PITTSFORD LOOP TRAIL:
PITTSFORD, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: March 18, 2025
Length: Pittsford Loop Trail; 5.2 miles
Auburn Trail: Pittsford Section; 2 miles
Lock 62 Trail; 1.3 miles
Erie Canalway Trail Section; 1 mile
Frog Pond Trail: 0.4 miles
Difficulty: Auburn Trail: Pittsford Section; Easy. Flat crushed gravel & dirt, stone-dust rail trail.
Lock
62 Trail; Moderate. Hard packed dirt & grass and crushed gravel towpath.
Erie
Canalway
Trail Section; Easy. Paved trail.
Frog Pond Trail: Easy. Flat, wide stone-dust trail.
Directions:
Starting from the Grove Street parking lot [Southeastern
End]; From
the intersection of Routes 31 & 96 in Pittsford head north on Route 96
across the canal. Just past the turnoff for Route 153 turn left on Elm St, then
left on Grove St. You'll come to a parking lot on your right for a Professional
Park. Just past the first parking row to your left is the trailhead next to a
brick building.
The Pittsford Loop Trail starts
off following the Auburn Trail
Northwest,
through Pittsford,
which utilizes the rail
bed of the former Auburn
& Rochester Railroad,
the first railroad East of Rochester. Active from 1840 to 1960, it was built to
connect Auburn and Rochester by way of Seneca Falls, Geneva, and Canandaigua. It
became part of the New York Central Railroad in 1853. From 1906-1931, the
Rochester, Syracuse & Eastern Rapid Railroad ran a high-speed
electric trolley from Rochester to Auburn parallel to the New York Central
Railroad line. It than turns off the Auburn Trail,
which continues North,
through Brighton and travels South,
along the Lock
62 Trail (part of the Old
Erie Canal).
This section of the Canal opened as "Clinton's
Ditch" in 1822, was Enlarged in the 1850s, and closed in 1919 when the Old
Erie Canal was expanded into the Barge Canal
and was diverted South
of Rochester. The trail then Loops East,
back along the Erie Canalway Trail to the Frog
Pond Trail, which travels North,
back to the Auburn Trail.
For more information visit; PITTSFORD
TRAILS , WALK BIKE
PITTSFIELD , Auburn Trail & Erie
Canalway
Trail; Syracuse-Rochester
.
Starting from the Grove Street parking lot [Southeastern End]; The narrow, crushed gravel (possibly turns to stone-dust at some point) Auburn Trail/Pittsford Loop Trail starts to the left of the brick storage building. Heading Northwest, the Auburn Trail follows the power line corridor. Isolated. Come to an intersection at 0.2 miles.
Note; The wide, crushed gravel Frog Pond Trail starts here on your left and travels West, through a forested, meadow and wetland environment. It connects to the Erie Canalway Trail alongside the Erie Canal. This is part of the Pittsford Loop Trail. I have not checked out this trail.
Cross French Rd at 0.9 miles and you'll soon be traveling behind a commercial area on your left and a golf course on your right. Come to Clover St in Brighton, after 2 miles.
Unfortunately, in order to access the next section, you'll need to travel on-road & utilize a BIKE LANE along busy roads (Not recommended for kids on bikes). No signage.
Travel right along a wide sidewalk to a crosswalk over Clover St.
Note; The Auburn Trail continues North, through Brighton.
Head left, West, on-road (narrow shoulder) and quickly cross Monroe Ave, then left across Clover St. Here a BIKE LANE travels Southeast, along this busy road (sidewalk available). Just past the Springhouse Commons Plaza on your right, turn right up a drive past The Bird House [#3035 Monroe Ave]. Keep in mind this business may change. This will bring you to the dirt and grass Lock 62 Trail at 2.4 miles. Green Pittsford Trail sign here. This isolated trail follows the Towpath of the Old Erie Canal South, through the woods. Come to Lock 62 of the Old Erie Canal at 2.7 miles. Lock 62 was in operation until 1918 when the Old Erie Canal was expanded into the Barge Canal and diverted South of Rochester. Now a Canal Park, remnants of this 9 foot lift double Chamber Lock are still visible. The first chamber was built in 1856, and the second was completed in 1873. Head left, up a crushed gravel path, then right to the top of the Lock. Continue straight along the old crushed gravel, dirt & grass tow path. Pittsford Plaza along your left. Come to the Canal Park parking lot at 3 miles and continue straight across French Rd. The trail continues South, following a power line and the old Canal. Come to the paved Erie Canalway Trail; Syracuse-Rochester at 3.7 miles. The trail now utilizes the paved Erie Canalway Trail left, East, alongside the Erie Canal. The trail briefly pulls away from the Canal to bypass private property. You'll come to an intersection at *Brook Road at 4.4 miles.
Note; The Erie Canalway Trail continues right, back to the Erie Canal, however, This section is closed M-F (6am-5pm) as it bisects private property. To bypass continue straight, alongside Brook Rd (wide sidewalk) to Old Monroe Ave. The wide sidewalk then turns right, returning you back to the Erie Canal.
From *Brook Road head right, back to the Erie Canal. Travel underneath Monroe Ave and you'll come to the Frog Pond Trail on your left at 4.7 miles. Head left, North, along the wide, crushed gravel Frog Pond Trail, through a forested, meadow and wetland environment. I have not checked out this trail. Informational signs located along this trail that travels through the Erie Canal Nature Preserve/Robert Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary. You then cross a boardwalk, as the trail turns East, returning you to the Auburn Trail at 5 miles. Head right, Southeast, returning to the Grove Street parking lot after a 5.2 mile Loop.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR PITTSFORD LOOP TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR PITTSFORD AREA TRAILS MAP
CLICK HERE FOR AUBURN TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR FROG POND TRAIL MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT