Rochester, NY hiking: Dog friendly!
Rochester, New York has some fantastic hiking in and around it, and there are a lot of places that are dog friendly! It is my belief that getting dogs into the woods and off leash when they are trained is essential to helping them become the best version of themselves and to help them heal if they are having problems. Here are my top 3 dog friendly hiking spots:
Channing Philbrick Park
CHANNING PHILBRICK PARK
Located at 1 Linear Park Dr, Penfield, NY 14526 this park is ideal for me when I’m working with dogs. It has a combination of flat, intermediate and steep hiking trails. You can take a leisurely stroll with your dog, or you can condition them to start doing more challenging hikes elsewhere like the Catskills or the Adirondacks.
The park travels along Irendequoit Creek, which makes it great for taking your dog to swim in the summer as well as hiking year round. One aspect that is invaluable for me as a trainer that works with dogs that have behavioral problems is that it has a ton of opportunities for confidence building. There are varying lengths of wooden bridges, boulders, and varying terrain that allows me to show fearful and anxious dogs what they’re actually capable of accomplishing. There is also a large field in the middle of the park between trailheads that is exceptional for off leash training and playing fetch!
2. Mendon Ponds Park
MENDON PONDS PARK
Located at 95 Douglas Rd, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 this park boasts 40 miles of hiking trails. You could spend 20 minutes here for a quick walk by the water or 4 hours hiking and exploring. The park is home to multiple large ponds with beaches and even docks for canoeing or kayaking. This is a huge park and is great for the whole family, even the canine members!
Every trail in the park allows dogs apart for the Birdsong Trail at the entrance of the park. Sorry, no pups around the birdwatching! However, there are dozens of other trails with all different terrain where you and your pup can hike an explore!
3. Corbetts Glen Park
Corbett’s Glen Park
Located at 415 Penfield Rd, Rochester, NY 14625 this is a really nice little park next to an offshoot of Irondequoit Creek. It has a handful of flatter trails that are spaced out nicely and wide. It’s a great option if you’re just starting out taking your dog for hikes! While humans and dogs aren’t allowed in the water, the park sits in a nice little gully that gets cooled off by the creek during the hot summer months. I love to take dogs here for their first hiking experience!
