Crescent Trail offers footpaths for every level of fitness. Below are some of our most popular trails!
Howell Road Park
Location: Start from the parking area.
Hiking Time: About 1 hour, or less.
Difficulty: Mostly flat trails. Some areas may be muddy.
Length: Approximately 11⁄4 mile.
Features: The hike route winds through a former Christmas tree farm and adjacent wooded wetlands.
Directions: From the parking area, go north following white blazes on trees. At the junction with a blue trail (marker post), continue north to the orange trail. Turn left and cross Howell Road. Go straight (west) on the blue trail. The trail enters the woods and bends right. At the map post, begin following the orange trail bending right, uphill, and east along the hedgerow. Near Howell Road, turn right and then left to cross Howell Road. Continue straight ahead on the orange trail to the red trail intersection. The trail marker is located on a tree. Follow the red trail along the drainage ditch to a utility service road, and turn right. Service road turns into an orange trail. Take the orange trail right into the woods. Where the orange trail leaves pine woods, go left on the blue trail and back to the white trail to the parking area.
High Acres Nature Area
Location: Perinton Parkway, north of the High Acres landfill.
Hiking Time: About 1 hour or more if you add trails.
Difficulty: Easy, flat trails. Some areas may be wet or muddy.
Length: Approximately 1 1⁄2 miles.
Features: These are public trails on Waste Management property that invite exploration of diverse ecosystems and habitats.
Directions: From the parking area walk along the grassy path to the green arrow marker. Follow the green trail around the pond (the pond is on the left side) and turn right on the red trail leading into the wooded area. Continue on the red trail until a major junction of several trails. Turn right on the blue trail going between two large ponds. The blue trail will pass an old Quonset-style building and over the footbridge. Turn right on the yellow trail and hike up a small berm to a sheltered bench to find the trail marker. Continue on the yellow trail until the orange/blue trail junction, and turn left. Follow the orange/ blue trail until the blue trail enters the wooded area. Exit trail on the right leading back to the parking lot.
White Brook Nature Area
Location: On the east side of Aldrich Road, north of Rt. 31.
Hiking Time: About 1 hour.
Difficulty: Mostly flat trails. Wet areas, after heavy rains.
Length: Approximately 11⁄4 mile.
Features: The trail route ventures across boardwalks and berms, then around meadows, adjacent to cattail wetlands. Interesting and diverse habitats for birds, amphibians, and wetland plants.
Directions: Enter the White Brook Nature Area orange trail on the north side of the parking lot. The trail goes down a short slope, turns right (east) along a stream, crosses a footbridge, then traverses a boardwalk to another bridge and berm. Continue on the orange trail between the wetlands and a shrubby meadow, then into a small wooded area, to a large open meadow. Turn right (east) on the blue trail. The trail marker is on the outside loop of the blue trail, north side. Follow the blue trail, looping around the outer edge of the meadow, then return on the orange trail to the parking lot.
Lollypop Farm at Egypt Park
Location: Start from the parking lot in Egypt Park (off Victor Road). Hike through Lollypop Farm and along their Nature Trail.
Hiking Time: About 1 hour or more reading interpretive panels.
Difficulty: Moderate climbs and hills on the Nature Trail, but otherwise an easy walk along flat trails and service roads.
Length: Approximately 1 1⁄4 miles.
Features: Visit animal corrals and stockades at Lollypop Farm, plus enjoy a shady walk in a wooded area. During business hours the Lollypop main building offers displays, restrooms and drinking water.
Directions: From the west end of the parking lot at Egypt Park, find the gravel walkway and cross over RS&E Trolley Trail into the Lollypop Farm complex. Turn right on the farm road, then go left past the “Waddle Pool” and walk through Pet Cemetery. Head south toward the split-rail fence to Nature Trail. Find the trail marker at the first junction. Head left on the red trail and go over two bridges. At the blue arrow marker turn left uphill to a ridge on top. Follow the blue trail downhill past a fenced-in corral. Continue down to the service road and return to the Egypt Park parking lot.
Mason Valley
Location: Enter the Mason Valley neighborhood, turning north onto Broadmoor Trail, from NY 31 (Pittsford-Palmyra Road) one block west of the traffic light near Egypt Park/Lollypop Farm.
Hiking Time: About 40 minutes, or less.
Difficulty: Easy, flat trails.
Length: Less than 1 mile.
Features: A scenic loop around ponds, marshes, and wooded wetlands. Look for birds, wildflowers, and evidence of beavers.
Directions: Park on the grassy shoulder along the north side of Broad-moor Trail, where the street crosses a small stream. Go north on the orange trail, past a small pond (on right) to post with trail map. Continue straight on the blue trail into a wooded area. The blue trail bends east, then south, crosses several footbridges (one of the footbridges has the trail marker), and ends at a junction with the orange trail. Turn right on the orange trail and cross another footbridge. Continue on the orange trail, along the berm between two ponds. Turn left at the map post and return to your starting point.
Indian Hill
Location: The trailhead parking area is on the south side of NY 31 (Pittsford-Palmyra Road), one-half mile east of Turk Hill Road.
Hiking Time: About 1 hour, or less.
Difficulty: Moderate but extended climb to the summit of Indian Hill. The end of the hike is steep descent back to the parking area.
Length: 1 mile.
Features: The trail route climbs to the top of a glacial moraine, for scenic views northwest toward downtown Rochester and south to the JLD Equine (horse farm and pastures).
Directions: From the trailhead parking area, go left on the yellow trail for a gentle climb to a high meadow at the summit of Indian Hill (scenic view). Then head southeast, continuing on the yellow trail, downhill along the edge of the wooded area. At bottom of the hill, you will find the trail marker on a post. At Trail Marker, turn right on the blue trail along the hedgerow. Near the top of the farm field, turn right across the field and enter a wooded area. At end of the wooded area, turn left and continue on the blue trail, downhill, back to the parking area.
Center Park
Location: Use the north parking lot at Perinton Community Center.
Hiking Time: 1 hour or less.
Difficulty: Moderate to gentle slopes and flat trails. No trail markers or blazes, but not difficult to follow. Refer to the arrows on the map.
Length: About 1 mile.
Features: The trail route winds downhill through pine and deciduous forest, then crosses a bridge and loops around an open field. Return along RS&E Trolley Trail, then on wooded pathways uphill to the parking lot.
Directions: From the southeast corner of the north parking lot, go down the short section of the asphalt path, then immediately turn left onto woodchip paths winding through the wooded area. At bottom of the hill on the paved path, turn left and cross the bridge. Go north a short distance on RS & E Trolley Trail, then turn right at the opening to the meadow. Climb the hill along the hedgerow. At the corner of the field, turn right (south) toward Ayrault Road and look for the trail marker on the post. Continue south then right to evergreen trees, turn left and follow the trail along soccer fields. Once near the parking area, turn right and follow the grass path to Trolley Trail. Go right on Trolley Trail, cross the bridge, and return uphill on paths back to the parking lot.
Horizon Hill
Location: Off Garnsey Road, park in gravel, fenced parking area north of Sully’s Trail (road).
Hiking Time: About 1 hour or add an extension for 2 hours.
Difficulty: Moderate to steep hills. May be muddy in spots.
Length: 1 1⁄2 miles or added portion 2 1⁄2 miles.
Features: Trails traverse forested glacial hills and valleys of south Perinton. The extended hike goes to a magnificent overlook behind the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa.
Directions: From the trail parking area, follow the orange trail into the hilly wooded area. At scenic view, you will find the trail marker on the bench. Follow the red trail to the blue trail. Turn left on the orange trail to the parking area. For an extended hike, after passing the bench, turn left and continue on the orange trail for an additional climb to the scenic view behind the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa. Backtrack to return on the orange trail but turn left at the blue trail (short-cut). Go slowly and carefully down steep descent along the blue trail. Continue on the blue trail to the orange trail and return to the parking area.
Powder Mills Park
Location: Start from the Fish Hatchery parking lot, along Park Road.
Hiking Time: About 1 hour.
Difficulty: Hilly trails in mostly wooded areas of the Park.
Length: Approximately 11⁄4 mile.
Features: The hiking trail was constructed by Crescent Trail volunteers. Please visit the Fish Hatchery after your hike.
Directions: Cautiously cross Park Road a short distance west of the Hatchery. Enter the trail at ski marker #46. Turn right at top of the short steep climb and follow the blue trail. Continue on the blue trail, bear right at ski marker #33, right at #31, and right at #29 to the site of the old stone chimney. Find the trail marker at the chimney. Continue on the blue trail and exit the woods at ski marker #27. Turn left on the grassy section of the trail along the edge of the woods. Begin following the blue trail where the grassy path bends left and enters the woods. Continue and turn right (west) at ski marker #31. Continue on the blue trail until ski marker #34, turn left and back to access the path down to Park Road.