum from Syracuse. We enjoyed the museum and the newer section that is paved along the west side of Onondaga Lake from the Fair Grounds parking area to the south part of the lake. We did miss a turn heading up the hill to turn off the trail to the parking area so we could cross 690; not sure there was clear signage on that; there was going back down. We were able to go through the portion on the NYS Fairgrounds and noted that this is not open to biking during the colder months (I believe Oct-April 1); it wouldn't be hard to go around, but signage would be helpful on that, too. Signs for this portion of the Empire State Trail were quite good otherwise. Since we haven't had much rain in the past month, trail conditions were excellent on today's portion. Least favorite was the road portion (or "sidewalk ride") on Hiawatha Blvd as it was very busy. Parts of the portion we did today is hillier than most sections; it was not difficult for us "intermediate level" bikers, but parts wouldn't be the best for younger children or somebody who hadn't biked in a while.
Starting in Colonie in the parking lot on rt9 it was a great ride headed towards Schenectady. Smooth paved surface. A little on a local road but minimal car traffic and clearly marked. Plenty of bench’s and stopping areas along the way.
Enjoyed a peaceful morning walk , time to relax with our dog. Beautifully maintained and an easy walk.
Amazing views of the Keuka Lake Outlet. Waterfalls. Wildlife. Parked in Dresden and rode a bike to Penn Yan and back. Not the best for bikes, though. Lots of rocks and sticks (some broken glass) on the trail (rode in mid April). Trail width varies.
This is a great trail with some history associated with it. The AllTrails route does the loop counter-clockwise,but this means you have the hike with a rocky uphill slog. If you do it the other way clockwise, you go down the rocky section first, then fish off by following the low- gradient railroad bed in the uphill direction. Either way definitely have your hiking boots because it is so rocky! The natural spring is a true gem
My wife and I rode our bikes in the fall of 2019 from Piffard south towards Mount Morris and found the trail well maintained and easy riding, only exception was lots of acorns on the trail. No big deal. In July 2022 we rode several miles south of Belfast to Black Creek and really enjoyed this stretch. Scenic and very easy riding. Well maintained too. Prettiest trail in Western New York without a doubt. They now have funding to complete the southern terminus of this trail so 2023 will be busy on the extreme south end. Can't wait for it to be done!
I did a bike ride from my house to the Erie canal and then I biked along the trail. It was safe with it having warning light beacons at most road junctions to warn drivers. I definitely was happy to add this trail to my list of new trail discoveries. I definitely recommend this trail.
The GVG is advertised as a Hybrid bike trail to ride comfortably. Don't believe it. This is a Mountain Bike trail. Lots of long stretches of bumpy dirt and grass legs.
8/24/22 -Great parking and wonderful refurbished caboose, with brand new restrooms. But trail is only paved for about a 100 yards. Trail immediately west of parking goes to 1-2 inch rocks and is impossible to ride a hybrid bike on the trail. Check back here soon, it appears churchville is improving the trail.
The trail starting in Churchville on Buffalo St is just NOT good at all for biking. I did 1/2 mile going west and a couple of bikers heading east stopped and said the rest of the trail is just like this. Very rocky and will beat you and the bike up and not worth the trip. So , in my view it's very unenjoyable and don't waste your time.
On August 12, 2022 I rode my bicycle on the Erie Canalway trail from Port Byron to the Erie Canal Park and Museum in Camillus (which is on the trail) and back, approximately 19 miles each way. It was a dry, sunny day in the 80’s. The surface was mostly crushed gravel and packed earth with a few stretches on asphalt in the breakdown lane of some local roads where the trail diverged from the canal. The condition was good to excellent except for the final short stretch near Camillus which was unacceptable because erosion in two areas created the dangerous possibility of falling into the canal and because the trail was too narrow for two bikes in opposite directions to safely pass each other. For this small section, I recommend riding on the local road on the other side of the concrete barrier dividing this path from the local road. The surface on this local road was only fair secondary to potholes and cracks in the asphalt.
The museum in the Camillus Erie Canal Park is open 12-4 PM on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and is open from 1-5 PM on Sunday. Most sections of the Erie Canalway Trail from Port Byron to Camillus run along a non-navigable branch of the Erie Canal which is very shallow and is overgrown with algae or cattail plants or is filled in with dirt. Other sections go through wooded areas, rural areas, farmland and the small town of Weedsport.
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