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Turning Point Park/Genesee Riverway Trail 

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Genesee Riverway Trail: 

The Genesee Riverway Trail (GRT) is an off-road 24-mile scenic multi-use trail that runs through Rochester for walking, running, and bicycling along the Genesee River. It extends through the scenic, historic, and cultural heart of Rochester, from the Erie Canal to downtown and Lake Ontario.  It provides pedestrian access to the Genesee River, its scenic gorge, three waterfalls, eight pedestrian bridges, and eleven parks, including four historic parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.  

Fun Facts: 

-GRT links nine historic districts and individual landmarks including the 1842 Erie Canal Aqueduct  

-The 1822 Lake Ontario Lighthouse  

-The trail serves the University of Rochester and a host of other city attractions, services, and neighborhoods.  

-The trail is runs on both sides of the river from the south city line to Court St downtown, a total of 9 miles.  This section of trail has five pedestrian bridges and a variety of trail loops. 

-North of downtown, the trail is continuous from Middle Falls (Brewer St or Driving Park Ave) to Lake Ontario, a total of 7 miles. 

-The Genesee Riverway Trail is marked with a system of wayfinding and interpretive signs to encourage and guide public use. Most of the trail is paved and easily accessible. Steep, rough, or narrow sections of the trail are clearly signed. 

-GRT is a designated National Recreation Trail. Beyond the city, it links to the statewide Erie Canal Heritage Trail, and the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail (south to Pennsylvania). 

Parks Along the Trail: 

Turning Point Park:  

Located in the Charlotte neighborhood near Lake Ontario on Rochester’s northwest side, Turning Point Park covers 275 wooded acres along the banks of the Genesee River. Hiking and biking trails will help you discover the park’s distinct areas, from the wooded oak forest called “Bullock’s Woods” to the cattail lined shores of the river. Enjoy the nature watching and beautiful river views from its trails. 

Fun Facts: 

-Turning Point’s boardwalk and trail won the American Public Works Associations’ “Transportation Project of the Year” Award ($2-$10 million category) in 2008.  

-The trail consists of 3 main parts:  

1) the 2,968 ft land-based trail that utilized an old railroad bed to transition from the top of the bank to the river’s edge 

2) a 3,572 ft-long bridge over the Genesee River Turning Basin 

3) an all-new land-based trail, 3,406 feet in length, through Turning Point Park North and adjacent to the Genesee Marina.  

-The park’s trail continues to connect to the Genesee Riverway Trail. Take the trail and explore over 16 miles of Rochester by reaching Ontario Beach Park to the north or downtown to the south. 

-Turning Point Park also features a gorgeous Rain Garden, an eco-friendly way to use natural vegetation as sediment filters. When it rains or snows, flowing sediments and pollutants from the nearby parking lot are captured by the garden’s vegetation. The water-loving plants act as filters and clean the runoff before it reaches the river. The rain garden is stocked with a wide variety of hardy plants that aid in the process, from ostrich fern and filipendula to coneflower and New England aster. 

  

Download the Genesee Riverway and Trail Guide (pdf)  When viewing this page on your smartphone you can use the “What’s Nearby” button to locate a trailhead near you.   

You can find more details on Genesee Riverway Trail parks here.

  In Conclusion:

There are many great parks to visit along the Genesee Riverway Trail. The Genesee River runs through the middle of Rochester adding character to our city.

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