Trail Organization
One of the many things that make this area the best place to live for runners is the vast array of running and hiking trails we have available. Those trails didn’t happen by themselves. Rather we all owe a debt to the trail organizations that support, promote and maintain the trails. Trail maps and information about the organizations are at the web links below. Consider joining or donating to some of these organizations.
Crescent Trail Association
Nonprofit organization of volunteers who help plan, develop, and maintain the many Crescent Trail footpaths in Perinton. Maps of the many trails in the system are hosted by the Town of Perinton here: http://www.perinton.org/cta
Erie Canalway Trail – Parks & Trails New York
Parks & Trails New York (a nonprofit organization), in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation and Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, is working to complete what will ultimately be a 524-mile continuous trail along New York’s historic Erie, Oswego, Cayuga-Seneca, and Champlain canals. Today, the Erie Canalway Trail is more than two-thirds complete.
Finger Lakes Trail Conference
http://www.fingerlakestrail.org/
The mission of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference is to build, protect, and enhance a continuous footpath across New York State. The main Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) runs across the Southern Tier from the Pennsylvania-New York border in Allegany State Park to the Long Path in the Catskill Forest Preserve. Branch trails extend North to Mt. Morris and to the Bristol Hills.
Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway
The mission of the Friends is to establish and maintain a public, multi-use trail and natural greenway corridor along the abandoned Genesee Valley Canal and its successor, the Pennsylvania Railroad from Rochester to Hinsdale, NY. Only 52 miles of Greenway trail are considered “open and easily accessible” today. The Friends, in partnership with NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation and NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is working to open all 90 miles.
Hojack Trail – Friends of Webster Trails
The Friends of Webster Trails is a non-profit organization serving primarily as a volunteer arm of the Webster Parks and Recreation Department. When Friends of Webster Trails was established in 1997 its only activity was the maintenance of the Hojack Trail. In 2002, the Friends built a nature trail in Vosburg Hollow. With the Town’s acquisition of open space properties, Friends of Webster Trails has now built trails in Finn Park and the Whiting Road Nature Preserve.
Irondequoit Lakeside Multi-Use Trail
The Irondequoit Lakeside Multi-Use Trail is an approximately 4.8-mile pedestrian and bicycle trail that runs from the Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge in Irondequoit to the O’Rorke Bridge in Charlotte. It follows portions of Culver Road, St. Paul Blvd, Lake Shore Blvd, and Sweet Fern Road. The 2.2-mile section along the lakeshore through Durand Eastman Park is newly constructed multi-use trail. Sections at the Charlotte and Sea Breeze ends use existing 5-foot wide sidewalks. The trail is a joint project of Irondequoit and Monroe County. It includes trail signs, rest stops, and a 13-foot-wide timber boardwalk/bridge crossing Tamarack Swamp (shown in the photo).
Lehigh Valley Trail – Mendon Foundation
http://www.mendonfoundationinc.org/
The Mendon Foundation, under an agreement with Monroe County, develops and maintains the 14-mile linear trail over the old Lehigh Valley Railroad bed in the towns of Mendon and Rush. The trail now connects to the Genesee Greenway just south of Scottsville and to the Victor Trails.
Valley Trail North Branch – Henrietta Foundation
http://www.henriettafoundation.org/
Founded in 2000, the Henrietta Foundation Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and protect the scenic, natural, recreational, and structural resources in the town of Henrietta, NY, for public benefit. The Foundation manages and maintains the Lehigh Valley Trail’s north branch, which runs through the town of Henrietta, between Rush and Brighton.
Ontario Pathways
http://www.ontariopathways.org/
In 1994 Ontario Pathways (a non-profit organization) purchased the 23-miles of the abandoned Penn Central line running SE from Canandaigua to Stanley and then N through Orleans to Rte. 96 between Clifton Springs and Phelps. Nineteen miles of the trail are now open and 10 of 12 bridges have been rebuilt.
Penfield Town Trails
http://www.penfieldrec.org/Penfield_Trails.php
The Penfield Trails Committee is involved in building new trails and maintaining approximately 15 miles of trails within the Town of Penfield. This includes trails located in Town of Penfield Parks, Monroe County Parks (Ellison, Wetlands Center, Bay Park East) and connecting linkage trails around Town that have easements on private land.
Victor Hiking Trails
http://www.victorhikingtrails.org/
The very active Victor group has developed and maintains over 20-miles of trails. These include multi-use rails-to-trails, secluded woodland rambles, streamside walks, and longer cross-town hiking trails. Their stated purpose is to develop a trail system that will preserve open space and provide an educational and recreational experience for everyone in the town of Victor.