Adirondacks Region
Hikes and Bikes
Whiteface Mountain - Wilmington
This is a 5.7-mile hike, one-way, to the summit. From the trailhead you will hike through an attractive open forest along a well-trodden foot trail for 1.2 miles. For the most part, the grade isn't too steep but it is very steady.
Bald Mountain - Old Forge
This is a fun hike and a great thing to do when you are in the Old Forge area. It is an easy to moderate hike with a 500 foot vertical rise. The best part of this hike is the view of Fourth Lake when you are standing on the huge rock outcropping at the the top of the mountain. It is a great place to have a seat and enjoy the view and tranquility with no sound except the wind. The Rondaxe fire tower at the top of the 2350 foot summit gives you an even better view of the surrounding area.
Cascade Mountain - Keene
If you are staying in Lake Placid, this is a great hike starting at the trailhead on Route 73. It is a pretty easy climb with only a couple of spots that you have to climb over some big rocks. The scenery is worth it with a river and waterfall near the trail that are definitely picture worthy. The pay-off at the top of the mountain that you see to the right is the show stopper, though! A beautiful view of miles and miles of the ADK mountains.
Seventh Lake Bike Trail - Inlet
Get out your mountain bike for this 4 1/2 mile biking adventure near the shore of Seventh Lake in Inlet.
Mendon Ponds Park, Pittsford
This 2500 acre park just south of Rochester has over 21 miles of trails, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, and picnic options. This multitude of activities makes it a great place to bike, hike, and visit any time of year.
Conklin’s Gully, Naples
With almost a 1200 foot vertical rise, this hike isn’t for everyone, but once you reach the top and see the view in the picture to the left, it is definitely worth it. There is a gorge next to the trail most of the way so you have some beautiful photo ops coupled with a couple of “just stare down at the trail” moments as you see a 200 foot drop a few yards from the trail.
Grimes Glen, Naples
For the faint of heart who don’t want to attempt Conklin’s Gully a mile away, this is a nice one mile hike that ends at the waterfall on the right. It is a refreshing swim near the falls on a hot summer day. It gets pretty crowded on the weekends and the parking isn’t that great, so we advise going during the week or off-peak season if you can.
The Finger Lakes Trail, The Whole Darn State!
At 580 miles long with an additional 412 miles of spur trails, the trail covers most of the state that isn’t the NYC area. There are many places in the Finger Lakes that you can find a trail head and hike as many miles as you choose. If you want to join the prestigious “End-To-Ender Club”, you need to have a couple of months of free time and be in really great shape, but there are over 500 certified End-to-Enders.
Abraham Lincoln Park, Webster
Right off of the very busy retail street, Empire Boulevard in Webster, you can surprisingly find quiet and peaceful hiking trails that give you beautiful views of Irondequoit Bay. After the first 1/4 mile of the hike you look around and say - “what is wrong with this picture? 5 minutes ago I was in retail Hell and now I am in the middle of nowhere! I love it!” We said that exact same thing the first time that we hiked here. At the end of the 3 mile trail north is a beautiful Lodge that can be rented for special occasions, but if you just want a couple of hour getaway from the suburban jungle, this is the place to go.
Dryer Road Park, Victor
Even though you can hike, snowshoe, or cross country ski here, this park is made for Mountain Bikers. With 15 miles and 29 trails specifically made for mountain biking, all levels of riders can feel at home. During my first time here as a novice mountain biker, I met up with a park regular who showed me the ropes on various levels of trails. The 2nd time I went over my handlebars and into the dirt on an advanced trail he looked at me and said, “you are certainly resilient”! Inside he was saying, “the dumb-ass should stick to the novice trails”, but I caught his drift. At any rate and skill level of biking and hiking, it is a great place to check out.
Cumming Nature Trails, Naples
With 6 miles of walking trails, 15 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails, and 3 miles of snowshoe trails on 900 acres, the Cumming Nature Trails has things to do in all 4 seasons. There is also a visitor center in the park that is a quasi-museum providing information about the animals you will see and their habitats as well as the history of the Seneca Tribe which were the first inhabitants of the area. It is a great place to spend a few hours with beautiful views of Canandaigua Lake nearby.
Genesee Valley Greenway - Rochester to Hinsdale
This 90 mile trail through the Finger Lakes Region allows hikers and bikers to experience a wide variety of sights and trails. A majority of the trail is an old railway bed that is a straight, level surface, but the Greenway also passes through woodlands, wetlands, river and stream valleys, and historic villages in sixteen towns. This is a great way to discover the Finger Lakes with a multi-day trip with hiking/biking by day and experiencing the small town charm of Upstate New York at night.