Get Out! 

Greater Rochester Outdoor Active Place of the Day

1.  Manhattan Square Park is starting out the list this year as one of Rochester's great places to Get Out and be active. When the weather allows, I like to take clients here to add some extra oomph to a run, weight lifting routine, or plyometric workout.  It has stairs, ramps, open areas, and is centrally located downtown to hit at lunchtime or on the weekends as well.  Check it out.

2.  Rifle Range Trail.  The trail head to this amazing hike is right at the bottom of the hill on Empire Boulevard (right next door to McGregor's at the Bay).  Thanks to the ADK Club, we have this well marked intricate trail system you can take all the way to Ellison Park.  You can spend hours back here following the trail signs and checking out the wetlands.  Click here for a map of the trails.

3.  Fairport Canal Path.  Right off of 31F is the entrance to this part of the canal.   Bring the bikes or just a comfortable pair of sneaks and head out in either direction.  For the most part the trail here is well kept and great for biking, running and walking. 

4. Washington Grove in Cobbs Hill Park is a really cool myriad of trails that are great for hiking and exploring.  Most everyone knows about the reservoir at top of Cobbs Hill that is great for biking, walking, running and blading, but check out the grove next time you are there and get some different terrain in.   

5.  Lakeshore Boulevard Trail.  So it's always 10 degrees cooler at the lake - so put on a sweatshirt and check out this newly paved trail that starts at Culver and Lakeshore Blvd in Charlotte near Seabreeze.  Walk, run or bike the trail alongside Lake Ontario and enjoy the route and little boardwalk section and benches to relax on along the way.

6.  Black Creek Park in North Chili is a great place to Get Out and explore.  Located off of Route 259, it is one of Monroe Counties largest parks and trail systems.   When you enter the park, head left and park in the nearest parking lot.  You'll see the trailhead there along with an overview of the trails.  It can be kind of wet and marshy, so it might be best to go after we've had a dry spell.  I've been lost back there several times with the kids, so bring bread crumbs....

7.  Powder Mills Park near Bushnells Basin is the place to hike for day 7.  It offers some challenging steep hills and trails throughout the park as well as some flat roads to run, bike and blade on.  Be sure to check out the fish hatchery while you are there, as well as catching a glimpse of the cool mushroom houses near the entrance off of Route 96.

8.  Head to Lake Ontario and check out the trails at Webster Park.  This park is quite big and the trails are very scenic with some breathtaking views of the lake (especially on a clear, or even a stormy day).

9.  Mendon Ponds Park is a place I like to hit in the winter to do some skiing or snow shoeing, but this time of year it's great as well to Get Out and hike, bike, run or walk.  It is Monroe County's largest park and has a great trail system winding through its 2500 acres. 

10.  Letchworth State Park is always worth the 45-60 minute drive from Rochester.  There are over 70 miles of trails throughout this historic and beautiful park that take you around scenic canyons, cliffs, waterfalls and rapids.  Check out what rocwiki has to say about this amazing park.

11. Genesee Valley Park, right next to the UofR is another well unknown jewel in the Rochester area. It's a great place to take a hike, blade, canoe (there is a rental place right in the park), bike - you name it.  Check it out this month!

12.  Highland Park - Take in the hilly paths that lead you through this beautiful park.   The paved paths are stroller friendly, but there are some good inclines and declines along the way.  For a more reflective and educational walk, I recommend the Viet-Nam Memorial that is in the southeastern part of the park.  You can spend hours exploring this large and scenic park, so pack a lunch and maybe make a day of it!

13.  I'm heading out today to Ellison Park to do some geocaching.  It's a fun way to get the kids into some pretty cool hikes.  Ellison Park is a favorite of mine, and it is also a pretty popular place for geocachers to go.  Basically there are little "treasures" hidden all over the park, you go to www.geocaching.com to find out the coordinates (you need a GPS to search for the treasures).  Today is the first time I'm trying it - I'll let you know how it works...

14.  Tryon Park in the city off Winton Road, this park offers extreme bikers the chance to go nuts.  There are plenty of hiking trails as well, but the bikers are all over this park, so be careful when walking of the ramps, jumps, and other obstacles that are there for the extremists.

15.  Devil’s Cove Park in Irondequoit is Monroe County’s newest park and is pretty much undeveloped.  It’s a great place to get out and explore, but be sure to wear boots and old clothing, because it can be very wet and quite boggy at times, but the scenery and wildlife is worth it.

16.  Greece Canal Park, located off of Elmgrove Road, has hiking, biking, fishing, playgrounds, ball fields and more in its more that 500 acres of land.  It’s right on the canal, and it’s a pretty nice ride either way you go.  It’s a popular route for bikers riding cross country. 

17.  Oatka Park in Wheatland is a cool place to check out, especially if you are into fishing, hiking, or wildlife.  The few times I’ve been there it’s been quiet and peaceful.  A great place to get away for a bit and enjoy the area.

18. Chimney Bluffs in Sodus is well worth the drive, especially on a nice weather day.  While hiking alongside Lake Ontario, and you come across Chimney Bluffs, it suddenly makes you feel like you are hiking on Mars.  You can hike along top, or brave the bluffs themselves, either way you’ll be in for a good workout outside!

19.  Located in Penfield, Thousand Acre Swamp is, indeed, a sanctuary.  It is a little hard to find, but uncrowded.  If you are looking for a tranquil walk in a beautifully maintained sanctuary that is not far from downtown Rochester, there is no more beautiful place to visit.

20.  A quick noon time hike around the Genesee River in downtown Rochester will give you a good and quick invigorating work out.  The rectangular shaped walk between the Court Street and Ford Street bridges is popular in the nicer weather.  Find a buddy and check it out.

21.  Park right at the zoo for this pretty well unknown hiking trail at Seneca Park.  Park near the playground and pick up the trail there.  Head towards the zoo and keep going for as long as you want to go (it ends at Lake Ontario).  On the way back, keep left and enjoy a backside view of the zoo and the animals that might be out.

22.  Check out North Ponds Park for another great place to hike, bike, blade, or run around the well paved trails alongside these ponds in Webster.  It's also a popular place to walk your dog, so if that's up your alley, Get Out and check it out.

23.  Cobbs Hill Reservoir is a hike with a view.  On top of this park sits a reservior that is about 7/10 of a mile around.  It's a popular place to run, walk, roller blade, etc.  It's less crowded at off times, expect it to be a little more crowded around early evenings, especially in the nicer weather.

24.  Located right at Lake Ontario in Charlotte, is another well kept hiking secret.  Durand Eastman Park has some fantastic hiking trails (both on and off road).  Check out a map of the park to plan your route.  You won't be disapointed!

25.  Dryer Park in Victor is an incredible place to not only hike, but to bike as well.  It's about a 2 foot wide dirt trail that winds through the hills.  If you are hiking, just watch out for some of the extreme bikers who might be out there taking in the terrain.

26.  Corbett's Glen Nature Park is a 52 acre park in Brighton that has boardwalks, waterfalls, and trails, located just off of route 441.  It's close to the city, with a real quiet and peaceful feel back on these trails.

27.  Take a walk through Mount Hope Cemetery, either on your own, our through a guided tour (free on Saturdays and Sundays) given by the Friends of Mount Hope www.fomh.org . 

28.  Rainy day have you stuck inside during your lunch hour in downtown Rochester?   Then take a stroll through the skyway system that takes you a good distance around downtown.  Do it soon before the demolition of Midtown Plaza begins.

29.  The Genesee Valley Greenway is one of hundreds of greenways being developed across the nation along old canals, abandoned rail beds, and riverbanks. It passes through scenic woodlands, river and stream valleys, rolling farmlands, steep gorges, and historic villages located in sixteen towns in Monroe, Livingston, Wyoming, Allegany, and Cattaraugus counties in New York State.

30.  Your Front Door.  The month is over, but keep active by getting out, right outside your front door.  Take a walk, run or bike in the nicer weather - see things in your own neighborhood you might not have ever noticed while driving by.  Enjoy your surroundings and keep moving.  Summer is here - ENJOY!!!

 Saturday Hike Idea

Call up some friends, make it a date, grab the kids (or find a sitter), turn off the TV the computer the blackberry and  exercise those legs and maybe even the mind by checking out Brian's favorite hiking spots around Rochester.  These are not group events, just suggestions on places to go and maybe meet some other FGN'08'ers along the path.

Saturday, November 8th- My suggestion for this day would be the trails at Highland Park.  Take in the hilly paths that lead you through this beautiful park.   The paved paths are stroller friendly, but there are some good inclines and declines along the way.  For a more reflective and educational walk, I recommend the Viet-Nam Memorial that is in the southeastern part of the park.  You can spend hours exploring this large and scenic park, so pack a lunch and maybe make a day of it!

Saturday, Nov 15th - Take some time out of your weekend to enjoy Turning Point Park, a newly rediscovered park along the Genesee River in Charlotte.  A recent addition to this park is a wooden planked boardwalk that takes you out above the river along the reeds and wildlife of the area.  You can pick up this trailhead right off of Boxart Street (off of Lake Ave).  After the boardwalk ends, a paved path will take you all the way to the Patrick O'Rorke Bridge.  This hike is kid, stroller, and dog friendly, and worth the drive out towards the lake.

Saturday, Nov 22nd- Take a drive out to Victor, NY to Ganondagon State Historic Site to take a hike back in time to this former Seneca land that is rich in both history and views.  Plackards and signs lead you through the history of the land from the time that the Seneca inhabited it, until the time when the French armies drove them out over 300 years ago.  In Seneca, Ganondagan means town of peace.  When you walk along the trails, hike the rolling hills, and explore through the woods, it is not hard to understand the reason for this.

Saturday, Nov 29th- Ellison Park is one of my all time favorites here in Rochester.  It offers so much year round, and is conveniently located centrally in town.  I snow shoe and cross country ski there in the winter, my sister-in-law plays ultimate frisbee there in the summer, and in the fall i like to hike some of the "off the beaten paths" to take in the foliage.  There are all types of trails you can hike (marked trails of different levels of difficulty), a dog walk trail, and paved roads for roller blades, strollers and runners.   Bring some old hiking shoes though if you head off the pavement as some of the trails can be quite muddy.