One of the best parks in Rochester by far! I've been visiting this place since I was a kid, from seeing all the wildlife ( so many deer!) to sledding the big hill every winder! Definitely a hometown favorite place to go! The park has over 2500 acres of amazing trees, trails, ponds, wetlands and so much wildlife. There are shelters and lodges available to rent. With so many great trails to hike, song trail is a popular one. Great spot to view the sunset and get some great photos. lol if you haven't been here before make sure you take the time to visit. read more

Mendon Ponds Park - Parks Near Me - Honeoye Falls, New York

What a magical place to visit. All ages can enjoy the many trails seeing wildlife. Fairy land is a treat for the kids I love it too! Feed chickadees and titmouse from your hand it's amazing. Fun outdoor area kids can climb through the logs and check out Wild Wings and the many birds they have rescued. Highly recommend! read more

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I feel like it's been forever since we've been hiking! Saw the reviews for Mendon Ponds Park, and decided it was the one. We stumbled a little bit trying to find where the trails started. Initially we were following an online map, but we stopped at the park office to grab a paper copy for easier navigating. The park office is definitely not what I expected - it was a bit neglected, and nobody was there. I was hoping there'd be someone to talk to! Maybe they're just not in on Sundays. So off we went with our paper map! Lots of beautiful buildings - we really enjoyed the cobblestone house. Tree lined paths. Parking lots placed in convenient places. There was a cute little playground by the largest pond, and my daughter really enjoyed the abundance of lily pads. We were already feeling exhausted due to the heat by the time we found a trail entrance, but the trail itself was nice. There were teal colored trail markers nailed to the trees along the way, although the path itself was pretty straightforward until the turnaround. According to the map it should have circled back but there was a sign there for private property, so we hiked back the way we came instead. They had some absolutely gorgeous looking shelters. I'm not sure what the price point is, but it would be a great place for gatherings. Beautiful and peaceful, even if a little bit confusing our first time there. We will definitely be going back again (on a cooler day) to explore some more! read more

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WOW! We had the most amazing time exploring the green loop at Mendon Ponds Park! I am going to be honest, we showed up on a whim with absolutely no plan. This park is MASSIVE and trying to figure out the best spot to park/hike/explore can be daunting. I might recommend busting out a trail map or checking via the internets/Yelp reviews for some hot tips. I will say, the face that we landed on the green trail with no prior planning was amazing. For me, a fairly novice hiker with a penchant for falling down, this was the perfect mix of uphill challenges and gorgeous views. Our dog particularly liked the smells and opportunity to meet some new puppy friends, and particularly disliked the horses that come right up on this trail (so cool!) This trail has one VERY steep climb towards the end that looks unmanageable as your approaching, but was actually quite doable. There's cabins, sports fields, a nature center, and much more. I look forward to my next chance to explore this park and learn more about its offerings. Don't be intimidated - just go! read more

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This park is HUGE ! I went here on a whim to go and explore a new park and when I got here I was completely lost. There are a ton of lodges/picnic areas swings and play grounds. There are a ton and i mean a ton of trails. And there's so many ponds. I recommend going and exploring for an entire day or look up a map and map out where you want to go. I have to map out my next visit because I loved my first visit just exploring but next time I want to know where I'm going. read more

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Beautiful park with a lot to do! Me and the wife decided to go for a little Saturday morning stroll and the Manson ponds was my first choice. I had heard many good things about it so I was eager to finally make the short drive there. Upon arriving you'll notice there are tons of different trails to take. Many are marked on the maps scatter around the park. That came in handy pretty quick. Some trails are more compact dirt then anything else. Others are gravel or even sand. Many are just grass. So it's IMPORTANT to make sure you are wearing waterproof shoes, even boots. People make sure that they are either for the purpose of hiking or they are shoes you don't care about. But I strongly advise they be waterproof. These are trails for mesh sneakers. Only if it's really hot out and the ground is DRY! Anyways, apart from the proper foot wear, you want to bring some water, a charged cell phone and either a camera or have your phone handy. There are some beautiful sights. We saw some people kayaking and heading down to one of the ponds. Looked fun but not for me lol. All in all I have a lot more to see and I will be back! read more

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Today's family adventure consisted of a winter wonderland stroll through the Birdsong Trail at Mendon Ponds! It was a beautiful morning (chilly but not surprising). We did an easy walk with our 3 year old and fed the chickadees along the way. We brought our own birdseed and they ate right out of our hands...it's such a neat experience! Another highlight of the trail was the fairy doors along the way. They were so cute and added a magical touch to the trail :) read more

Mendon Ponds Park - Parks Near Me - Honeoye Falls, New York

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Mendon Ponds park is one of 4 area parks that is regularly groomed for skate skiing and traditional track nordic skiing. There are miles of trails and once the trails have been groomed, skied and packed in, the snow sticks around a while. My husband and I are avid cross-country skiers and we have skied all over the park, including around the ponds (where you cross paths with walkers/runners/dogs) and in the areas that are not groomed. The park is beautiful, quiet, with ample parking, and when the temps are good, it is about the best you can get. I recommend the North Meadow for the best skiing with other skiers; earlier in the morning on weekends is better than mid-day to afternoon, as those are the times it seems busiest with area high school xc ski clubs training, plus more general skiers. Week days are also great with less traffic. And there are clearly marked trails for all levels of skiers, and lots of options for experiencing elevation changes. There are no lights here though, so night skiing is only an option if you have your own head lamps. Prepare for the beauty of the park, maybe some wild animal sightings, and a great workout! read more

This park is my #1 go-to here in Rochester. It has so many beautiful views and trails. This place is perfect for gatherings, family events, solo trips, relaxation, and parties. They have gazebos and cabins you can rent out. There's fishing available, you can bring your kayaks out here, there's grills around for you to cook with your group, the park is pet-friendly (please pick up after your animals to keep our park beautiful), bird watching and bird feeding, there's all kinds of trails with different levels of difficulty, and there's a playground for children. Everyone will find something here they enjoy. The passerby's are also friendly! read more

Beautiful day for a hike. It's an easy trail with many paths to explore. Roughly 3-4 miles of easily marked trails. I would recommend wearing hiking boots as some paths were muddy and slippery. The views were beautiful so don't forget your camera. read more

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I have been going here for decades. I've run trails here, taken kids on field trips here, watched new trails being built. There's a great app called #TrailsRoc if you need help navigating or Strava or AllTrails. The wildlife is outstanding. It's pretty peaceful & serene. However, as others have noted: horses can ruin a trail. Some trails horses aren't allowed- check those out. I didn't see anyone posting about kayaking- it's a good place to learn, but the big pond is pretty weedy. Because it's outdoors, there are bugs & snakes & animals. Last weekend I found a newborn fawn in the tall grass. My biggest issue is the park can get too crowded at times, but people seem to be pretty good about sharing the trails. The Birdsong Trail has original artwork murals by local artist Justin Suarez along with faerie houses. Lots of variety in terrain- ask any trail runner about Cardiac Hill. read more

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This is one of my favorite parks in the Rochester area. One of my favorite experiences as a child was coming here to feed the birds in the winter time. Having the birds perch in your hand is such a fun experience. Now as an adult I still take friends here and encourage anyone if they havent visited in the winter to definitely give it a try. Pro tip, the birds love sunflower seeds! That's the bird seed of choice, you will get all the birds if you go with that in hand! read more

Mendon Ponds park is a great place for families and friends to gather. It covers 2500 acres full of wildlife, beautiful trees and trails to hike on. Ideal for hikers, naturists, photographers and the exercise buffs.It was added to the National Landmark registry in 1967. Many of us remember this park from when we were kids and our parents took us there. I still visit it for my photography, as recently as yesterday. 11/02/2018 Yesterdays visit was a bit different though. I had gone out to my good friends house for coffee. He lives 10 minutes from Mendon Ponds. And not long ago he had mentioned about a bench that was put out there in memory of his father. I knew his father well, a great guy, everyone loved him. After we finished coffee, he gave me directions to get to the bench site. 15 minutes later I was there. NOTE: The weather was not favorable at all for photography but I wanted to share this with our viewers. When I got to the bench I looked back through the years, many wonderful thoughts and memories of knowing his father, and the entire family. I still have a close relationship to the family. And most important, a special credit goes to Kenny, Mel's youngest son for thinking of this dedication in his fathers memory. I dedicate this posting to Melvyn Gurell. read more

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Last year we adopted a pup and started exploring all of the trails and green spaces in the Rochester area. Mendon Ponds is one of our favorites because it offers so many different trail options, a variety of landscapes, and enough room to distance. Be careful, though - some areas are not dog-friendly, and some areas aren't very well marked. But getting lost in the park is probably not the worst thing if you're trying to enjoy the beautiful spaces we have here. read more

The weather was finally nice this past weekend! Took a nice hike on one of the green trails East Esker (4.7 miles). Although the weather has been snowy, rainy, etc. the trails were dry! This trailer is hilly and scenic! The highlight of the day was momma deer and 9 babies running across the trail in front of us! There are many different trails in this part, with different levels of "difficulty." There's something for everyone here! read more

Favorite park around. Memories in every turn. I grew up feeding the chickadees 30 years ago, now my kids feed em. I've had baby showers and birthday parties, learned to fish and taught to fish, sledding and pulling the sleds up the hills. Mendon Ponds is who raised me. read more

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Came down here for a nice run while in town and was thrilled with the spot. Well-maintained trail system, gorgeous running or walking spots with nice views of the ponds and plenty of wildlife around to add to the atmosphere. We did a bit over 5 miles and it was clear we could have done a good bit further, so pretty extensive collection of trails here. Will definitely be back to run here some more than next time I'm in town! read more

Love it there. Great motorcycle roads (watch for deer). Wide open, lots to see, nice trails. If you can't make it to Letchworth or just don't want to drive over there, Mendon Ponds is a great place. Check out the bird place. The birds WILL eat out of your hand. read more

I can't believe we've lived in Rochester for almost 9 years and have only explored 2 trails in Mendon before this year! Silver lining to the pandemic -- visiting parks in our own "backyard" -- we've seen more of this region this year than we would have in another 9 years! Right after Christmas in 2020, we visited the Birdsong Fairy Trail, and then hooked-up with the Quaker Pond Trail, concluding at the end with a walk around the Wild Wings Sanctuary. Oh my goodness, everyone, GO!!!!! What a FANTASTIC couple of hours! The fairy houses and structures all along the Fairy Trail are ADORABLE! So creative and heart-warming! Just what the soul needs during these strange pandemic times! We decided to extend our walk and hook-in to the Quaker Pond Trail before getting back to the Nature Center, where we parked. We'd brought bird-seed with us (thank you for the rec, Yelpers!!!) and got to a place where there was a bench and several bird-feeders in the trees. So we decided to spread bird-seed on the bench, and sure enough some birds landed on the bench to eat, right beside us. So we put some in our hands, and it was MAGICAL! The birds landed and fed right out of hand! We finally tore ourselves away from such an extraordinary experience, and finished the hike back at the Nature Center. Decided to walk thru the Wild Wings Sanctuary, and SO GLAD we did. Wonderful volunteers to tell us about the residents there. Such interesting birds, a bobcat, 2 foxes and more! We'll be back for sure, and I plan to "adopt" one of the birds for my hubby's birthday gift. Overall, a great experience at Mendon and we'll be back to explore more! read more

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This is by far one of the best parks in the Rochester area. It offers such a wide variety of outdoor options and trails. Here's what I like: 1. The esker trails offer a really interesting and challenging hike when it comes to geography 2. Feeding the chickadees. Enter through the third entrance off Rt. 65 (Pond road) and park in the lot near the Wild Wings. From here there is a trail to feed the birds. It's a great experience. Go early in the morning on a weekday to avoid crowds. 3. X-country ski trails. I like to park near the Lookout Shelter (there's a lot there) and then make my way down to the trail that goes around Quaker Pond. There's always people around skiing in the winter, which makes it a nice place to go if you're a solo outdoors person and concerned about personal safety. 4. A great location for perseid viewing. Come after the sun sets, and on a clear night you'll be able to see shooting stars! If it's cloudy you may get light pollution from the city (it seems to be ever encroaching), but on clear nights the view is spectacular. 5. Trail running - there are many roads and trails that make for the perfect running destination. A variety of races are hosted in the park as well, so go out and get accustomed to the lay of the land. 6. Wildlife - deer are always plentiful and not easily spooked so you get a good look. Overall it's a gem of a location here on Rochester's doorstep and well worth the drive to get away from it all. read more

Hiking is so much fun. Multiple trails. BBQ grills. Flora and fauna abound. It has a great fresh green grass naturey feel to it. I really enjoy my hike here. Not too painful, yet just enough to work up a sweat and then cancel it out by stuffing myself with a delicious meal at somewhere that has meaty options. Ahhh...I revel in the great outdoors. read more

Mendon Ponds Park - The trail (orange) - Parks Near Me - Honeoye Falls, New York

My favorite park in Rochester, I absolutely love the beauty of this park. Boasting miles of hiking trails, ponds, and trees and animals everywhere this park is absolutely the best around. The park has fantastic topography with easy and more difficult trails for anybody to enjoy. Hiking, snowshoeing, sports, kayking, fishing, are all things to be enjoyed here. The park contains Wildwings the large bird conservation center near the entrance and a wonderful song bird trail. The East Esker trail is about 5 miles and one of my absolute favorite hikes, it's so good with a variety of elevation changes, and lots to see along the way. This park is great year round and can be enjoyed by all. I've been here many times and will be back many more! read more

My first time here today. I brought my dog with me for a walk. This is a very well kept park. I love the part that there is a big pond in there. It was a really relaxing walk and the view was great too. read more

Mendon Ponds Park - Parks Near Me - Honeoye Falls, New York

I have fond memories of Mendon Ponds. Growing up in Honeoye Falls, Mendon Ponds was an integral part of our community activities. I've done just about every activity possible here - watching my siblings during cross country skiing and running meets, hiking the trails, orienteering, sledding at suicide hill, park parties at the various huts throughout the park and hanging out at the boat launch. I have to say this is one of my favorite outdoorsy places in Rochester because of its close proximity to the city and surrounding towns, and for all the park offers. It's so beautiful, especially during the fall. You'll most likely see some wild animal while you're wandering around and drive safely at night - the deer pop out at you when you least expect it. Also, I find that the people who hike around the park are some of the most friendly people - everyone says hello so be nice and reciprocate. While it's still relatively autumnal take a stroll along the Devil's Bathtub trail or any of the trails along the 2nd entrance. You won't be disappointed. And, as winter approaches plan to take your kids here to sled or cross country ski. read more

Mendon Ponds Park - Fall 2012 - Devil's Bathtub - Parks Near Me - Honeoye Falls, New York

very beautiful views in the park，very nice place to picnic and take a walk. there are many tables in the park and a lots of parking space. there are also trials that leds to nature adventure. read more

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Nice, spacious park with a large pond and numerous walking trails. Great place to walk, jog, sled, or walk your dog.

Lovely park with well kept trails. Highly recommend and great for dogs. Kayaking was also accessible and easy to self launch.

I feel like I need to go back to this park to re-review it after I type this. Lots of people love it and the nature center. I personally struggled because I wanted some place to hike with the dogs and every trail I located said "No Dogs". It was truly upsetting considering I drove from Greece to take the dogs on a nice long walk. The nature center's trail looked amazing but of course I couldn't try it out. We eventually found a quite trail. Afterwards, I found one tick on each of my dogs. Upsetting. read more

We came to Sharon's Sensory Garden to walk a trail. So quiet and serene. We are sitting on a bench with our Birdseed in our hands. The finch and other small birds will eat off your hands. So close to nature and so beautiful. Better than meditation or yoga. Give it a try. read more

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Our favorite place to hike in the Rochester area, and not only because it's up the street! We have been in the area for years and it still feels like a new adventure whenever we visit! Some trails are easy, some are hilly, some are sunny, some are shady, some are for cross country skiing, some are for dogs, some dog-free, some short, some long, and there is even one particular trail where hungry birds might take seed from your hand on a cold winter day! But everywhere is natural beauty of forest, meadow and/or water. I've seen deer leaping around us and so many birds, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. This is a family friendly park with restrooms and pavilions throughout, but you can still get lost in nature as soon as the cathedral of woods surrounds you. Sometimes we choose trails that are a good work out, and sometimes we just want a Sunday stroll with the kids, but always natural beauty abounds and the scenes change with every season. read more

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Great park for strolling around in nature. It's close to Rochester - no need to treat a visit as a major day(s) long excursion. Big enough that there are several trails to choose from (all short and no-difficulty), and small enough that there's no chance of becoming hopelessly lost. Very possible to consult the map only for parking and trail head guidance - if you then chuck the map, you may not stay on the same trail, but it won't be a crisis. It's nice here - nearly-groomed and relaxing, with occasional views of big houses and a raucous dog kennel. Sharon's Sensory Garden was a nice diversion, even though I'm not among its target demographic. Plenty of runners who look to be working up a good sweat, picnic tables, and a few shelters. read more

I do so love Mendon Ponds. We walk our dogs there all the time and many of the trails are not that heavily travelled - particularly if you get up into the hills. Portions of the trails remind me of Walden Pond - it has that type of serenity. And though it's been some time since I x-country skiied there, the park was a favorite place for that as well though I prefer less of the groomed trails which are favored there for the local high school racing clubs. So why only three stars? The horses. In my opinion, a few riding stables and barns in the area really ruin a pristine park. Now don't get me wrong, I was raised with horses and our family always had at least two if not four or more while I was growing up but we rode in forest and open pasture, not on trails made for walking. Instead of sticking to the wide grassy lanes in the park, people ride on the narrow dirt trails and this year in particular, they've absolutely ruined the walking trails which are now trampled mud messes. And we pick up after our dogs. You can't say that for the horses which are indiscriminate in their droppings. The County really needs to take a look at the # of visitors to the park and how they use it. A very small # of elite, because let's face it it's expensive to own and stable a horse, are ruining this park for the enjoyment of others. read more

Good place for a get together, whether with a large family or a class reunion. Call ahead to reserve a shelter big enough to handle the occasion. The park is well maintained, clean and scenic enough to enjoy. It's not Letchworth by any stretch of the imagination, but in all fairness, it's a wonderful place to kill some time or even get a little exercise. read more

This park is so beautiful, especially in the fall. There are lots of ponds that people where people can kayak and canoe. I see tons of people fishing during the on-season but I do not believe you can use a boat with a motor, only row style. The trails here are awesome. I have ran a handful of 5ks here. If you are a runner and want a scenic hilly route to get in shape, the hills will make your calves burn. You can also do cross country skiing and snowshoeing there if you like to play in the snow. They throw a winterfest every year. Bike trails are awesome too. Some of my friends that are into geocaching have found some caches in the park too. There are of course lodges to rent out, and public restrooms. read more

Mendon Ponds is a lovely park, easily accessible from Rochester and the surrounding towns, but tucked away in it's own little world. Quiet, pretty views, natural formations (look for the "Devil's Bathtub"!), many picnic shelters and year-round activities (great sledding!). My only quibble? In the summer, I really like to be in the water, and the swimming has been closed. To be fair, the water here was always a bit slimy so it was a good decision. All in all, well worth it to get outdoors and have a picnic and get some fresh air. read more

I have always loved this park in fact I had Birthday parties here as a kid. It is well loved by many, trails are well worn. Great in any season. Ridiculous about of deer. Feeding chick-a-dees from your hand in the winter is like no other experience. read more

There is just way too much too see and take hikes in at Mendon Ponds Park. You have to go and keep going to see/ hike the other trails or see what is happening in the park during the different seasons. Except, I get lost on the trails so I need to go with people who are more experienced than I am. :) read more

Very nice park, conveniently located close to the city, and but far enough away that you can actually find some solitude. The park is filled with interesting glacial formations, if you are a geology buff. Many trails to choose from, ranging from very easy to moderate. None of the trails are especially challenging, one needs to go off the beaten track for that. Most of the trails are clearly marked and they are all well maintained. There is a map of the trails with descriptions posted on their website, along with allowed uses of each trail. The trails interconnect well, so it's possible to tailor your hike to the length you would like just by choosing the right combination of trails. Be careful with this though, because if you are anything like me, you can zone out in the tranquility of it all before you realize that you are now about 9 miles from your car (going back along the trails, that is). Yeah, I take spontaneous 18 mile hikes. I've hiked all of the trails in every season, so I'll give a quick rundown based on my personal opinions: Bird Song: great for families, easy and short trail with some hills, but nothing major. Chickadees will eat sunflower seeds or bird seed out of your hands. Lots of chipmunks and red and gray squirrels. Connects with Swamp Trail. Swamp Trail: Pretty cool, short loop. Has a boardwalk through a swamp that has a ton of wildlife (turtles, frogs, birds, etc.) and a bridge or two. Connects with Bird Song and Quaker Loop. Quaker Loop: easy loop around Quaker Pond with wooden bridges. Connects with South Meadow. South Meadow: similar to North Meadow, minus the wooded areas. Always found this trail kind of boring, but like North Meadow and Grasslands, it is nice in the spring. East Esker: My personal favorite. About five miles with a detour near the water tower to an "observation point". Lots of wildlife. I've personally seen deer (and LOTS of them), raccoon, fox, woodpeckers, and skunk among others. It is also the most challenging trail at the park, with many hills and elevation changes. The trail also passes through the highest point in the park. Connects with North Meadow. North Meadow: passes through woods and a meadow with tons of wildflowers, birds, and butterflies in the spring. Grasslands: A very easy loop which is relatively flat. Nice in the spring when flowers are blooming and there is a plethora of song birds and butterflies. Links with the Devil's Bathtub trail. The section close to Clover Street can be a buzz kill though. Devil's Bathtub: a popular loop that passes around, you guessed it, Devil's Bathtub. Get ready to climb a big set of wooden stairs on this trail. Connects to the West Esker trail. West Esker: a fun, hilly trail that skirts a bit of Hundred Acre Pond and is home to Cardiac Hill. Pinewoods and Fern Valley: kind of similar in length and terrain, they are nice, short loops through woods, but they are kind of isolated on the north side of the park. You can get to them from other trails by crossing Hopkins Point and Canfield Roads, respectively. I think that covers them all. I think I've spent way too much time hiking through Mendon Ponds. read more

One of my favorite parks although I could be biased because I live near there. I remember my first time seeing Devil's Bathtub. It was in the fall and the way the leaves reflected off the pound was breathtaking. There are a lot of trails here but the devil's bathtub trail is my favorite. I often came here alone to enjoy some peace walking among the many dunes. read more

Amazing park, I just went there for the first time this past weekend. I was surprised by the sheer size of it. I had a chance to check out the bird sanctuary that is on the property- it was really nice. There is also a good amount of hiking trails that you can do throughout the entire park. It seems like a great park to take nature photos if you are interested in that sort of thing. If you're in the Rochester area I would definitely recommend checking it out! read more