7 of Our Favorite Rochester Area Parks | New & Used Honda Dealer

Living in Rochester, and Monroe County, in general, has a lot of advantages, not the least of which is the absolutely gorgeous scenery all around us. While Lake Ontario just by itself provides enough natural beauty to last a lifetime, there are also a lot of amazing parks and similar areas around us that are perfect for hiking, having a picnic, or just spending a day outdoors. With so many remarkable options to choose from, however, it can be hard to narrow them down and decide on the right one to visit.

We thought it would be fun to ask around the lot here at Ralph Honda and see which parks were people’s favorites. Certain names kept coming up, and it became clear that a lot of our employees enjoy spending their free time reveling in the idyllic splendor all around us. Here are some of our favorite parks in Rochester and the surrounding area, to help you decide on where to spend a few hours or go for a hike this weekend. We have presented them here alphabetically; it was far too difficult to try to determine any kind of ranking.

This is a fantastic choice located right here in Rochester, featuring more than 100 acres of trails and natural beauty for you to explore. The Cobb’s Hill Reservoir is a great option if you are looking for a spot to run, jog, or walk some laps surrounded by natural beauty. There are also plenty of great grassy spots for laying down a blanket and having a picnic or just catching some sun. And nearby Washington Grove, just east of the Reservoir, is an undeveloped, 100-acre sanctuary with walking trails that is dog friendly as long as they are on a leash.

There are two cabins that can be reserved for events at Cobb’s Hill Park, along with a number of other facilities. These include basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds with play equipment, and opportunities for fishing, and much more. You can find Cobb’s Hill Park at Culver Rd and Norris Dr in southeast Rochester.

Another great option in Rochester, Durand Eastman Park, has been around for more than 100 years and includes more than 900 acres of stunning scenery. This includes 5,000 feet of Lake Ontario waterfront for you to walk along and enjoy. This park includes wooded slopes, valleys, and a number of scenic vistas that offer incredible new sights from one moment to the next.

There are eight shelters and one enclosed lodge available for rent at Durand Eastman Park, so keep that in mind if you have an event coming up that you’re looking for a spot to host at. Cross-country skiing is available in the winter, with fishing allowed during certain seasons, and 38 caches available for geocaching. Of course, the Durand Eastman golf course is also located nearby, so this is a great destination for just about everyone. You will find Durand Eastman Park in the northernmost part of Rochester, at 1200 Kings Hwy.

About half the size of Durand Eastman Park, Ellison Park includes gorgeous scenery thanks to woodlands and steep slopes due to the floodplain of the Irondequoit Creek. One of the things we love about this park is that there are a lot of things to do here all year round. When the weather is nice, there is a dog park, numerous softball diamonds and tennis courts, and a launch for kayaking and canoeing.

During the winter, there is a sledding hill and even an ice skate rink set up in a large parking lot. This means that no matter what time of year it is, you can head to Ellison Park and find a fun way to spend your day. Ellison Park is located on the east side of town, with an office at 395 Rich’s Dugway, and a main entrance off Blossom Road in Penfield.

Highland Park is far from the largest in the Rochester area, but it has some incredible features that you won’t find anywhere else. At 150 acres in size, there are still plenty of amazing spots to enjoy and some great paths for walking. Perhaps the most unique and stunning feature of Highland Park, however, is the lilacs, which are showcased every year in May during the Lilac Festival. Each year, these gorgeous, purple flowers come alive and kick off the summer in a stunning display.

There are numerous geocaches to find in Highland Park, as well as a lodge that can be rented for events. In the winter, ice skating is available at a rink located at Lily Pond, as long as the ice is firm enough for it. Summer or winter, this park is an amazing destination with a lot to see and do. You can find Highland Park in southern Rochester, with an office at 171 Reservoir Ave.

This is one of two parks originally laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted to highlight the natural beauty of the area, particularly Genesee River. As such, it includes truly stunning views throughout the park of the river and the surrounding area. This includes great angles of two different waterfalls in the Genesee River Gorge, and there’s a pond for fishing and tennis courts.

Of course, the Rose Garden in Maplewood Park is one of the main attractions and is a nationally accredited rose garden, making it a popular destination for weddings and photo shoots. No matter what you’re looking for, spending your day at this park is a truly remarkable experience. You’ll find Maplewood Park in northwestern Rochester, and the Rose Garden is located at 250 Maplewood Ave.

The largest park in Monroe County, Mendon Ponds Park features 2,500 acres of gorgeous land for you to see and explore. This includes woodlands, ponds, and wetlands with an incredibly diverse array of plants and animals for the area. The landforms in Mendon Ponds Park were created by glaciers, and in 1969 it was added to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks due to his significance and geological importance.

Due to its large size, you can find just about everything at Mendon Ponds Park, including biking, bird-watching, and boating. There are opportunities for camping by reservation for youth groups, as well as horseback riding trails and hiking and running trails. You will find six lodges and seven open-air shelters at Mendon Ponds Park, as well as a Cobblestone House that includes a refrigerator, oven, and indoor bathrooms. Mendon Ponds Park is located just south of Rochester at 95 Douglas Rd in Honeoye Falls.

This is a particularly beautiful park that really showcases the unique splendor of Rochester and upstate New York. The Turning Point Park Trail includes a boardwalk and trail that lets you walk over the Genesee River Turning Basin and get a look at the area that you won’t find anywhere else. Turning Point Park covers 275 acres of wooded land and the banks of the river, with amazing views of the fall foliage available.

The Rain Garden includes natural vegetation that acts as sediment filters, cleaning runoff when it rains and feeds into the river. This includes a wide variety of plants, such as ostrich ferns and New England aster, creating an area that is absolutely beautiful. You’ll find Turning Point Park in northwestern Rochester, at 260 Boxart Street.

Did we forget one of your preferred parks? Come visit us at Ralph Honda to discuss your favorite spot for a hike or picnic, or to find your next vehicle today.