Hiking Honeoye Lake

The Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area is a 1,550 acre multi-use area located to the south of Honeoye Lake. If you're a hiker, wildlife viewer, or looking for photo opportunities this is a spot you'll want to try out.

The Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area offers some stunning photo opportunities. You’ll get amazing pictures of Honeoye Lake from the hills of the recreation area. And on clear days, off Overlook Rd, you might be able to see the city of Rochester - and even Lake Ontario!

Even if you don’t get a panorama, wildlife viewing is great here, including migrating birds in the spring and early fall. 

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife
• Biking
• Running
• Snowshoeing
• Cross-country skiing
• Snowmobiling
• Hunting

Getting there

• 📍6775 Canadice Hill Road, Springwater, NY 14560
• 📞 (585) 335-8111
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• State recreation area: 1,550 acre
• Multi-use trails: 22.83 miles
• Panoramic views
• Peak elevation over 2,000 feet
• Max 2 leashed dogs allowed
• Free entry

A stream and wetland system that extends across townships, Honeoye Creek WMA is a 717-acre parcel that hosts woodlands, wetlands, brush fields, agricultural lands, and more. 

There are mowed trails for multi-use visitors within this WMA and a kiosk off Rd 15. WMA’s generally don’t have any facilities - including bathrooms - but can be nice to explore the local flora and fauna of the region.

Please note that hunting is permitted in Honeoye Creek, so be sure to dress in bright colors, and hike responsibly and respectfully in the fall.

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife
• Fishing
• Hunting
• Trapping

Getting there

• 📍8956 County Rd. 15, Bloomfield, NY
• 📞 (585) 226-5380 (DEC Region 8 office)
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Wildlife management area: 717 acres
• Kiosk
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry

Honeoye Inlet WMA is a 2,637-acre parcel of land at the southern tip of Honeoye Lake. It has a dug channel that acts as the inlet to the lake and is great for wildlife viewing by kayak or canoe. This WMA also has an expansive silver maple stand, some steep wooded hillsides, and open areas. Mowed areas act as trails - so bring your hiking boots!

If you hike near the waterway, keep your eyes peeled for river otters because there’s a strong resident population here. These medium-sized mammals were reintroduced into the area in the late 1990's on Honeoye Lake. If you see one, be especially excited to view a little piece of New York history!

Wildlife management areas are not maintained actively as human-use areas, but humans are allowed to use them. As such, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) doesn’t generally keep well maintained trails within them. The primary purpose of the Honeoye Inlet WMA is for  wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. Therefore, think of this as a rugged hike. 

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife
• Hunting
• Trapping
• Paddling
• Fishing

Getting there

• 📍6853 Co Rd 36, Honeoye, NY 14471
• 📞 (585) 226-5380 (DEC Region 8 office)
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Wildlife management area: 2,637 acres
• Home of New York river otters
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry

RMSC stands for ‘Rochester Museum and Science Center,’ which runs the Cumming Nature Center in Naples. Since it is on the western side of route 33, I personally consider it closer to Honeoye Lake, however, the town of Naples rests at the base of Canandaigua Lake. 

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

Sandy Bottom Park, located at the northern tip of Honeoye Lake, is maintained by the town of Richmond in Ontario County. Here you'll find four hiking trails, the shortest at a quarter mile, the longest 1.5 miles. 

In addition to hiking, Sandy Bottom Park draws visitors that are looking to swim, cross country ski, put in their boat, or rent a pavilion for an event.

Highlights

• Hiking
• Swimming
• Boating
• Paddling

Getting there

• 📍Honeoye, NY 14471
• 📞 (585) 330-7066
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Municipal park
• 4 hiking trails
• Swimming area with lifeguard
• Boat launch
• Facilities
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

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

To me, this has a dreamy, sort of fantasy name to it: the Ledges of Honeoye Creek. Don’t you think?

Well, whether you think so or not, this series of 11 waterfalls consist of 2-foot drops over ledges in - you guessed it - Honeoye Creek. 

To see the ledges, it's an easy hike. It's actually not even really a hike at all: you can see them from the bridges crossing the road. 

To see a series of 5 ledges, park on Martin Rd, then walk out to the bridge. The ledges will be on the south side of the bridge.

To see the series of 6 ledges, park on Ideson Rd before it meets Route 65. Walk around the corner onto the bridge that crosses Honeoye Creek over Route 65. The ledges will be upstream from the bridge.

Please note, it's not safe to park on bridges because you can’t get your car far enough off the road to allow a very large load to pass. Please pull off and park so you're not blocking traffic. Also, always use common sense while walking on roads. Practice safety first in all situations.

Highlights

• Waterfalls

Getting there

5 ledges access:

• 📍Martin Rd, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

6 ledges access:

• 📍Ideson Rd, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Handicap accessible
• Park and view
• Waterfalls
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry

This roughly 30-foot cascade gave the surrounding town its name: Honeoye Falls. Located about 20 miles from the lake, Honeoye Falls is a small town of less than 3,000 people at the last census. 

Historically, waterfalls in the Finger Lakes Region were used for water power in mills, and Honeoye Falls is no different. The first grist and sawmill was set up here in 1791 by Zebulon Norton. Throughout the years the mill burned down and was rebuilt, and its purposes changed. In 1985, it became the site for the Mendon Town Hall.

To see the upper waterfalls, there’s not much of a hike, so just walk to the southwest corner of the town hall, and use the viewing platform for enjoying the falls or taking pictures. 

To view the lower waterfalls, you’ll take the Zebulon Norton Trail, for which the trailhead is set in Harry Allen Park. The trail is about half a mile round trip and accessible to most users.

Highlights

• Hiking
• Waterfalls

Getting there

Mendon Town Hall access:

• 📍20 Main St, Mendon, MA 01756
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Zebulon Norton Trail access:

• 📍 50 East St, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Municipal land
• Waterfalls
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry