GENESEE VALLEY GREENWAY:
ROCHESTER-HINSDALE, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: December 19, 2024
Length: Genesee Valley Greenway: Rochester to Avon; 18.3 miles
Genesee Valley Greenway: Avon to Sonyea; 20.4 miles
Difficulty: Genesee Valley Greenway: Rochester to Avon; Easy. Flat, stone-dust rail trail. Northern 3 miles are paved.
Genesee Valley Greenway: Avon to Sonyea; Moderate. Flat, mix of packed cinders, gravel and mowed surface.
Directions:
To start from Genesee Valley Park; Northwest parking area in Rochester [Northern End]; From I-390 take exit 17 to Route 383. Head left (north) to Genesee St. Turn right down Genesee St. Parking lot entrance is on your left. Follow the paved trail south from the parking lot.
See Map Below for other multiple parking lots.
The Genesee Valley Greenway State Park is a corridor that follows the route of the Genesee Valley Canal (1837-1878) and the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad (1882-1963). The Genesee Valley Canal Railroad and Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and Genesee Valley Terminal Railroad, together became known as the Rochester Branch of the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia Railway. The Genesee Valley Canal opened between Rochester and Scottsville in 1837 and to Mt. Morris in 1840. Reservoirs were constructed to supply the Canal with water. Black Creek was dammed, creating Rockville Lake. Oil Creek was dammed to create the Oil Creek Reservoir (known today as Cuba Lake). When built in the 1850s, the Oil Creek Reservoir was one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. The summit level of the Canal North of Cuba, at 1488 feet, was the highest Canal elevation in the world. Starting From Rochester and the junction of the Genesee Riverway Trail , Erie Canalway Trail; Syracuse-Rochester & Erie Canalway Trail; Rochester-Buffalo , the trail travels South, from Genesee Valley Park; Northwest to the Village of Cuba in Allegany County. The Greenway will eventually extend further South, to Hinsdale in Cattaraugus County. Just South of Scottsville, you can connect to the Lehigh Valley Trail and West of Avon, you can connect to the Erie Attica Trail . For more information visit; GENESEE VALLEY GREENWAY .
Starting from Genesee Valley Park; Northwest parking lot (North of I-390 & Erie Canal & West Side of Genesee River) in Rochester [Northern End]; Travel South, out of the parking lot to the Genesee Valley Park; Genesee River Bridge where you'll find a Map Board. The Genesee Riverway Trail; West Side crosses here heading North-South and the Erie Canalway Trail; Rochester-Buffalo starts here as well.
Note; If you cross the Genesee Valley Park; Genesee River Bridge East, over the Genesee River, it 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, South, then East and the Genesee Riverway Trail; East Side heads left, North through Rochester.
Travel South, along the shared Erie Canalway Trail; Rochester-Buffalo & Genesee Riverway Trail; West and come to an intersection after 0.2 miles. This is the official start of the paved Genesee Valley Greenway. Mile 0 according to the Map. [Re-zeroing Mileage] All three combined trails continue left, 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.
Note; The Erie Canalway Trail; Rochester-Buffalo continues right, Northwest. The Genesee Riverway Trail; West Side continues straight, Southwest.
The Genesee Valley Greenway veers right, Southwest, traveling underneath I-390. You follow an industrial corridor passing by a Fire Training Facility where you'll spot metal airplane fuselages and buildings before coming to a Spur Trail on your left at 0.9 miles and a Map Board. This is where the Genesee Riverway Trail; West Side ends. Cross Weidner Rd and look right to spot the airport tower for the Greater Rochester Airport. As you travel under a power line look left to finally spot the Genesee River. The trail then turns off the old rail bed out to Scottsville Rd at 2 miles. Map Board. This is as far as I've checked out. A cross-light takes you over Scottsville Rd to a paved path that travels left, South, alongside Scottsville Rd, before heading into the woods through Little Black Creek Park. A bridge will take you over the Genesee River to Little Black Creek Park parking lot at 2.4 miles. You then exit the park out to Scottsville Rd and continue right, South, along the paved trail. Cross over the CSX Railroad tracks at 3 miles.
Note; As of Oct 2023, there is a short on-road Gap here. There is a dirt & grass Power Line Trail that travels right, West, below the RR tracks. Future plans call for building a new trail along this Power Line Trail to a completed section of the Genesee Valley Greenway.
Continue South, on-road (wide shoulder), crossing over Black Creek to Ballantyne Rd. Head right, West, on-road (wide shoulder) and you'll pick up the Genesee Valley Greenway, as it crosses Ballantyne Rd at 3.9 miles.
Note; Heading right, North, the hard packed dirt, grass & cinder Genesee Valley Greenway (as of Oct 2023) travels through the woods along the old rail bed, to a causeway, crossing Black Creek via the old double-arch RR bridge. This brings you to the Power Line Trail after 0.5 miles. As of Oct 2023, there is a Gap here. The dirt & grass Power Line Trail travels right, East, below the RR tracks. Future plans call for building a new trail along this Power Line Trail to Scottsville Rd, where it will connect to the Genesee Valley Greenway.
Heading South, the wide, stone-dust Genesee Valley Greenway travels through thick woods, along the old rail bed. The old Genesee Valley Canal follows along your right. Come to Brook Rd at 5.4 miles. Right leads to the Brook Road parking lot. Continue along a shaded corridor, past farmers fields and you'll pass by the old Genesee Valley Canal Lock 2 at 6.2 miles, before crossing Coates Rd. Cross Morgan Rd at 7.5 miles, before traveling underneath I-90 at 8 miles. Cross Scottsville Rd at 8.4 miles, followed by Scottsville-West Henrietta Rd at 9.2 miles. As you approach the Oatka Creek pedestrian bridge at 10 miles, you'll pass by Spur Trail on your right.
Note; Right, West, takes you along a boardwalk out to Canal St and Rochester St.
Cross a bridge over Oatka Creek, where the trail is paved through Canawaugus Park parking lot in Scottsville. The wide, stone-dust trail continues South, crossing Quaker Rd at 11.1 miles and coming to Wadsworth Junction at 12.6 miles.
Note; The Lehigh Valley Trail crosses here, traveling East-West. Right, West, brings you to the Western End of the Lehigh Valley Trail and the W River Road parking lot. Left takes you East, across an old RR bridge over the Genesee River to Rush.
Two old RR bridge piers located here, along with an informational board and picnic tables. These old piers were part of the old 1891 Lehigh Valley Trestle, which was over 0.5 miles long with 38 piers. The trestle is long gone except for the section that crosses the Genesee River, which is why the trail descends down to the old RR bridge. Left, East, leads to the old RR bridge, which utilizes the under span, as the train would have traveled above you. This was the junction for the Rochester Branch of the Pennsylvania RR and Lehigh Valley RR. Before the railroads it was known as Cox Basin for the Genesee Valley Canal where boats were loaded and turned around.
Continuing South, you'll travel past a marsh for Dugan Creek and cross a couple of farmers roads, before coming to the intersection with the Erie Attica Trail at 17.2 miles.
Note; The Erie Attica Trail travels East, crossing the Genesee River to Avon.
Continuing South, cross Caledonia Avon Rd in Caledonia and Telephone Rd (Route 20 parking area) at 18.3 miles. Map Board
Note; Past here, as of Oct 2023, the trail surface has not yet been improved and consists of a mix of packed cinders, gravel and mowed surface.
Continuing South, come alongside the Genesee River for a bit before crossing Fowlerville Rd at 21.5 miles. More views of the river along the Southern Section then Northern Section. Enter Piffard, crossing Genesee St at 26.9 miles. Cross Chandler Rd at 27.6 miles where you'll travel alongside remnants of the old Canal. Pass a Map Board as you come to the Cuylerville parking lot in Cuylerville at 30.6 miles. Cross a bridge over Beards Creek before crossing Jones Bridge Rd and another bridge, before Perry Rd at 32.1 miles.
Note; At 32.7 miles, there is a short on-road detour along River St to bypass some RR tracks ahead.
Cross Mt Morris Rd and pass by the Mt Morris Road parking lot before crossing a bridge over the Genesee River. Look left to spot a spillway. Cross Sickles St, followed by N Main St as you enter Mt Morris. Cross E State St and you'll come to the Mt Morris parking lot at 34.5 miles. Cross Erie St and travel through Mt Morris Veterans Park and across Allens Brook. Site of former Aqueduct. Cross Connor Ave as the trail parallels Route 36 out of Mt Morris. The trail enters Sonyea and utilizes Groveland Correctional Facility property (Stay on Trail -No Photography). This section bypasses the old rail bed and Canal which is located on prison property. At 38.7 miles cross Route 36 to Craig Dr.
Note; This is the start of a long on-road portion. See; Map for on-road route to Coopersville, where the grass trail continues Southwest to Nunda.
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CLICK HERE FOR GENESEE VALLEY GREENWAY MAP
CLICK HERE FOR GENESEE VALLEY GREENWAY INTERACTIVE MAP
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