Hiking Canandaigua Lake

Like waterfalls? Got 'em. How about wetlands? Got that too. Forests, gullies, ponds, creek-walking, wading in streams? Yep, we have all that here as well. 

With a variety of features, High Tor Wildlife Management Area (WMA) area has a little bit of something for everyone in your group. 

We’ve even got some cool Native American folklore here too. Legend says the first Seneca people emerged from a gully in the High Tor area, and from there, went out to spread across the world. 

If you like waterfalls, High Tor WMA has two prominent cascades of the area. With Clark Gully, at the northern tip of the WMA, you get to creek-walk to the lower fall. A short and fairly easy walk, this hike is great for beginners at creekwalking. 

Accessing the upper falls of Clark Gully is a different story. This trail is not well maintained and very steep - there are also no trail markings. However, if you decide to forge ahead, you’ll be rewarded by two large falls, between 75 and 80-feet high. 

Another prominent set of falls within High Tor WMA is Conklin’s Gully. Also known as Parish Glen, this glen has the aptly named “Angel Falls,” a 120-foot cascade, as well as others between 1-foot to 30-feet high. A moderate to difficult hike, part of this trek is a creekwalk in which you'll navigate the shale bed of the stream.

Getting there

• 📍Naples, NY 14512
• 📞 (585) 226-2466
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Wildlife management area: 6,800 acres
• Waterfalls
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry

Grimes Glen has been growing traction lately as a Finger Lakes waterfall destination you don’t want to miss. Even though it's growing in popularity, you’ll still experience a serene hike with two 60-foot waterfalls as your reward.

In addition to its beautiful waterfalls, Grimes Glen is also the site of an intact fossilized tree that was discovered in 1882. If you wish to see the tree, it’s now housed in the New York State Museum in Albany, alongside other paleobotany discoveries. But, it's still a cool little fact of history that it was found here!

Expect to get your feet wet while creekwalking to the waterfalls of Grimes Glen. This can be fun though, because you can also soak in the waters of the falls, and play in the spray on a hot day. 

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife

Getting there

• 📍4703 Vine St, Naples, NY 14512
• 📞 (585) 396-4000
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Municipal park
• Waterfalls
• Discovery site of Naples Devonian Tree
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

What makes the state of New York designate an area as “unique”? That’s a unique question.

It's got to do with what the lands are managed for. This unique area is not managed for wildlife or habitat preservation, and is open to multi-use activities for people. 

Bare Hill Unique Area is unique for hiking because it doesn’t offer you any maintained trails - but you can explore the access roads for Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) vehicles by foot. 

Additionally, there’s a “unique” bonfire lighting every Labor Day. At nightfall, the landowners around the lake light bonfires for the “Ring of Fire,” which is a local ceremony meant to celebrate peace and bountiful harvests. You can watch this “Festival of Lights” from Bare Hill for a spectacular panoramic view. 

Highlights

• Hiking
• Snowshoeing
• Cross-country skiing
• Viewing wildlife
• Camping
• Hunting
• Trapping

Getting there

• 📍5950 Van Epps Rd, Rushville, NY 14544
• 📞 607-622-8282
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Unique/multi-use area: 393 acres
• Made of 2 parcels of land
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry

Operated by the Finger Lakes Land Trust, you can hike amid mature forests and fields in the Canandaigua Vista Nature Preserve. 

Set on 90 acres, the Preserve features a 1.4 mile trail with some amazing vistas of Canandaigua Lake. Make sure to bring your camera because you won’t want to miss these views!

Keep your eyes peeled if you are an avid birder - the Land Trust has posted videos on their YouTube channel of American Woodcock at Canandaigua Vist Nature Preserve. 

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife

Getting there

• 📍Jones Rd, Canandaigua, NY 14424 
• 📞 (607) 275-9487
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Nature preserve: 90 acres
• Hiking trail: 1.4 miles
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

If you’re a hiker, runner, or biker, Hickory Ridge Preserve Trailhead was designed for you - literally. 

This trail, which is operated by the Nature Conservancy, has a brand new 4.1 mile trail designed specifically for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. Ranging from beginner to intermediate in difficulty, this is the beginning phase of a 13-mile triple-use trail system within the Preserve. 

In addition to being user friendly, the trail was designed to support sound environmental practices to protect the forest and Canandaigua Lake, making it a “win-win for nature and outdoor recreation access,” as the Nature Conservancy puts it.

Highlights

• Hiking
• Running
• Biking
• Viewing wildlife

Getting there

• 📍6795 Seman Rd, Naples, NY 14512
• 📞 (212) 997-1880
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Preserve: 550 acres
• Trails designed specifically for hiking, running, and biking
• Phase 1 trail: 4.1 miles
• Trails closed during hunting season (visit website for info)
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

On this 1,899-acre parcel, you’ll most probably walk on the Finger Lakes Trail, a 580-mile trail system that connects major trails within the region. The Bristol Hills section of the trail system gives you access to the north and central areas of Italy Hill State Forest on a nearly five-mile out and back trail.  

Check out this handy map before you go.

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife
• Hunting
• Trapping
• Camping

Getting there

• 📍Branchport, NY 14418
• 📞 (585) 226-2466
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• State forest: 1,899 acres
• Contains portion of Finger Lakes Trail
• Out-and-back trail: 5 miles
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

If you’re looking for amazing views of the valley, Ontario County Park provides picturesque views of Bristol Hills for your delight. 

Operated by Ontario County Parks, this 410-acre park features 10 trails for hiking, plus biking, camping, fishing, and lots of photography opportunities. There are picnic areas with facilities including grills, playgrounds, bathrooms, and baseball diamonds. 

Highlights

• Hiking
• Biking
• Camping
• Fishing

Getting there

• 📍6475 Gannett Hill Park Dr, Naples, NY 14512
• 📞 (585) 374-6250
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Municipal park: 410 acres
• Trails: 10 miles
• Vistas
• Facilities
• Picnic areas
• Playgrounds
• Baseball diamonds
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

RMSC stands for ‘Rochester Museum and Science Center,’ which runs the Cumming Nature Center in Naples. 

At the Cumming Nature Center, you can hike trails, view wildlife and visit the nature center itself. The Center grounds cover 900 acres and boast 15 miles of trails. They also offer lots of outdoor activities for the whole family like guided walks, outdoor yoga, and snowshoeing.

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife
• Snowshoeing

Getting there

• 📍6472 Gulick Rd, Naples, NY 14512
• 📞 (585) 374-6160
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Nature center: 900 acres
• Hiking trails: 15 miles
• Family-centered programs
• Guided hikes
• Leashed dogs allowed
• Entry fee

The Wesley Hill Nature Preserve is operated and maintained by the Finger Lakes Land Trust, an organization that works to purchase and protect wild lands in the region. They also purchase land that has been productive and manage it as it reforests. 

The Wesley Hill Nature Preserve, located in Naples, NY, is a 90-acre parcel that was purchased by three artists in 1926 after the local sawmills closed. Today, the Land Trust maintains a 5.6 mile trail that is excellent for viewing wildlife and hiking. 

Keep your eyes peeled if you are an avid birder - the Land Trust has posted videos on their YouTube channel of American Woodcock in the Finger Lakes Region. 

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife
• Running
• Cross-country skiing

Getting there

• 📍6280 Gulick Rd #6060, Naples, NY 14512
• 📞 (607) 275-9487
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Nature preserve: 90 acres
• Hiking trails: 5.6 miles
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry