GENESEE RIVERWAY TRAIL:
EL CAMINO TRAIL:
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last
Updated: December 17, 2024
Length:
Genesee Riverway Trail: Upper West Side; 7.6 miles
Genesee Riverway Trail: West
Side; Downtown
Section; 1 mile
Genesee Riverway Trail: Lower West
Side;
3.7 miles
Genesee Riverway Trail: Upper East
Side;
3.6 miles
Genesee Riverway Trail: East Side; Downtown Section; 1.2 miles
Genesee Riverway Trail: Lower East
Side; 3
miles
El Camino Trail;
2 miles
Difficulty:
Genesee Riverway Trail: Upper West Side; Moderate.
Paved trail has some steep hills
with a stone-dust section.
Genesee Riverway Trail: West
Side; Downtown
Section; Easy. Flat paved & cement trail.
Genesee Riverway Trail: Lower West
Side; Easy.
Flat paved trail.
Genesee Riverway Trail: Upper East
Side; Easy. Flat
paved & stone-dust trail and a BIKE LANE section.
Genesee Riverway Trail: East
Side; Downtown
Section; Easy. Flat paved trail with some BIKE LANE sections.
Genesee Riverway Trail: Lower East
Side; Easy.
Flat paved trail.
El Camino Trail; Easy. Flat stone-dust rail trail.
Directions:
To Start from Ontario Beach Park [Northern
End]; From the junction of I-390 and I-490 in
Rochester head north on Route 390 to exit 27A. Travel east along the Lake
Ontario State Parkway for 3 miles. Turn left on Lake Ave and travel 0.7 miles.
turn right into the Ontario Beach parking lot. Park in the far left
corner where the trail begins next to the Genesee River.
To start from Turning
Point Park parking lot [North
Central Section];
From Route 390 take exit 25 to Route 267/249 east. Follow to end and turn right
on Dewey Ave. After 0.5 miles turn left on Stone Rd which merges with Stonewood
Ave. Turn right on Lake Ave ad follow 0.3 miles. Turn left on Boxart St and
follow to parking lot.
To Start from Maplewood Park [Central
Section];
From Route 390 take exit 24 to Route 104 east. Travel 2.8 miles to the Maplewood
Drive exit. Turn left on Bridge View Dr and travel underneath Route 104. The
parking lot is on your left. The trail runs along the right side of Bridge View
Dr.
To start from Genesee Valley Park [Southern
End]; From I-390 take exit 17 to Route 383. Head left (north)
to Genesee St.
For the Genesee
Valley Park; Northwest parking area;
Turn right down Genesee St. Parking lot
entrance is on your left. Follow the paved trail south from the parking lot.
For the Genesee Valley Park; Northeast
parking area; Continue
straight on Elmwood Ave and cross over the
Genesee River.
Take an immediate right on Moore Rd into the park. Parking lot will be on your
right.
The Genesee Riverway Trail; West Side follows the Genesee
River from Ontario Beach Park where the river flows into Lake
Ontario South,
along the
West Side of the river, past 3 waterfalls and
the gorge, through downtown Rochester to Genesee
Valley Park; Northwest
and the Erie
Canal. You can then Loop back North,
along the Genesee Riverway Trail; East Side (East Side of the
river) from Genesee
Valley Park; Northeast
and the Erie
Canal through downtown Rochester. You can
then continue North,
following the El
Camino Trail, which follows the old CSX RR line through the
Butterhole Neighborhood to Seneca Park. A short section of the Genesee Riverway Trail;
East Side
continues North,
through Seneca Park, however a large Gap remains
past here. At Seneca Park,
you can cross the *Maplewood
Park-Seneca Park Pedestrian Bridge
West,
over the Genesee River, back to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
West Side and return North,
back to Ontario Beach Park.
I've divided the trail into 3 Sections,
along both the West
& East Sides
of the Genesee River:
- Genesee Riverway Trail; Upper
West/East Sides [North
of Downtown Section]
- Genesee Riverway
Trail; West/East Sides: Downtown Section
[Downtown
Section]
- Genesee Riverway Trail; Lower
West/East Sides [South
of Downtown Section]
The trail links nine historic
districts and individual landmarks including the 1842 Erie Canal Aqueduct
and the 1822 Lake Ontario Lighthouse. You have access to the Genesee
Valley Greenway , Erie
Canalway
Trail; Syracuse-Rochester , Erie
Canalway
Trail; Rochester-Buffalo and the Lehigh
Valley Trail; North Branch off the Genesee Riverway Trail. For more
information visit; GENESEE
RIVERWAY TRAIL & EL
CAMINO TRAIL .
Genesee Riverway Trail;
West Side:
Genesee Riverway Trail; Upper
West Side:
Starting from Ontario Beach Park [Northern
End]; Restrooms, carousel & picnic pavilions in the park. At the
NE corner of the parking lot, next to Ontario Beach Park and Rochester
Harbor, will be a sculpture of a sailing vessel. This is the start of
the Genesee Riverway Trail; Upper
West Side.
Green wayfinding signs
guide you along the trail.
Note;
If you travel North, following the cement path between Ontario Beach
Park and
the Genesee River/Rochester Harbor, you'll come to a jetty jutting into Lake Ontario.
This is where the river flows into the lake. You can follow this jetty to a
small lighthouse after 0.6 miles.
Heading South, the wide paved Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper West Side
travels alongside the Genesee River/Rochester Harbor. Informational signs along the trail. You
quickly come to the Port of Rochester complex.
Note; You can continue straight, South,
past the front of the Arbor of the Port shops, to a large dock, then travel
right, North, around the small Port of
Rochester Marina to
rejoin the trail. Could be crowded at times.
Head right, West, past the Arbor
of the Port shops complex along a
wide cement trail and bare left to the small Port of Rochester Marina.
Continue West to a Map Board, next to N River
St and head South,past the marina and
parking lot to an intersection.
Note; Left, East,
this Spur Trail will take you out to the Genesee
River and an overlook. This was the site of the old Hojack Railroad Swing Bridge.
Continue South, down to River St for a short
on-road
section. Look right to spot a green "Genesee Riverway" sign
pointing left, where
you’ll pick up the trail again next to a Map Board.
Note;
You can connect West, to the Lake
Ontario State Parkway Trail from
here.
Turn left, past a Map Board to the
wooden dock, then right following the dock South,
along the river. You'll pass by
the old RR Station. Here you pick up the
paved trail as it follows the RR tracks and river, traveling underneath the Colonel
Patrick O'Rourke Memorial Bridge (Pattonwood Dr). The trail splits when you
reach the River Street Marine parking lot at 1 mile. Bear right. The trail now pulls away from the
river and begins a long assent along a wooded ridge. You then descend down to a
long boardwalk at 1.7 miles. This is all part of Turning Point Park. The
long boardwalk (0.7 miles long) winds through the river and marsh before
returning you to land and an intersection at 2.4 miles.
Note;
A paved Spur Trail right leads up to the Turning Point Park parking lot (off
Boxart St).
It then continues South, just above the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper West Side, bringing you to an
intersection after 0.6 miles, where you'll
rejoin the Genesee Riverway Trail; Upper West Side.
Right brings you to the Brewster Harding Park parking lot.
Continue straight along the river and you soon
begin another long gradual assent. Just before you level off look left to spot a
stream cascading down the ridge. Come to an intersection at 3 miles.
Note;
Right brings you to the Brewster Harding Park parking lot.
Trail turns inland passing by the Riverside
Cemetery before coming to Lake Ave at 3.6 miles. The paved trail continues left,
South, alongside Lake Ave.
At 4 miles you cross Lake Ave and continue left (one-way each side of street). Just before Winchester St at
4.5 miles you pick up a BIKE LANE. A cross-light will take you
back across Lake Ave to Maplewood Dr at 4.8 miles. Follow the sidewalk along
Maplewood Dr and you'll pick up a paved trail on your left which
takes you around a parking lot and across Hanford Landing Rd. The
trail improves as it winds alongside Maplewood Drive. Come to an intersection
where the trail continues straight alongside
Bridge View Drive. You then come to a crosswalk and intersection at 5.4 miles.
Note; Right, across
Bridge View Drive, leads to the Maplewood
Park parking lot.
Note;
Left, a paved trail takes you East, to the *Maplewood
Park-Seneca Park Pedestrian Bridge,
which travels high above the Genesee River, to Seneca
Park and the Genesee Riverway
Trail; Upper East Side. From here you can visit the
SENECA
PARK ZOO , as well as, connect to the El Camino
Trail.
Continuing alongside
Bridge
View Drive you travel underneath Route 104 (nice views of the river far below)
and then continue along Maplewood Drive before coming to an intersection at 6
miles. Right takes you out to Seneca Pkwy. Continue straight along the
stone-dust trail. Rejoin the paved trail as you travel through the
southern end of Maplewood Park. Bear left through the park past picnic
tables, a Rose garden and a restroom in the shape of a fort before coming
to Driving Park Ave at 6.6 miles. Here you'll find a BIKE STATION.
Crosswalk where the trail heads down through Lower Falls Park. Bear left at the intersection
for overlooks of the falls and Station 5 Power House. Informational signs.
Continue down the trail to Middle Falls and Station
5 Dam at 6.9 miles.
Note; There is no trail along the West Side
of the river along this section.
Genesee Riverway Trail; Upper
East Side:
Cross the dam to the Genesee Riverway
Trail; Upper East Side of the
river and travel uphill to a Map Board at the end
of Brewer St. [Continuing Mileage] Follow Brewer St straight out to St Paul St at 7.3 miles.
Note; The Genesee Riverway
Trail; Upper East Side travels
North, along the St Paul Street
BIKE LANE.
Head right, South, following
the Genesee Riverway
Trail; Upper East Side
St Paul Street BIKE LANE. Pass by a promenade overlooking the river at 7.5 miles. Map
Board.
Note; To your left, across St Paul St, is
Scrantom St where you can connect to the Southern End of the El
Camino Trail. I describe that trail on the return
trip via the Genesee Riverway Trail; Upper
East Side.
As you pass by a parking lot on your right there will be a gap
between two lots. This is where the old Rochester Running
Track Bridge crossed over the river and under St Paul St. It's the same rail line utilized by the
El
Camino Trail.
Note; In 2022 the old
Rochester Running
Track Bridge was stabilized.
Future plans call for reusing this section
of rail bed and the old RR bridge over the river as part of the El
Camino Trail. The bridge is referred to as the
Rochester
Running Track Bridge. The bridge dates to 1887, and was built as a
part of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad, known as the “Hojack
Line,” servicing RG&E’s former Beebee Station.
Note; Since I was last here, improvements have
been ongoing with the ROC
THE RIVERWAY project. See; ROC
THE RIVERWAY MAP [Note; Left side of Map [Southern
End] starts from Wilson Blvd [#1 on Map] and the Erie & Lackawanna Pedestrian Bridge and proceeds
right, North, through downtown and High Falls to the old Rochester Running
Track Bridge [#27 on Map].
[Top of Map is East
Side of River and Bottom is West Side]
Come to Bausch St at 7.9 miles. To your left is the small Lomb
Memorial Park. Turn right along a sidewalk to a
cross-light just before the bridge. Cross the street and continue right across
the Genesee River, along a separated path, to the West
Side of the river.
Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper West Side:
Pick up the paved Genesee Riverway
Trail; Upper West Side on your left at
8.2 miles. [Continuing Mileage] Continue South above the river, passing by an overlook. Look up to spot the iconic Kodak building in the distance.
The trail takes you underneath an old relic of the industrial age before
dropping you at Brown & Mill streets. Continue along the wide sidewalk along
Mill St past old brick buildings. Turn left on Platt St (pavers) and come to Browns Race at
8.5 miles and the High Falls Heritage Area.
Note; Straight ahead is the Pont
de Rennes Pedestrian Bridge that crosses the river. Built
in 1891 by Rochester Bridge and Iron Works, it is named after its
Sister City, Rennes, France, and listed on the National Historic Registry.
Spanning 858 feet and standing 114 feet above the Genesee River, it was
converted into a pedestrian bridge in 1982. It
affords nice views of the Genesee River Gorge and High Falls. It crosses over to Granite
Mills Commons and High
Falls Terrace Park, which I describe via the return trip along the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper
East Side.
Map and informational board located here. After checking out
the bridge and views continue right, South, along Browns Race alongside the old
Canal and past the HIGH
FALLS INTERPRETIVE CENTER and MUSEUM before coming to Browns
Race/Triphammer Forge Site. Brown's Race was a small
Power Canal that was constructed in 1815 near the High Falls. The water that
was diverted along the race was used to power water wheels for various mills
that were built in and around the cliffs just North (up-river) of the High
Falls on the West Side of the Genesee River. Later the street Browns
Race was run alongside the Canal, where it now hosts a series of bars and
night clubs, and various businesses. Brown's Race
is still visible, running under a
metal grate, alongside and below the street. You can also visit an excavated
mill, and still the waterwheel and waterworks that were use to power industry in
the 19th century. Continue out to Commercial St where you get a good view of the
Power Canal
straight ahead.
Note;
Roc the Riverway has future plans to complete a trail East,
to a future "Over the Falls Bridge" across the river and
above High Falls and next to a RR bridge, to High
Falls Terrace Park Overlook and the Brewery Line Trail,
part of the Genesee Riverway Trail; Upper
East Side.
Continue right, on-road (low
traffic) along Commercial St to **Mill Street and
turn left, underneath the RR bridge out to Allen St North. Spot a narrow ***Tunnel straight ahead (Use Caution; no crosswalk)
that takes you underneath the the Inner Loop to Allen St South and cross over to
the sidewalk (Use Caution; no crosswalk).
Note; If you don't feel comfortable crossing
these 2 roads or traveling through the ***Tunnel
you can bypass both. Continue along Commercial
St from **Mill Street
to
State St and traveling left, underneath the Inner Loop to Allen St South. Cross-light,
then left Allen St South, via a wide sidewalk. This will bring you across from the
***Tunnel.
Head left, East, past a parking lot gate and
come to the end of a dead end road on your right at 8.9
miles. This is Front Street.
Genesee Riverway
Trail; West Side: Downtown Section:
This is the start of the Genesee Riverway
Trail; West Side: Downtown Section.
[Continuing Mileage] Follow the
sidewalk right, South, along Front
Street. Not sure what the
future plans are for the undeveloped lot along your left, which fronts the
river. Hopefully part of a future Genesee Riverway
Trail connection. Come to Andrews St and cross over to a wide
sidewalk. Head left and you'll return to the Genesee Riverway
Trail; West Side: Downtown Section
on your right at 8.9 miles. The trail continues South,
through Charles Carroll Plaza. The trail section
through downtown has changed since I last rode it. Still being upgraded as part
of the ROC
THE RIVERWAY project in 2024 and will continue for
many more years. Pass by the Sister Cities Pedestrian Bridge on your
left.
Note; This bridge crosses
the Genesee River to the Genesee Riverway
Trail; East Side: Downtown Section.
I haven't checked out this new bridge yet.
Charles Carroll
Plaza-Sister Cities Pedestrian Bridge-Genesee Crossroads Park Projects:
The Charles
Carroll Plaza & Sister Cities Pedestrian Bridge are both
complete. The Genesee Crossroads Park Project
is scheduled to start in 2025. See; Maps Below.
Continue through the Austin Steward Plaza,
past First Federal Plaza to E Main St at 9
miles. Cross over and travel through Aqueduct
Park, where you'll need to detour along Graves St, traveling underneath an
arch and out to Aqueduct St. Left along Bank Pl to Exchange Blvd, then left to E
Broad St (BIKE LANE).
Note; Access to the next section of trail is a
set of stairs. To bypass continue straight along Exchange Blvd, then left on
Court St back to the river and the paved Genesee Riverway
Trail; West Side: Downtown Section
on your right. Same Mileage.
Head left up E Broad St (BIKE LANE) back to the
river and the paved Genesee Riverway
Trail; West Side: Downtown Section
continues on your right, down a set of stairs. Here you can look left to spot the the
old subway and Erie Canal tunnel under Broad
St.
Note;
Broad St will be reconstructed to reveal the
historic Erie Canal Aqueduct and
transform the Broad Street Bridge into a dynamic public space. Also new
riverfront promenades are planned here. See; AQUEDUCT
REIMAGINED .
Note; The Erie Canal: Second
Genesee Aqueduct, also known as the Broad
Street Aqueduct, is a historic stone aqueduct located below the Broad
Street Bridge. It was constructed in 1836–1842 and originally carried the Erie
Canal over the Genesee River. It
is one of four major aqueducts in the mid-19th century Erie
Canal system. In 1927, a roadbed was added to
carry automobile traffic and named Broad St. See; Picture Below. It also carried a part of the
ROCHESTER
SUBWAY .
Continue South above the river through the Blue Cross Arena
& War Memorial before crossing Court St to a Map Board. You then travel
past a dam on your left and head underneath the arched I-490 bridge as
you leave the downtown area at 9.9 miles.
Genesee Riverway Trail;
Lower West Side:
The Genesee Riverway Trail;
Lower West Side
[Continuing Mileage] then follows alongside the river past the Corn
Hill section of Rochester becoming paved at 10.3 miles where you travel
between the river and Exchange Blvd. I believe this section of trail follows the
rail bed of the old Lehigh Valley RR. Travel underneath Ford St where the trail pulls away from Exchange
St at 10.3 miles. Pass by an old RR Mileage Marker JC384/R1
(Jersey City 384 miles/Rochester 1 mile). These old RR
Mileage Markers were located every
mile along the railroad. You come to an
intersection at
10.8 miles.
Note; Right a Spur takes
you out to Flint St.
The trail briefly splits, either straight through the woods or
left along the river, before rejoining. You then quickly come to another
intersection.
Note; Straight takes you South,
across the old Erie
& Lackawanna RR Bridge (now a pedestrian bridge) over the river to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Lower
East Side.
The trail bares right, West,
into the woods and follows the bend of the
river. Come to S Plymouth Ave and continue left along a sidewalk. BIKE LANE
available. Come to a pedestrian bridge and Map Board.
Note; This pedestrian bridge travels across
the river to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Lower
East Side.
The paved trail travels South,
back along the river. Come to an
intersection for Genesee Valley Park at 12 miles.
Note; Right brings you to the Genesee Valley
Park S Plymouth Ave parking lot and a Map Board. This trail Loops
back out to the Genesee Riverway
Trail; Lower West Side.
Continue straight and travel underneath Elmwood Ave and
past the Genesee Valley Sports Complex and Genesee Waterways Center
as the trail turns West. Spur
Trails along your right lead into the park. This is all part of Genesee Valley Park;
Northwest [North
of I-390
& Erie Canal & West
Side of Genesee
River]. You then come to an intersection for the ****Genesee
Valley Park; Genesee River Bridge at 12.6
miles.
Note; Right, North,
leads to the Genesee Valley
Park; Northwest parking area.
Note; Left, South,
the ****Genesee
Valley Park; Genesee River Bridge crosses the Genesee
River brings you to Genesee
Valley Park; Northeast [North of I-390 & Erie
Canal & East Side of Genesee River) where the Erie
Canalway Trail; Syracuse-Rochester heads right, East
and the Genesee Riverway Trail; Lower
East Side, where you can Loop
North back to Ontario Beach Park, heads
left, North.
Continuing West, the
Genesee Riverway Trail; Lower
West Side & Erie Canalway Trail;
Rochester-Buffalo all utilize the same trail traveling between the Genesee River and Genesee Valley Park;
Northwest.
You quickly come to a junction. This is the official start of the paved Genesee
Valley Greenway [Mile 0] according to the
Map.
All three trails: Genesee Riverway Trail;
Lower
West Side & Genesee
Valley Greenway & Erie Canalway Trail;
Rochester-Buffalo continue left, Southwest,
crossing over the Erie
Canal via a pedestrian bridge. Look right to spot an old RR bridge
and left to see the confluence of the Erie Canal
and Genesee River. You then come to another intersection just below I-390
at 12.9 miles.
Note; The Erie
Canalway
Trail; Rochester-Buffalo continues right, Northwest.
Continue straight where the trail splits just below I-390.
Note; The Genesee
Valley Greenway bares right, Southwest.
Continue straight, Southwest,
underneath I-390 along the tree line
of the river. Travel past the Fire Training
Facility where you'll spot metal airplane fuselages and buildings before rejoining
the Genesee Valley Greenway
and the end of the Genesee Riverway Trail; Lower
West
Side after 13.6 miles.
Note; I returned to the ****Genesee
Valley Park; Genesee River Bridge and crossed over the Genesee
River to Genesee
Valley Park; Northeast [North of I-390 & Erie
Canal & East Side of Genesee River] and the start of the
Genesee Riverway Trail; Lower
East Side. See Below.
Genesee Riverway Trail; East Side:
Genesee Riverway
Trail; Lower East Side:
Staring from Genesee
Valley Park; Northeast [North of I-390 & Erie
Canal & East Side of Genesee River];
[Re-zeroing Mileage] From the ****Genesee
Valley Park; Genesee River Bridge the paved
Genesee Riverway Trail; Lower
East Side travels
Northeast, alongside the Genesee River
through Genesee
Valley Park. Pass playgrounds, picnic tables and pavilions before coming to an intersection.
Head left, underneath Elmwood Ave and exit the park. You come up alongside Wilson
Blvd and pass by a promenade overlooking the river. Continuing North
along the river
you'll come to another intersection at 1 mile.
Note; Right brings you up Wilson Blvd and pedestrian bridge.
Here you can access Rochester University. The pedestrian bridge travels
across the river to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Lower West Side.
Continue straight, East, underneath the bridge, where the trail travels above the river
and alongside Wilson Blvd. Come to another intersection at 1.5 miles.
Note; Straight takes you up to and across the old
Erie & Lackawanna RR Bridge (now a pedestrian bridge), over the river to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Lower West Side.
Bear right under the bridge and you'll pass
through Bausch & Lomb Riverside Park as the trail turns North.
Travel underneath Ford St at
2.4 miles and you'll be afforded great views of downtown Rochester. A cement
trail travels next to the river, while the paved Genesee Riverway Trail;
Lower East Side parallels
it through Genesee Gateway
Park. Playground & sports court.
Note; Phase
2 of the Genesee Gateway Park project is under construction in
2024. See; PARK
MAP .
Travel underneath the arched I-490 bridge and continue North,
along the Genesee Riverway
Trail; East Side: Downtown Section
at 3 miles.
Genesee Riverway
Trail; East Side: Downtown Section:
[Continuing Mileage] Travel past the Roc
City Skatepark, located between the on-ramp. See; SKATEPARK
MAP .This section follows a cantilevered "Genesee
Riverway Promenade" past a dam and above the river to Court St at 3.3
miles. Head right, past the old brown brick building "LVRR" 1905 (Lehigh Valley RR)
along a double-wide sidewalk.
Lehigh Valley Railroad Station is
an historic station. The Lehigh Valley Railroad built the station in 1905
but stopped using the station for passenger service in the 1950s. Later the
station was used as a bus terminal and then as a night club. In the 1980s the
building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Come to South Ave (one-way) and head left, North,
past to the Rochester Public Library, to E Broad St. This brings you to the Rundel
Library North Terrace, which is located between the Library and E Broad
St. Cross E Broad St.
Note;
Plans are underway to construct a cantilevered trail past the brick building
here, above the river and past the Rochester Riverside Convention Center to E
Main St. See; Picture Below.
Continue North, along
South Ave, via a double -wide sidewalk. South Ave is still one-way
here. Come to E Main St.
Note;
Future plans will expand the Genesee Crossroads Park
between E Main St and Andrews St. See; Map Above.
So you'll need to continue North,
along St Paul St (BIKE LANE) to Bragdon Pl. May
be closed for construction. Turn left down Bragdon Pl,
returning to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
East Side: Downtown Section
at 3.7 miles.
Note;
The Sister Cities Pedestrian Bridge crosses over the river to the
Charles Carroll Plaza
and Genesee Riverway Trail;
West Side: Downtown Section.
The trail continues North,
alongside the river, where a set of
stairs takes you up to the Andrews Street Bridge. You can bypass the stairs by
biking up a short grass embankment. Turn right
along a BIKE LANE out to St Paul St and head left, North
(wide shoulder), to a 5-way intersection. Here you'll continue straight,
along a BIKE LANE, over the Inner Loop and through a tunnel underneath a RR Line
to High Falls Terrace Park on your left. The paved Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper East Side
begins here at 4.2 miles.
Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper East Side:
[Continuing Mileage] The
paved Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper East Side
travel through High Falls Terrace Park to the High Falls Terrace
parking lot at 4.3 miles.
Note; Left, West,
takes you to the Brewery Line Trail above High
Falls. This paved trail travels 0.2 miles
from the Pont
de Rennes Pedestrian Bridge, South,
through High
Falls Terrace Park to the High
Falls Terrace Park Overlook, which affords a scenic overlook of High Falls. Roc
the Riverway has future plans to complete the trail West,
to a future "Over the Falls Bridge" across the river and
above High Falls and next to a RR bridge, to Brown's Race
and the Genesee Riverway
Trail; Upper West Side.
Note;
From the Pont
de Rennes Pedestrian Bridge, future plans will continue the trail North,
along an old rail bed and alongside the future, Roc
the Riverway "Tree Top Trail" park to Bausch
St. North, past Bausch St, will be the future Roc
the Riverway "High Falls Adventure" park.
Exit the High Falls Terrace parking lot back out to St Paul St
and continue North utilizing
St Paul Street BIKE LANE. You'll pass by the GENESEE BREWERY
, which smells strongly of hops and where you can take a brew tour. Cross Bausch
St. Lomb Memorial Park on your right. As you pass by a parking lot on your
left there will be a gap
between two lots. This is where a rail line traveled West,
underneath St Paul St to the Rochester
Running Track Bridge,
which crossed the Genesee River. It's the same rail line utilized by the
El
Camino Trail.
Note; In 2022, the old
Rochester Running
Track Bridge was stabilized.
Future plans call for reusing this section
of rail bed and the old RR bridge over the river as part of the El
Camino Trail. The bridge is referred to as the
Rochester
Running Track Bridge. The bridge dates to 1887, and was built as a
part of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad, known as the “Hojack
Line,” servicing RG&E’s former Beebee Station.
Come to Scrantom St on your right at 5.1
miles, across from an overlook of the river on your left. Here
you can access the El
Camino Trail, via a 0.2 mile
on-road connection.
Note; I utilized the El
Camino Trail to continue North,
to Seneca Park,
where
the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper East Side
continues, as this next section mostly utilizes a BIKE LANE. You
can also access the *Maplewood
Park-Seneca Park Pedestrian Bridge
from Seneca Park,
to
return to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper West Side.
See; El
Camino Trail Below.
Continuing North,
along the St Paul Street BIKE LANE, you'll come to Brewer St
at 5.4 miles.
Note; Left, down Brewer St, will bring you to
a section of the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper
East Side that leads to Middle Falls and
Station 5 Dam. Travel West,
over the dam and you'll come to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper West Side.
Continuing North, along
the St Paul Street BIKE LANE, you'll come to
Dorbeth Rd at 6 miles. Past here it's on-road (not
recommended for novice bikers) to Tyler St at 6.6 miles, where the St Paul Street
BIKE LANE picks up again. Travel over
Route 104, before picking up the wide, paved Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper
East Side on your left, next to a Seneca Park
sign at 6.9 miles.
Note; The St Paul Street BIKE
LANE continues North.
Follow the paved trail North,
quickly coming to the *****Seneca Park
Entrance.
Note; East,
across St Paul St, you can access the El
Camino Trail. See; El
Camino Trail Below.
The now, stone-dust Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper
East Side enters the park and follows the park road. You'll pass by a set of
stairs on your left, that lead to the *Maplewood
Park-Seneca Park Pedestrian Bridge but
continue straight. At 7.5 miles you'll come to a paved
path on your left.
Note; This
path will take you South, to the *Maplewood
Park-Seneca Park Pedestrian Bridge, where you can travel West,
high above the Genesee River, to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper West Side. If
you wish to return North, back to Ontario Beach Park,
you'll need to cross this bridge, as the
Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper
East Side quickly ends.
Continuing North,
you'll come to the SENECA PARK ZOO
entrance at 7.8 miles. This
was as far as I traveled. Past the zoo the trail continues another 1.7 miles out to Seneca
Park Ave. I believe it is a narrow, dirt and gravel trail. I
don't believe Bikes are allowed on this trail? See; Seneca Park Map Below.
El
Camino Trail:
Starting from St Paul & Scrantom
Streets & the Genesee Riverway Trail;
East Side [Southern End]; Travel
East, on-road
and short BIKE LANE (residential/sidewalk available) along Scrantom St, following the multi-colored
trail signs. Just past Conkey Ave you'll pick up the El
Camino Trail on your left at 0.2
miles.
Note; To your
right, the undeveloped rail bed travels Southwest,
out to and underneath St Paul St to the old Rochester
Running Track Bridge. Future plans call for extending the trail along this
section and utilizing this bridge over the Genesee River.
The stone-dust rail trail travels North through
the
Butterhole Neighborhood. This is an urban trail so there are many street
crossings (blue poles list the name of the street your crossing). Just past
Clifford Ave is Conkey Corner Park, a pocket park with a small playground
and Map Board. Map Boards located all along the trail. Pass by some ball fields
at 0.7 miles where you travel along a mix of residential & industrial
corridor. At Norton St the trail turns right to a double crosswalk (Norton/Hollenbeck
Streets) returning to the trail at 1.2 miles. A bridge takes you over Route 104
where you'll find an interesting array of graffiti. Cross Collingwood Dr at 1.1
miles, Map Board.
Note; From here you can connect to
Seneca Park and the Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper East Side by heading left, West,
on-road (residential) out to St Paul St, where a crosswalk takes you over to the
paved Genesee Riverway Trail;
Upper East Side at the *****Seneca Park
Entrance after only 200'. From here you can also
access the *Maplewood
Park-Seneca Park Pedestrian Bridge
which travels high above the Genesee River, West,
over to the Genesee Riverway Trail;
West Side. See; Above.
The El
Camino Trail quickly comes to Navarre Rd and the end of the trail at
2 miles. Left is the St Paul Street BIKE LANE.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR
GENESEE RIVERWAY MAP
CLICK
HERE FOR EL CAMINO TRAIL MAP
CLICK
HERE FOR SENECA PARK MAP
CLICK
HERE FOR SENECA PARK WALKING TOUR MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE
SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER
OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
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