Genesee Riverway Trail — Rochester City & Surrounding Parks

The Genesee Riverway Trail is the backbone of Rochester's greenway system. The paved trail follows the Genesee River for roughly 22 miles through the heart of the city and into the surrounding suburbs, connecting Letchworth State Park in the south to Ontario Beach Park on the shores of Lake Ontario in the north. The downtown segment — from Veteran's Memorial Bridge through Corn Hill Landing and into the City — is a popular daily running route with unobstructed sightlines along the river. The Highland Section links into Highland Park, one of Rochester's most beloved green spaces and the home of the annual Lilac Festival grounds. Parking is abundant at several access points including Maplewood Park, Turning Point Park, and Genesee Valley Park. The full trail is paved, mostly flat, and well-maintained year-round, making it a reliable choice in every season.

Genesee Valley Greenway — Rochester to Livingston County

The Genesee Valley Greenway is a 90-mile rail trail corridor that stretches from Rochester south through Caledonia, Avon, and into Livingston County, eventually reaching Letchworth State Park. The Monroe County portion — particularly the segment running through Genesee Valley Park and into the Chili and Scottsville areas — is well-suited for longer training runs. The surface is a compacted crushed stone in many sections, which is easier on joints than pavement and provides a pleasant change of texture. For runners who prefer out-and-back routes, the sections near the Monroe-Livingston county line offer long stretches of open, quiet trail through farmland and forest with very little vehicle traffic.

Pittsford Canal Path & Village Loop

Pittsford is one of the most popular running destinations in the region, and for good reason. The Erie Canal towpath running through the village offers a smooth, flat, tree-lined surface that connects to both the village center and the broader canal path network east and west. The Pittsford Village Loop — combining the canal path, Schoen Place, and the side streets that ring the village — is a go-to route for morning runners and an easy walk for anyone exploring the area. The path picks up foot and bicycle traffic on weekends but remains peaceful on weekday mornings. A number of local runners string together 8–12 mile routes by combining the canal path with the trails inside Mendon Ponds Park, which sits just south of the village.

Greece Canal Park & North Monroe Paths

Greece Canal Park sits along the Erie Canal on the northwest side of Monroe County and serves as a hub for runners and walkers in the Greece, Gates, and Hilton corridor. The paved loop around the park is a reliable 2-to-3-mile option for a quick morning run, and the adjacent canal towpath extends it significantly in either direction. The park also has open grass areas and a small pond, making it popular with walkers who prefer a more casual outing. Parking is free and plentiful, and restroom facilities are available at the main park entrance during warmer months.

Penfield Bicentennial Trail & Linear Park

Penfield maintains an impressive network of paved multi-use paths through its town parks and along road corridors. The Penfield Bicentennial Trail runs along Irondequoit Creek and connects several neighborhoods to Panorama Village and the town's commercial center, making it genuinely useful as a commuter route in addition to a recreational one. The Linear Park segment is flat, well-paved, and shaded by a mix of mature trees — ideal for summer runs. Penfield's trail system is less crowded than routes closer to the city, which appeals to runners who prefer a quieter outing. The town has invested consistently in maintaining and extending its path network over the last decade.

Irondequoit Bay Path & Empire State Trail Connector

Irondequoit's waterfront access and bay-side paths make for some of the most scenic running in Monroe County. The Irondequoit Bay Marine Park area connects to a stretch of path along the bay that's popular with early morning runners who want water views without the Lake Ontario wind exposure. The town also sits along the Empire State Trail corridor, which gives runners access to a continuous paved path that connects north to Ontario Beach and south toward the city. On calm mornings, the reflection of the tree canopy on Irondequoit Bay is genuinely hard to beat.

Mendon Ponds Park — Pittsford / Mendon

Mendon Ponds is Monroe County's largest park and arguably its best trail system for natural-surface running. The park encompasses more than 2,500 acres of kettle ponds, glacial ridges, and mixed forest, with a trail network that totals over 12 miles. The terrain is rolling — not flat — with enough variation to make it genuinely challenging for training runs. Local high school cross country teams use the park regularly during fall training season. The Quaker Pond Trail and the Deep Pond Loop are two of the more popular circuits, and they connect naturally for longer combined routes. Dogs are welcome on leash, and the park stays well-trafficked enough to feel safe while still offering real solitude on the outer trails.

Corbett's Glen Nature Park — Brighton / Penfield

Corbett's Glen is a hidden gem that straddles the Brighton-Penfield border and surprises first-time visitors with how quiet and pristine it is given its suburban surroundings. The park is centered on Allen's Creek, which runs through a small but dramatic gorge with stone tunnel crossings and waterfall sections. The main trail loop is roughly 1.5 miles — short but beautiful — and well-suited for walkers or as a warm-up loop for runners who want to combine it with road mileage from the adjacent neighborhood streets. Parking is limited to a small roadside lot, which helps keep the experience uncrowded.

Powder Mills Park — Perinton / Fairport

Powder Mills Park covers over 400 acres along Irondequoit Creek in Perinton and is a reliable year-round running destination for the east side of Monroe County. The park's trail system includes a mix of wide gravel paths and narrower natural-surface loops through forested creek bottom and open meadow. The park road itself is popular with road runners for tempo work — it's low-traffic and offers a consistent surface with gentle undulation. Powder Mills connects indirectly to Corbett's Glen through road running, making multi-venue long run routes possible for those who plan them. The park also includes picnic shelters, a fish hatchery, and athletic fields, so it draws a mixed crowd that keeps the atmosphere lively without overcrowding the trail system.

Hamlin Beach State Park — Hamlin / Northwest Monroe County

Hamlin Beach State Park sits along the Lake Ontario shoreline on the far northwest edge of Monroe County and offers something most trail systems in the region can't: a long, open run with water on one side and forest on the other. The primary trail along the beach is a paved path that stretches for several miles between the park's camping areas and the main beach complex. Off-season (late fall through early spring), the park is virtually empty, which makes it a favorite among runners who want uninterrupted long runs with wind and lake views. During peak summer weekends, the beach area gets crowded, but the trail sections further west stay relatively quiet.

Monroe County Segment — Pittsford to Spencerport

The Monroe County stretch of the canal path runs roughly 25 miles between Pittsford in the east and Spencerport in the west, passing through the village of Fairport, the town of Perinton, East Rochester, and Brockport. The Pittsford to Fairport segment is among the most heavily used sections in the entire state — flat, paved, and lined with trees that create a natural canopy in summer. The Fairport lift bridge is a popular landmark and turnaround point for out-and-back runs from either direction. Brockport, at the western end, has a charming small-college-town feel and good access parking near Lock 32.

Wayne County Segment — Palmyra to Newark

In Wayne County, the canal trail runs through Palmyra, Macedon, and Newark, with access points at each village. The Palmyra and Macedon segments are particularly pleasant — wide, flat, and quiet compared to the Monroe County sections, with fewer cyclists and a more rural feel. Palmyra sits at a historically significant spot on the canal and has done a good job maintaining the towpath in good condition through the village corridor. The stretch between Palmyra and Newark is long enough for serious training runs and rarely crowded on weekday mornings.

Orleans County Segment — Holley to Albion

The Orleans County section of the canal path through Holley and Albion is one of the lesser-known stretches but one of the most bucolic. The path here passes through open agricultural land with long sightlines, a few small canal hamlets, and several functioning lock stations. Traffic on the path is minimal, which makes it ideal for long solo runs or walks where you want to move at your own pace without navigating around other users. The surface condition varies slightly between municipalities but is generally runnable throughout the main village corridors.

Ganondagan State Historic Site Trail — Victor, Ontario County

Ganondagan is primarily known as a Seneca Nation historic site, but the trail system winding through the property is a genuinely good running resource for the Victor area. The trails cover open meadow, forested ridge, and interpretive path through the site's historically significant landscape. The terrain is moderately rolling, which gives runners more challenge than the flat canal path with a totally different atmosphere. Victor is one of Ontario County's most active communities, and the trail access here complements the suburb's broader appeal for active households. Anyone exploring what living in Victor NY is really like will find that trail access near town is a consistent selling point for the area.

Ontario Pathways Rail Trail — Canandaigua to Phelps

Ontario Pathways manages a network of rail trails in Ontario County, with the primary route running from Canandaigua south and east through Phelps and Stanley. The surface is compacted crushed stone — smooth enough for road runners to handle comfortably — and the route passes through Finger Lakes wine country, farmland, and small rural hamlets. The trail is flat, quiet, and largely car-free. For runners who've grown tired of the crowded Monroe County paths and want something with a genuine sense of open space and quiet, this is an excellent option within a reasonable drive.

Canandaigua Lakefront Path — Canandaigua City

Canandaigua has invested in waterfront access and the path along the northern end of Canandaigua Lake and through Kershaw Park is a beautiful running and walking route. The lakefront stretch provides unobstructed views of the lake and the hills rising to the south, and the path connects to Lakeshore Drive and the residential streets that ring the water. Early morning runs here, especially on weekday mornings before the summer tourist season picks up, are genuinely scenic. The city's walkable downtown is just a short run from the lakefront access, making it easy to combine a run with a coffee stop at one of the local cafés.

Wayne County Rail Trail — Sodus Point to Sodus

Wayne County's rail trail network is less developed than Ontario Pathways but still offers useful running routes, particularly in the Sodus and Sodus Point corridor near Lake Ontario. The Sodus Rail Trail connects the village of Sodus to the lakeshore community of Sodus Point, passing through agricultural land and small residential areas. It's quiet to the point of being almost solitary on most weekdays. For runners who find themselves in Wayne County for work or recreation, it's worth knowing this route exists as a viable option.

Genesee Valley Greenway — Livingston County Segments

The Genesee Valley Greenway continues south from Monroe County through Livingston, passing through Caledonia, Avon, and Mount Morris before reaching Letchworth State Park. The Livingston County sections are longer and more remote than the Monroe sections, which makes them ideal for ultramarathon training, long weekend runs, or simply clearing your head on a Saturday. The trail surface is a mix of hard-pack and soft gravel, generally well-drained and runnable through most of the year outside of peak mud season (typically March and early April). The segment near Caledonia has a pleasant rural-village character — you'll pass through a small, photogenic hamlet before the trail opens back up into open countryside.

Letchworth State Park Trails — Portageville, Livingston County

Letchworth is often called the "Grand Canyon of the East," and while the gorge trails are more hiking than running terrain, the park's Portage Trail and the rim paths on both sides of the gorge can be run by experienced trail runners comfortable with uneven footing and significant elevation change. The North Rim trail system offers the most runnable terrain — long stretches of wide, forested path with periodic gorge overlooks. The South Rim is more rugged and better suited to walkers. Letchworth is about an hour from Rochester and makes for an excellent long-run destination on weekend mornings, particularly in fall when the foliage is at peak color.

Lakeside Beach State Park — Carlton, Orleans County

Lakeside Beach State Park in Carlton sits along Lake Ontario in the far northwestern corner of the GRAR region and is one of the most underused running destinations in the area. The park's beach and dune path offers open-sky running with Lake Ontario views and, outside of summer weekends, almost no foot traffic. The path is relatively short — a few miles at most — but the lakefront environment is genuinely different from anything available closer to Rochester. Combine a run here with a drive along the Lake Ontario State Parkway for a scenic western Orleans County route that most Greater Rochester residents have never explored on foot.

Mud Season Is Real

Late March through mid-April is mud season in Rochester, and it hits natural-surface trails hard. The Genesee Valley Greenway's crushed stone sections can be soft and rutted in spots, and park trails at Mendon Ponds and Powder Mills can be legitimately messy. The paved canal paths and paved park roads are fine year-round. If you want to protect your shoes and the trails themselves, stick to pavement during the worst weeks of mud season and return to natural surfaces once things firm up.

Winter Running Is Viable — With Adjustments

Rochester winters are legitimately cold, but a meaningful number of local runners stay on the canal path and park roads through January and February. Monroe County and the town of Pittsford both plow and salt the main canal path sections fairly promptly after snowfall. Stabilicers or screw-in traction aids are worth having for the colder stretches. The bigger issue is black ice on cleared pavement after overnight refreezing, so early morning runs on cleared surfaces require extra caution until the sun hits. Many locals use the indoor track at the Monroe County Community Center or local fitness clubs during the worst ice stretches.

The Canal Path Gets Busy on Weekend Mornings

The Pittsford-to-Fairport canal path stretch is one of the most popular recreational corridors in the region, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings between May and September, it can feel genuinely crowded. Cyclists, families with strollers, walkers with dogs, and runners all share the same 10-foot-wide path. If you want a faster, uninterrupted run, weekday mornings or evening runs after 6pm are significantly quieter. Alternatively, heading a few miles west toward Spencerport or east past Fairport into Wayne County gives you the same path with a fraction of the foot traffic.

Local Running Clubs Are Active Here

Rochester has an active running community. The Rochester Running Club, Fleet Feet Rochester's group runs, and several neighborhood-based run groups operate throughout the year. If you're new to the area and want to find running partners or learn the best local routes quickly, plugging into one of these groups is the fastest way to do it. Group runs typically depart from Schoen Place in Pittsford, the East End neighborhood in the city, and various Fleet Feet store locations on weekend mornings.

Parking Is Easy Almost Everywhere

Unlike urban running destinations in larger metro areas, parking at Greater Rochester's trail access points is generally free and plentiful. Mendon Ponds, Powder Mills, Genesee Valley Park, Hamlin Beach, and the major canal access lots all offer free parking. The only notable exception is Letchworth State Park, which charges a vehicle entry fee during peak season. For weekday morning runs, you'll rarely compete for spots at any of these locations.

What is the best running trail in Rochester NY?

For paved, year-round running, the Erie Canal towpath between Pittsford and Fairport is consistently ranked among the best in the region — flat, tree-lined, and easily accessible. For natural surface and more scenic variety, Mendon Ponds Park in Pittsford and Mendon offers the most trail mileage with rolling terrain in a single park system. The best choice depends on whether you prefer pavement or trail and how much distance you need.

Can you run the Erie Canal path year-round in Rochester?

Yes, the paved sections of the Erie Canal towpath through Monroe County are maintained through winter and can be run most of the year with appropriate footwear. Ice and packed snow can be an issue after winter storms and on cold overnight refreezes, so traction aids are helpful from December through mid-March. The canal path in Pittsford and Fairport tends to be cleared relatively promptly after snowfall by town and county crews.

Are there good trails for beginners or walkers in Rochester NY?

Absolutely. The canal towpath is ideal for beginners and walkers — flat, paved, well-signed, and easy to shorten or extend as needed. Greece Canal Park, Penfield's Linear Park trail, and the Canandaigua lakefront path are also excellent beginner-friendly options with minimal elevation change and good surface conditions. Corbett's Glen in Brighton is a short, beautiful walk for those looking for something more natural without committing to a long outing.

How long is the Genesee Riverway Trail?

The Genesee Riverway Trail runs approximately 22 miles through Rochester from Ontario Beach Park on Lake Ontario to Genesee Valley Park in the south, following the Genesee River through the city and its adjacent parks. Not all sections are fully paved — some segments pass through natural areas and connect via neighborhood streets — but the core trail is well-marked and widely used by runners and cyclists throughout the year.

What's the difference between the Genesee Valley Greenway and the Genesee Riverway Trail?

The Genesee Riverway Trail follows the Genesee River through Rochester City and Monroe County, primarily on paved surfaces. The Genesee Valley Greenway is a separate rail trail corridor that heads south from Rochester through Monroe and Livingston counties toward Letchworth State Park, largely on crushed stone. They share some overlap near Genesee Valley Park in the city but are distinct trail systems with different characters — the Riverway is urban and paved; the Greenway is rural and natural-surface.

Are Rochester's trails dog-friendly?

Most trails in the region are dog-friendly on leash. The Erie Canal towpath, Mendon Ponds Park, Powder Mills Park, the Genesee Valley Greenway, and most county and town parks all permit leashed dogs. State parks including Letchworth and Hamlin Beach also allow leashed dogs on most trails. The main exception is designated swimming beach areas within state parks, where dogs are typically restricted during peak season.