The spring lilac festival is when this park shines. Lots of rolling paved walking trails amongst beautiful flowers in full bloom. The magnolias we especially colorful this year. The park was designed by premier landscape architect Fredric Law Olmsted back in the early part of the last century. The festival itself had plenty of parking, food vendors and music at the main stage. This park would certainly be stunning all year round. I can't wait to see it agin in another season. read more

See all

I have grown to love Highland Park and very thankful we have such a great park at our fingertips. My kids love the Lamberton Conservatory, Lilac Adventure Zone natural playground and the smaller playground across from the Conservatory. For myself, I have enjoyed the early morning walks, being in nature and enjoying in the wonderful flora of the park. read more

See all

Highland Park in Rochester, New York, is a 150 acre work of art designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The space holds a cozy conservatory, meticulously plotted, planned, and thought-out landscape architecture that immerses you in the ever-changing scenery. As I watched people wandering through the blooms, I noticed something. The park connected everyone. The sweet smell of the lilacs, the friendly nods between people as they passed each other on the paths. It was just as the designer had intended. A place of beautiful unity. If you visit Highland Park, whatever the season, you will find yourself surrounded by stunning scenery and living pieces of art. read more

See all

A fantastic park to take the family, stroll with your pet, enjoy talks with friends, even jogging through the forest, it's awesome!!!!! Plenty of parking along the street. Wide variety of flowers, tulip beds, annuals, flowering trees, playground area, also picnic tables, wide open grassy areas, and the best lilacs looking forward to the lilac festival it's so amazing. read more

Highland Park - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

This park is absolutely lovely! There's always something new to discover as you wander around. Just a note some areas have quite a few stairs, but there are other entrances that make it easier for anyone with mobility concerns. When the weather warms up, the park bursts with color, especially the lilacs! The annual Lilac Festival is when Highland truly comes alive, along with other great events that take place throughout the year. Parking is here and there so read more

Excellent any time of year. I love coming in the spring during magnolia, cherry blossom, and lilac season but the fall is special too. All the falling leaves are beautiful. The ground is paved and there's enough of an uphill climb at times to feel like you're getting in more of a workout. Definitely one of the best parks in Rochester and a must visit read more

Very pretty scenery and a nice escape from the city. The walking paths are nice to explore, and the park is pretty dog and kid friendly. read more

Highland Park - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Its been years for me , since going to the Lilac Festival, and decided to honor my moms memory , of one of our cherished this Mothers Day traditions. The lilacs for the most part were near in full bloom. Enjoyed the short drive to Rochester for the festival. The only down side, which I understand with inflation, prices were over the top for food. read more

See all

Very beautiful and well-laid out park. Nice rolling hills, many flowers, budding trees, plenty of benches, and an updated bathroom. It would be a great place to have a picnic, go for a run, and probably sled down in the winter. read more

I drive by here daily and soo happy i got to explore during lilac fest. Beautiful location that my family and i will be returning to time and time again. read more

Highland Park is my favorite city park. It's not a hiking park, though brisk walks up and down the hills could be made into a workout. This park is known for having the nation's largest collection of Lilac bushes and an annual Lilac Festival to show them off. Years ago it was Lilac Sunday and over time has become a huge 10 day festival that takes place in May, planned to hopefully coincide with the peak season for the lilacs. If you are a fan of flowers then you must visit. There is a section with the biggest rhododendrons I've ever seen. They line both side of steps going down a hill. Also included here are plenty of azaleas. There's also magnolias trees near a poets garden, a pansy bed maintained near the main road, and the Lamberton Conservatory where you'll find plants unable to withstand our climate. The park also has several memorials the biggest being the Vietnam Memorial, the Highland Bowl where concerts and other events are held, Warner Castle, a favorite for wedding pictures, and the Highland Park Reservoir, amongst other normal park features. Side note, my husband proposed to me next to the Reservoir! The walkways through the park make it easy to explore (150 acres) but also go off the paths to check out all the beauty of the park. Plus you want to get a good sniff of those lilacs! 2021-19 read more

See all

In the spring Rochester celebrates their Lilac Festival. Highland Park is the epi center of the festival. When we were there, many were blooming, but there are many more to come. Besides lilacs there are many rhododendrons and azaleas. Put on your walking shoes because there is plenty of it to be done to see the whole park. In the middle is a big reservoir from Rochester drinking water. It is on a hill, so there is some climbing involved too. Next to the park is a Vietnam memorial that looked very nice from what we could see. Unfortunately it is closed during the lilac festival. read more

Highland Park - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Writing a #ThankYouThursday update to extend some extra love to Highland Park today! My pup and I have ventured to this park on pretty much a bi-weekly basis since Miss. 'Rona made her unwanted debut. We've watched the seasons change from the park benches and spent some time thinking on how lucky we are to live in a town with so much richness and where the seasons make themselves known in such a big way. We've sat in front of the Highland Bowl and thought about how much we miss life music and life theatre, but then again how LUCKY we are to have such a wide array of venues to enjoy ROC's cultural scene during the normal times. Highland Park represents so much about what makes ROC so special, and for that I am endlessly grateful. This Thank you Thursday, I am happy to give all my love to this expansive park and look forward to more visits through the winter and beyond. read more

See all

It a good park I would definitely recommend it I go there for the lilac festival every year

Went here with my husband and dog! Loved the lilacs, and the Vietnam memorial nearby.

It is a slightly chilly overcast day, but this means the park is not jam-packed for the first day of the Rochester Lilac Festival. With covid still around and face masks required even in the open air park, it is nice to not have crowds to deal with. After paying for parking(lots are manned by charitable organizations) we started our walk to Highland Park. The park has a winding asphalt trail with areas designated as the Lilac adventure zone or azalea or rhododendron areas. As it is the first weekend of the Festival, some of the lilacs are still coming out, but many are in full bloom. The azaleas are out in fill bloom, but the rhododendron are barely started to show their colors. The path also takes us around a large reservoir which is fenced in as it is public water supply. The Lilac festival continues next weekend and the weekend after that. It is worth the trip to see the spring colors and smell the scented air, and best of all, it's outside and "covid-safer". We all need fresh air these days. read more

Wandered through Highland Park after checking out the Lilac Festival on its first day. I wish the lilacs were in bloom! Would have loved to check out their famous collection. For some context, the entire park features 1,200 lilac shrubs representing over 500 varieties that Johnny Lilacseed started in 1892! The park is surprisingly large and well-maintained, with a small playground for kids as well. I didn't see any bathrooms or water fountains, but maybe they were locked or hiding from me. I learned from my brother that they have an amphitheater, a sunken garden, a Gothic-style structure called Warner Castle, and a greenhouse - some free, some not. Seems like the go-to place for Rochester's main outdoors events, like Shakespeare in the Park. I would've liked to go to school near here and taken advantage of all these features. Anyway, as one of the parks that Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture, helped to develop, it was a nice park to wander through. There didn't seem to be much going on when I visited, but it seems like a nice place for a picnic or a light hike. They should put up some maps so visitors can enjoy Highland Park to its full effect. read more

Highland Park - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

Wonderful paths, flowering trees and dog friendly. The reservoir is empty as of May 2024 probably due to the dead body found there in early 2024. read more

See all

Highland Park is one of my favorite places in Rochester, hands down. I currently live within walking distance, so I visit the park quite often. While many people visit the park in the spring to see the lilacs, Highland is simply beautiful in every season. Rich, colorful leaves in the fall, snow-covered trees in the winter, fragrant lilacs in the spring, and lush green and bright flowers in the summer. The walkways are paved (though can be quite hilly), making the park accessible for all who wish to visit. Highland Park is also home to the Highland Bowl (a unique outdoor concert venue that is unfortunately not used much anymore); the reservoir (a popular place to lounge around in the warmer weather); the Lamberton Conservatory; a Vietnam Veterans' Memorial; an AIDS remembrance garden; Warner Castle and its sunken garden; and several playgrounds. There is something here for everyone to enjoy! Highland Park is a must-visit. read more

See all

we got to explore the area for the first time during Spring. The blooming flowers and the burst of energy helps Rochesterians forget about the cold winters. Wonderful place to take a nice walk under the sun or with a pal (@cypress_shibainu). read more

See all

Ok, I can't give it a full 5 because it's not officially open and very windy so there are several small branches on the walkways and with the cold some trees are just buds yet it was still a peaceful walk. Not many people here but the ones that are have been very aware of social distancing. I'm not parked near the pansy bed so I didn't get to see that. Maybe another day. I had never been to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial before. The memorial path is a chilling reminder of all the lives lost in Vietnam. Found 2 friends memorials walking through there. I can't imagine anyone walking through here not finding themselves a sense of peace yet sadness. Beauty that also brings tears. read more

See all

This park is beautiful! Nothing beats the lilac festival but it's beautiful all year too. There's a pathway to walk and lots of green space if you want to bring a blanket and hang out. There's often people around but this park has very calm vibes. Usually no yelling or children screaming and running around. read more

Highland is another name for Colorado. And California. And if you need an explanation for that, you probably haven't spent much time in either state. It might be Rochester's most beautiful park, situated on a hill south of the city, with a huge reservoir and lots of beautiful wooded paths to wander in the heart of the urban jungle. I've seen a lot of things in this park, most recently a bunch of young females (some underage), I assume they were ballet girls, dressed in what appeared to be stripper outfits, doing sexy yoga poses for a photo shoot as families with kids looked on, open-mouthed. Then they rushed off as soon as the pictures were done. I can't put pictures of that on Yelp, for many reasons, but it just goes to show that you never know what's going to go down in Highland Park. Speaking of going down in Highland Park. But really, be careful wandering around here at night. It's probably not a good idea, especially not by yourself. read more

Highland Park - What country's flag is that? - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Absolutely love this Park! I have been coming since I was a little girl. It's kept clean, and people pick up after their dogs. The trees are amazing and flowers are so pretty. I enjoy walking the park all year round. People are pleasant and you don't have to worry about strangers. read more

See all

I don't know why my wife has been hiding Highland Park from me throughout nearly a decade of coming to Rochester. I can only assume it's because she's the worst, because this place is the best. My old pal Frederick Law Olmsted designed this joint, and he knew how to make a park, people. You may have enjoyed his work in Prospect and also Central; Highland is similarly a gorgeous natural retreat, one where hiking, flowers, dogs, and sunshine make for about as good a day as you can have. If you happen to be around Rochester at the right time, I highly recommend checking out the Lilac Festival. As I understand it, the lilacs don't usually bloom during the event (because why would they?), but there are certainly plenty of flowers (pansies, tulips, etc.) to be seen regardless...not to mention, I think this is the cargo short capital of the Northeast. read more

See all

I feel remiss that today was our first visit after so many trips to Rochester the past year, especially since we may make fewer trips in the future. We need to come back at least once more to experience the park when the trees are green. The park is huge, so we barely scratched the surface of what's available to see and enjoy. We checked out the castle and sunken garden, which were cool, but have to be experienced in the late spring or summer, and probably early fall as well. There's only one playground, and it's on the small side considering, but there's a few swings, slides and a small rock wall. We didn't explore enough to see any of the memorials. read more

Highland Park - Warner Castle - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

This is one of the nicest parks in Rochester and I can't believe I haven't reviewed it sooner. I visit this park at least once a year to get in a good walk. The park itself has a couple of area's, some are flat and great for walking, other area's are hilly and quite the workout. There is a reservoir at the top - great for pictures, a conservatory, and a huge variety of plants & trees. There is an AIDS remembrance garden as well as a nicely done Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the south side. If you're looking for a place to walk, lay in the grass and tan, or just sit quietly and listen to the peaceful sounds of nature, this is a great park to visit. read more

Very interactive for kids. Probably better for bigger kids but, with supervision, little kids will love it! Nice trail off the park to walk also! read more

See all

Beautiful park. The walking paths are not nearly as smoothly paved as one would hope. The landscaping is great. read more

Highland Park - Lilac - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Beautiful diverse park with a lot to offer. Best time to visit is during Spring right before the Lilac Festival. I'm not a big fan of the Lilac Festival these days because it seemed more diverse when I was there in 2009, and in subsequent years the people running it just got lazy/greedy and the vendors tended to be less interesting and lower in quality. Some big name bands still come through during that time, but the overall festival experience is pretty meh. Went to a ribs fest there once during the summer and that was what I call getting tricked by a business. There were all these BBQ restaurants from a handful of mid size cities that looked like they were part of some scheme to just go around to a bunch of mid size cities and give each other a bunch of 1st, 2nd, 3rd ribbons and the food wasn't as good as Dinosaur or Sticky Lips! The Shakespeare in the park experience was good, though. But overall I'd say come here for the natural beauty and steer clear of the crowds! read more

Highland Park - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

I've been to 5 or 6 local parks over the last month and Highland has been my favorite. There are several magical little places that made for some great memories. We enjoyed Warner Castle with the sunken garden. The Conservatory was well worth the entry fee. The turtles were just as fun to watch as they swam and ate as the plants were interesting to learn about. Lots of variety! It is a little warm there. We were there a little early on a Saturday and there was no line. It felt safe and there was hand sanitizer available. We enjoyed checking out the reservoir and the small flower gardens here and there. There were lots of chipmunks and birds. The park was alive with folks of all ages enjoying their morning. read more

See all

The new Lilac Adventure Zone is our favorite playground! I see kids of all ages (and adults) climbing on all of the natural wood structures. I love that the design promotes creative play! They have covered tables for shade (full view of playground) and bathrooms nearby. Great light and background for photos as well! read more

Highland Park is a Rochester staple. It is gorgeous when things start blooming in the spring. The lilacs are amazing, and Rochestarians are always hopeful that they will bloom at the right time for the festival. The dark purple ones are my favorites. The Highland Bowl sometimes get some good shows for the festival. In the past I saw Sister Hazel, Rusted Root, and Ingrid Michaelson. The layout is great for lawn seats with a nice view. There are lots of paths, and you will find many people with their leashed pups on the prowl for some exercise. The park was poppin' last weekend. Just be courteous and bring a bag. Lots of benches are spread about, for a rest, some time to stretch, or a leisurely coffee date. I would also recommend picnicking in the park. Some choose to walk up towards the reservoir, and others park nearer to the South Ave, Highland area. Bring a few bucks, and check out the conservatory, just past the reservoir. read more

Highland Park - Reservoir - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

Besides the lilacs there's a unique natural park structure for all ages to navigate. It's not very much ada friendly as playgrounds go. I do love that there is a parking lot right next to the playground. Paved paths through the lilacs and the fantastic arboretum are other draws. I think it's carry in carry out, it's a great place for a picnic. read more

Highland park is diverse, beautiful, mysterious, and an absoulte treasure located in the heart of the city. From it's rolling hills, open fields, hidden gardens, and arboretum, there is something to do and love all year round in this wonderful park. I love the topography of this place, it's so hilly and pretty and some of the trees are truly ancient and gigantic! The Lamberton Conservatory is located here as well, another wonderful place to visit and enjoy the beauty of this park and the flowers and plants. There is a surprising amount of wildlife here, birds, deer, foxes, and rodents of every kind! The Lilac festival is here every year for about a week with lots of food, music, art, and other things to enjoy. I come here for the natural beauty and I always seem to find something to love and enjoy, the flowers and trees are truly stunning here and enjoyable year round. read more

One of my favorite parks in Rochester for many reasons. First, the park serves as the long standing location of the Lilac Festival, one of Rochester's greatest festivals. Second, it's where I spent many childhood weekends biking, hiking, sledding, ice skating, you name it. Third, the flora and fauna. Just plain beautiful. You feel happier walking through the winding paths. It's such an expansive park that I still find myself discovering new spots. I highly recommend it for picnics or just an excuse to get outside. The Lamberton Conservatory is pretty cool too. $3 entry for adults (kids under 5 free, I think). Partake in a fun challenge to find the turtles and quail hanging around. Even if you don't feel like wandering through the conservatory, it's worth a visit to see the map of plant-life in and around the park. I never realized how many varieties existed there until I saw them represented on the map. The best, of course, is to seek them out when you're milling around. It's such a beautiful place. It's a must to visit every year in the beginning of spring when everything starts to sprout. Then there's the Highland Bowl - a great outdoor concert location. I went last year for Wilco and am hoping for more great shows like that one. No bad views of the stage from the grass. read more

Highland Park - Springtime in the park - Parks Near Me - Rochester, New York

I love Highland Park for so many reasons, but today it was for the Lamberton Conservatory. It was exactly what I needed today! Winter has bee hanging on long enough this March, and I am starting to get antsy. I want to be outside and warm. A stroll through the conservatory with a good friend and a cup of tea was the perfect solution! $3.00 for adults to get in. You could spend hours reading a book or talking with a friend. Or you could people watch. You never know who you'll bump into. My friend and I actually ran into two people knew from high school - and it was a treat to see them! I love that there are quail running around in the tropical room, and there are lots of turtles basking in the sun. It makes for an ever more interesting trip. We sat for a while in the main room, drinking tea, and just being warm. It was SO nice. The desert room is great too if you need some dry heat! I really need to remember to get over here more often during the winters for a good does of oxygen and warmth to lift me out of the winter doldrums. read more

- If you had to ask what Rochester, NY is known for, you can list parks, outdoorsy stuff like hiking through mountains, trails, and woods as one of them. Highland Park is a 150 acre park that resides in the Highland area of Rochester nestled between South Wedge and the Henrietta area. It is an "Olmsted" designed park, meaning it is planned to look like a natural occurrence of tree and shrubs and is thus, a "tree garden." Parking: Usually there are allocated lots to park deeper inside the park, roads do transverse this park so it is not one piece of continuous land. Some parking is limited to 1 hr if you're parking in more busy roads and high volume traffic like Robinson. There are also residential homes throughout the park. It's main features include: 1. Hiking Paths, Benches, Picnic Areas 2. The Lamberton Conservatory, the recent recipient of a historical restoration award, houses exhibits that change up to five times a year and feature seasonal floral displays that might not otherwise survive Rochester's temperate climate. 3$ admission and usually closes around 4 p.m. every day. 3. Greater Rochester Vietnam Memorial commemorates the service, valor, and sacrifice of more than 28,000 Vietnam Veterans from our county region as well as the 280 men who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Free admission and you just have to walk into the garden to find it. Looks like a mini version of the Washington DC memorials you see with granite, rock, flags, and memos. 4. Warner Castle, a historic castle in the heart of the park that has become a favorite spot for wedding photos, boasts the Sunken Gardens, a Shady Border, Rock Garden, Courtyard Garden, Iris and Daylily Bed, Old-Fashioned Rose Bed, Miniature Rose Bed, Fern Bed and a 13th Century Herb Garden. Definitely come take some scenic photos here. 5. John Dunbar Memorial Pavilion (Highland Bowl) includes an outdoor amphitheater that is used for summertime concerts and film series. The pavilion is also available for rent by organizations and individuals. 6. Chestnut/Apple/Pecan picking, if you know your trees, come here In the fall to get your share of natural fall treats you can take home. read more

A great place to take a solo stroll and wander around. My kind of place it is. Trails are paved and many good spots for photos. read more

See all

Perfect place to picnic or hang out when it gets nice out. A few of my college friends and I came here to study before exams just to get out. So many flowers very pretty read more