A Hike-Bike-Paddle Paradise

in Rochester, N.Y.!

Scenic trails and waterways are teeming

with outdoor fun and adventure

The hiking? Exciting!  The biking? Amazing!  The paddling? Scintillating! For outdoor enthusiasts, the call of more than 12,000 acres of parkland, over 100 miles of well-marked trails, and waterways ranging from rivers and lakes to the historic Erie Canal, Rochester, N.Y., is the perfect destination! And for those who prefer a slower pace while enjoying the great outdoors, there are plenty of fascinating walking-tour routes around this historic city, too.

HIKING: Rochester Trails Are Everywhere!

Long and short, challenging or oh-so-easy...the Rochester area has an abundance of great trails. Choose from trails for leisurely strolls and those calling for good hiking boots. Some are shared by cyclists, and nature trails within area parks are often well-suited to cross-country skiing or a snowshoe trek as well.

Within the city, Highland Park offers paved walkways meandering among hundreds of lilac bushes and other flowers plus a natural path through the park's arboretum. A two-mile trail in Seneca Park offers dramatic views of the Genesee River along with wilderness areas to experience. And three overlook areas for the Genesee River's gorge and waterfalls can be found along the Genesee Riverway Trail that is easily accessed from Maplewood Park Rose Garden.

In nearby Perinton, an impressive 40-mile system of hiking and nature trails has led to its being named a "Top 10 Trail Town" by the American Hiking Society. The Thomas Creek Wetland Walk, just outside the village of Fairport, is a treat for nature lovers with its elevated boardwalk, observation platform, and trails that are even accessible to people with disabilities.

Of course, all of the largest, public parks in the Rochester area provide hiking trails as a recreational option. Unique land formations left by retreating glaciers, such as "kettles, kames and eskers," have given Mendon Ponds Park (2,514 acres) recognition on the National Registry of Natural Landmarks and help make it a fascinating place to hike. Black Creek Park (1,500 acres) offers trails for hiking, horse-back riding and cross-country skiing, while Northampton Park (973 acres) adds the attraction of Springdale Farm-with its animals, gardens, and unique robotic milking parlor-to the fun of exploration. At Durand-Eastman Park (965 acres), trails through a hilly terrain sometimes give hikers a view of the park's 5,000 feet of Lake Ontario waterfront, too-an extra bonus!

More popular places with great hiking potential are Powder Mills Park (380 acres), with its fish hatchery and a meadow that blooms in May with thousands of daffodils; and Ellison Park (447 acres) with its network of "hidden" trails providing walks of an hour or more through pristine forests that are seemingly far removed from any trace of civilization.

In addition to Rochester's impressive park system, the world-renowned Erie Canalway Trail offers 450 miles of wonderful views along old towpaths of the legendary waterway created to link Albany and Buffalo. With no motorized vehicles allowed, walkers, joggers, hikers and cyclists enjoy safe, easy traveling. The Erie Canal Heritage Trail, part of the longer Canalway Trail, covers 70 miles between Fairport and Lockport. A promenade-style section of this trail through the Corn Hill neighborhood of Rochester also features interpretive signage of canal history along with benches for resting and docking for boats.

Perhaps tracing a route once trod by Native Americans, the Genesee Riverway Trail is a 3.4-mile hard-surface trail linking downtown Rochester and Genesee Valley Park. Along its path, hikers are treated to splendid skyline vistas, heavily wooded areas, picnic spots, fishing docks, and more. Clearly marked with green signs, access points to this trail include downtown Rochester, South Avenue near Court Street, and within Genesee Valley Park.

For more adventurous hikers, Genesee Valley Greenway is one of the premiere trails in the Northeast, a remarkable long-distance trail still in the making. Planned to eventually span a 90-mile corridor following an historic transportation route first used as a canal (1840-1878) and later by trains (1880-1960s), it is expected to become a multi-use, all-season trail passing through five counties, several villages and 17 townships from Lake Ontario in Rochester to the border of Pennsylvania in New York state's Southern Tier. Currently accessible are the 50 miles between Genesee Valley Park and Letchworth State Park plus a few shorter sections in other areas.

BIKING: Leisurely Rides & Challenging Competitions!

Cyclists from every U.S. state, every Canadian province and countries around the world have come to the Rochester area to indulge their two-wheeling passion! With its outstanding array of recreational and off-road trails plus well-maintained highways, visitors are soon singing the praises of this bike-friendly community. Urban bike trails and most major streets have lanes that are wide enough to accommodate a bicyclist's needs, while state and county roads have paved shoulders that are separated from lanes of motorized traffic by a white stripe. Rochester's municipal buses (http://www.rgtra.com/) all have bike racks, too, for those who want to travel to their biking destination using public transportation. Most local trails also provide smooth riding on surfaces ranging from stone dust (sedimentary rock) to asphalt. Another option is to travel rural roads with little traffic and picturesque villages providing good rest stops.

Opportunities for beautifully scenic rides in the Rochester area are remarkable with recreational trails ranging from 1 mile (1.6 km) to more than 50 miles (80 km). Cyclists are regularly seen enjoying the views and cooling breezes of a ride along the shoreline of vast Lake Ontario-one of America's five Great Lakes. Ambitious cyclists may also want to follow the Genesee River south into Letchworth State Park, the "Grand Canyon of the East," with a 40-mile ride from Rochester using the scenic Riverview Trail and Genesee Valley Greenway. A good resource to finding trails in the Rochester area for both cyclists and hikers is the "Genesee-Finger Lakes Regions Trails Guide" compiled by the Genesee Region Trails Coalition (http://www.grtcinc.org/) and listing 30 multi-use trails along with parks and other recreation areas.

Visiting cyclists who enjoy pedaling with other biking enthusiasts will also find a warm welcome from members of local recreational, racing, tandem, recumbent and mountain biking clubs. Annual biking activities include nearly 20 major rides for charity, more than 300 club rides, a series of weekly race-training rides, and three world-class cycling races!

And in addition to the terrific trails and friendly biking companions, Rochester has great services for its cycling visitors. With 15 full-service, family-owned bicycle shops scattered throughout the greater Rochester area, cyclists will find a good range of parts and service options when needed. There are also plenty of lodging facilities, from bed & breakfast inns and family-operated motels to national hotel chains, all ready to accommodate people who wouldn't think of traveling without their bikes!

Rochester Omnium & Saturn Rochester Twilight Criterium

For those who enjoy watching-or entering-a great bike race, Rochester has one of the best in the country! The Saturn Rochester Twilight Criterium-a multi-lap, circuit course of about one mile in length- began in 2004 and quickly grew into a prestigious competition drawing top athletes from around the world. In its fourth year, it also became part of a new, three-day cycling extravaganza: the 2008 Rochester Omnium.

In 2007, Rochester's Criterium was placed on the Union Cycliste International (UCI) America Tour, putting it in the same class as the Tour de France in terms of the world's highest level of professional cycling. It was also the only criterium among UCI's hundreds of races around the world! Using city streets in downtown Rochester for its course, the Twilight Criterium is a family-oriented event that most recently attracted 60,000 spectators and more than 100 racers.

The first Rochester Omnium event in 2008 was also awarded a place on the UCI America Tour, becoming one of only 10 UCI races in North America to receive this prestigious recognition. The Omnium's three days of racing included Individual Time Trials (pro men's only) on a scenic course along Lake Ontario, the Rochester Twilight Criterium with its amateur races for both men and women along with the Pro Men's Race, and a first-time, 101-mile road race showing off the beauty of the Finger Lakes region along a route from Honeoye to Genesee Valley Park in Rochester.

Other bike races in the Rochester area include the ultra-marathon QuadZilla & Finger Lakes 450 that loop around all 11 Finger Lakes in 48 hours! These two events are also qualifying races for the major randonneur races in France and New  England. And rounding out the annual cycling season is a new entry in autumn: the Cobb's Hill Cyclocross, which is expected to become another three-day biking event using various venues throughout greater Rochester.

PADDLING:  Water Is a Fun-for-All Activity in Rochester!

For those who love spending their recreational time surrounded by water, Rochester is ready with a wonderful variety of easily accessible waterways ranging from scenic and peaceful to exciting and surprising. So while sailboats and motorboats primarily claim the waves of Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay, the allure of Rochester's rivers, inlets, coves, and canal belongs to those seeking premier paddling territory. 

Gliding along the Genesee River toward Rochester in a canoe or kayak brings a thrilling sight when the city's skyline suddenly springs into view and the pulse of an urban area mingles with the quiet lapping of oars dipping into the river. Don't miss docking for awhile at Corn Hill Landing to enjoy a meal, indulge a taste for great ice cream, or explore a few of Rochester's nearby historic sites. Or paddle in the other direction to find where the Erie Canal flows into the Genesee River. Turning into this historic waterway soon brings views of charming homes and gardens along the water as well as still undeveloped vistas...and even the fun of going through a lock. If time allows, indulge in several days of paddling the Erie Canal with stops in picturesque canalside villages like Pittsford,  Fairport, Spencerport and Brockport. Each of these canal ports exudes its own special charm while providing helpful services and amenities for visitors traveling a water-filled "road."

Yet another delightful destination is Ellison Park, where canoe and kayak outfitters, such as the BayCreek Paddling Center, offer rentals and even shuttle rides into the heart of the park so that paddlers can enjoy a carefree mosey down Irondequoit Creek. It's a trip that can take an hour or two, or turn into a longer excursion with stops for a swim in the creek, a picnic on the shore, and plenty of time to watch sunbathing turtles, nesting swans and other creatures that make their home in this wetland area. To learn more about the history of this naturally beautiful place, sign up for a Back to Nature Kayak (or Canoe) Tour and "float through time" while watching for the birds, mammals and fish that populate this peaceful oasis.

Headquartered in Genesee Valley Park, the Genesee Waterways Center (GWC) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes canoeing, kayaking, rowing and sculling on the many waterways of the Genesee Region. Offering recreational facilities and classes for all ages and levels of ability, it has 600 feet of accessible docks that serve as an entry point to both waterways and trails. GWC also provides rentals of canoes and flatwater kayaks and hosts a variety of community events throughout the year, including regattas, canoe & kayak races, and a whitewater kayaking festival.

For some active fun, check out the Lock 32 Whitewater Park off Clover Street in Pittsford. One of just three whitewater courses in the country when it opened in 2000, Lock 32's 700-foot-long course has Class II rapids, well-defined squirt lines, two waves and two holes that enable vertical mores (cartwheels), front flips (loops) and other tricks. The annual Lockapalooza event held here by the Genesee Waterways Center in August provides two days of activities and competitions for kayakers plus plenty of action to entertain spectators: organized competitions include slalom racing, boatercross and a freestyle rodeo. During its fourth year in 2008, Lockapalooza included competitions for men, women, adults and youth along with family entertainment such as trick demonstrations and kayak video screenings.

Additional competitions on the water include the annual Rochester River Challenge in September run by Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana. It's a full day of fun on the Genesee River as  paddling teams of family, friends or co-workers compete in 400-meter sprints. And marking its 20^th year in 2008, the Head of the Genesee Regatta is two days of rowing and sculling races on the Genesee River in each October for scholastic, collegiate, masters and corporate crews. Those coming to participate in or watch this well-established event can also enjoy a range of other water-related activities during the city's annual Rochester River Romance celebration taking place the same weekend.

Yes, Rochester's waterways and trails are a goldmine of discoveries for those who love to hike, bike or paddle; but whatever your favorite outdoor recreation may be, check out this versatile destination because Rochester is always ready to go the distance when it comes to active fun!