A Path Less Travelled: Mendon Ponds Park
Located a short drive north of Honeoye Falls, NY is Mendon Ponds Parks. While this park is well known by Rochester locals, it remains unappreciated by many who live not so far away. According to Monroe County Parks, the park is roughly 2500 acres of glacially formed wetland/woodland and comes packed with everything from orienteering to fishing, hiking to horseback riding, and even a fully loaded nature center with care facilities for injured and non-releasable birds and animals.
Many of my visits to the Mendon Ponds have been in the winter as the park sees heavy traffic during the summer and the cold temperatures offer the rare chance that Deep Pond has frozen over, providing an opportunity to walk out on the ice. Though I hike through the park often, I've barely touched a fraction of the trails, with over 20 miles winding through the hilly woods. If you don't mind the occasional road walk, it's possible to link together a 15-mile loop around most of the park. Wild Wings is the number one reason my fiancé and I frequent the park as the nature center is home to foxes, bald eagles, osprey, hawks, and owls; an experience that never gets old.
Deep Pond: Mendon Ponds Park
About The Park:
As mentioned, Mendon Ponds Park offers a wide assortment of recreational activities including birdwatching, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and snowshoeing to name a few. This alone makes the park great for families or groups that enjoy different activities, making it easy for everybody to choose something they enjoy.
Though the park offers camping for youth programs only, shelters, lodges, and restrooms are located throughout the park. There are multiple parking areas located at major trailheads, but be warned, these quickly fill up on weekends during the summer months, so plan accordingly.
Additionally, Wild Wings animal sanctuary, sensory garden, and nature center are located close to one another at the corner of Pond Road and Clover Street and are great for adults and children alike. The animal sanctuary is a non-profit organization so admission is free, but donations are strongly encouraged.
To plan your trip or for more information, please visit the Monroe County Parks website.
Information for this article was sourced from www.monroecounty.gov/parks-mendonponds.
