Mendon Ponds Park

We came to Sharon’s Sensory Garden to walk a trail. So quiet and serene. We are sitting on a bench with our Birdseed in our hands. The finch and other small birds will eat off your hands. So close to nature and so beautiful. Better than meditation or yoga. Give it a try.

So, this park is beautiful and really cool, but so hard to navigate. Even finding the trails to hike by car was almost impossible. Then, when we finally found a trail, we got horribly lost and there were few maps to reference. I don’t think I’d go back unless it was with someone who knew the area well.

One of my favorite spots to bring the kids… Bird Song Trail… feed the birds and take a light hike… have a picnic. Fun in all weather!

I’m lucky to live across the street from Mendon Ponds, it is an amazing place of beauty. I run the trails every day and, like several other reviewers, I have to dodge all the horse crap. Too bad a few ruin the joy for the rest of us.

I do so love Mendon Ponds. We walk our dogs there all the time and many of the trails are not that heavily travelled — particularly if you get up into the hills. Portions of the trails remind me of Walden Pond — it has that type of serenity.
And though it’s been some time since I x-​country skiied there, the park was a favorite place for that as well though I prefer less of the groomed trails which are favored there for the local high school racing clubs.
So why only three stars? The horses. In my opinion, a few riding stables and barns in the area really ruin a pristine park. Now don’t get me wrong, I was raised with horses and our family always had at least two if not four or more while I was growing up but we rode in forest and open pasture, not on trails made for walking. Instead of sticking to the wide grassy lanes in the park, people ride on the narrow dirt trails and this year in particular, they’ve absolutely ruined the walking trails which are now trampled mud messes. And we pick up after our dogs. You can’t say that for the horses which are indiscriminate in their droppings.
The County really needs to take a look at the # of visitors to the park and how they use it. A very small # of elite, because let’s face it it’s expensive to own and stable a horse, are ruining this park for the enjoyment of others.

This park is so beautiful, especially in the fall. There are lots of ponds that people where people can kayak and canoe. I see tons of people fishing during the on-​season but I do not believe you can use a boat with a motor, only row style.
The trails here are awesome. I have ran a handful of 5ks here. If you are a runner and want a scenic hilly route to get in shape, the hills will make your calves burn. You can also do cross country skiing and snowshoeing there if you like to play in the snow. They throw a winterfest every year. Bike trails are awesome too.
Some of my friends that are into geocaching have found some caches in the park too.
There are of course lodges to rent out, and public restrooms.

I have always loved this park in fact I had Birthday parties here as a kid. It is well loved by many, trails are well worn. Great in any season. Ridiculous about of deer. Feeding chick-​a-​dees from your hand in the winter is like no other experience.

Very nice park, conveniently located close to the city, and but far enough away that you can actually find some solitude. The park is filled with interesting glacial formations, if you are a geology buff. Many trails to choose from, ranging from very easy to moderate. None of the trails are especially challenging, one needs to go off the beaten track for that. Most of the trails are clearly marked and they are all well maintained. There is a map of the trails with descriptions posted on their website, along with allowed uses of each trail. The trails interconnect well, so it’s possible to tailor your hike to the length you would like just by choosing the right combination of trails. Be careful with this though, because if you are anything like me, you can zone out in the tranquility of it all before you realize that you are now about 9 miles from your car (going back along the trails, that is). Yeah, I take spontaneous 18 mile hikes.
I’ve hiked all of the trails in every season, so I’ll give a quick rundown based on my personal opinions:
Bird Song: great for families, easy and short trail with some hills, but nothing major. Chickadees will eat sunflower seeds or bird seed out of your hands. Lots of chipmunks and red and gray squirrels. Connects with Swamp Trail.
Swamp Trail: Pretty cool, short loop. Has a boardwalk through a swamp that has a ton of wildlife (turtles, frogs, birds, etc.) and a bridge or two. Connects with Bird Song and Quaker Loop.
Quaker Loop: easy loop around Quaker Pond with wooden bridges. Connects with South Meadow.
South Meadow: similar to North Meadow, minus the wooded areas. Always found this trail kind of boring, but like North Meadow and Grasslands, it is nice in the spring.
East Esker: My personal favorite. About five miles with a detour near the water tower to an «observation point». Lots of wildlife. I’ve personally seen deer (and LOTS of them), raccoon, fox, woodpeckers, and skunk among others. It is also the most challenging trail at the park, with many hills and elevation changes. The trail also passes through the highest point in the park. Connects with North Meadow.
North Meadow: passes through woods and a meadow with tons of wildflowers, birds, and butterflies in the spring.
Grasslands: A very easy loop which is relatively flat. Nice in the spring when flowers are blooming and there is a plethora of song birds and butterflies. Links with the Devil’s Bathtub trail. The section close to Clover Street can be a buzz kill though.
Devil’s Bathtub: a popular loop that passes around, you guessed it, Devil’s Bathtub. Get ready to climb a big set of wooden stairs on this trail. Connects to the West Esker trail.
West Esker: a fun, hilly trail that skirts a bit of Hundred Acre Pond and is home to Cardiac Hill.
Pinewoods and Fern Valley: kind of similar in length and terrain, they are nice, short loops through woods, but they are kind of isolated on the north side of the park. You can get to them from other trails by crossing Hopkins Point and Canfield Roads, respectively.
I think that covers them all. I think I’ve spent way too much time hiking through Mendon Ponds.

I have fond memories of Mendon Ponds. Growing up in Honeoye Falls, Mendon Ponds was an integral part of our community activities. I’ve done just about every activity possible here — watching my siblings during cross country skiing and running meets, hiking the trails, orienteering, sledding at suicide hill, park parties at the various huts throughout the park and hanging out at the boat launch. I have to say this is one of my favorite outdoorsy places in Rochester because of its close proximity to the city and surrounding towns, and for all the park offers. It’s so beautiful, especially during the fall. You’ll most likely see some wild animal while you’re wandering around and drive safely at night — the deer pop out at you when you least expect it. Also, I find that the people who hike around the park are some of the most friendly people — everyone says hello so be nice and reciprocate.
While it’s still relatively autumnal take a stroll along the Devil’s Bathtub trail or any of the trails along the 2^nd entrance. You won’t be disappointed. And, as winter approaches plan to take your kids here to sled or cross country ski.

Amazing park, I just went there for the first time this past weekend. I was surprised by the sheer size of it. I had a chance to check out the bird sanctuary that is on the property– it was really nice. There is also a good amount of hiking trails that you can do throughout the entire park. It seems like a great park to take nature photos if you are interested in that sort of thing. If you’re in the Rochester area I would definitely recommend checking it out!

This is a gorgeous beautiful park. Beautiful views and a great place for picnics and outdoor gatherings. They have year round activities that are great for adults and children. Very beautiful and great to get away from everyday life stresses and be in the beautiful outdoors!

Nice park, crappy people. I mean really crappy. Dog Crap, Horse Crap, possibly Human Crap. On every trail. Worse of all is the Quaker Ponds trial which is posted repeatedly with no pets signs and there are always dogs in pond and off lease on the trial. There is wonderful wildlife to be fund here: Heron, Beaver, Frogs, and Deer. But the people ruin it. In nine years I have never seen a Ranger addressing these problems. Lots of great open spaces.

Mendon Ponds is a lovely park, easily accessible from Rochester and the surrounding towns, but tucked away in it’s own little world.
Quiet, pretty views, natural formations (look for the «Devil’s Bathtub»!), many picnic shelters and year-​round activities (great sledding!).
My only quibble? In the summer, I really like to be in the water, and the swimming has been closed. To be fair, the water here was always a bit slimy so it was a good decision.
All in all, well worth it to get outdoors and have a picnic and get some fresh air.

This is a huge, beautiful park. Great place to get lost in nature! There is so much to explore. A picnic would be fun here. I love cicadas (an insect) & they are all over the place here. I have seen many people ride their horses on the trails. I recommend not locking your keys in the car — you will wait for hours to be helped, because nobody can find you! Not pleasant.

Good place for a get together, whether with a large family or a class reunion. Call ahead to reserve a shelter big enough to handle the occasion. The park is well maintained, clean and scenic enough to enjoy. It’s not Letchworth by any stretch of the imagination, but in all fairness, it’s a wonderful place to kill some time or even get a little exercise.

Great park for strolling around in nature. It’s close to Rochester — no need to treat a visit as a major day (s) long excursion.
Big enough that there are several trails to choose from (all short and no-​difficulty), and small enough that there’s no chance of becoming hopelessly lost. Very possible to consult the map only for parking and trail head guidance — if you then chuck the map, you may not stay on the same trail, but it won’t be a crisis.
It’s nice here — nearly-​groomed and relaxing, with occasional views of big houses and a raucous dog kennel. Sharon’s Sensory Garden was a nice diversion, even though I’m not among its target demographic. Plenty of runners who look to be working up a good sweat, picnic tables, and a few shelters.