This spring, guided outings in several towns uncover the beauty and mysteries of the old Genesee Valley canal and railroad.
Where normally there would be one or two hikes per season, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Genesee Region is introducing many new, free outdoor outings. There will be fresh adventures every season and some recurring annually. This spring season (April through June 2025) is the launch of Indigenous Reservations, Lock Walks, and Hidden Histories series.
“Genesee Valley Greenway State Park is a hidden gem in plain sight,” said Jules Hoepting, environmental educator for the Genesee Region of New York State Parks, who will be leading most of these outings. “Passing through sixteen towns, from the rumbling city of Rochester to rural agricultural towns, there’s a lot to see along this trail. But there’s far more that the trail has seen in its history.”
The Hidden Histories series unfurls fascinating stories right where they happened. The canal opened from Rochester to Mount Morris in 1840, and kept expanding south to the Allegany River in 1862:
•Letchworth’s Abandoned Tunnel (short route). Saturday, April 26, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at Parade Grounds parking area (GPS 42.584753, -78.032626). (2 miles).
•Letchworth’s Abandoned Tunnel (long route). Sunday, April 27, 1 to 5 p.m. Meet at Parade Grounds parking area (GPS 42.584753, -78.032626). Will carpool. (4 miles).
•Belfast: Murder Warehouse. Saturday, May 24, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at Belfast Warehouse (GPS 42.342937, -78.125365). (2 miles).
•Houghton Loop: Hamlet with a 180 Perspective. Saturday, June 28, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at Caneadea Town Park (GPS 42.424694, -78.154842). (1 mile).
The Lock Walks series takes you right up to or even inside the rare, well-preserved locks of the old Genesee Valley Canal. The canal had the steepest elevation climb of any in America, partly why the canal is such an engineering marvel.
•Oakland Loop: Where Water Went Up Stairs. Saturday, April 12, 2025, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at Oakland Locks parking area (GPS 42.577908, -77.971231). (2 miles).
•Fowlerville: Following a River. Saturday, May 10, 1 to 3 p.m. Meet at Fowlerville Road parking area (GPS 42.891654, -77.823686). (3 miles).
•Chili: 2 Miles to Lock 2. Saturday, June 14, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at Brook Road parking area, 30 Brook Road, Rochester 14623. (2 miles).
The Indigenous Reservations series explores the still-unfolding story of Seneca settlements along the path of the canal. On every outing, the educator will share maps of each reservation, give some historical context of world and local events surrounding the creation of the reservation, and share some present-day Seneca cultural insights and perspective written by educators at Ganondagan State Historic Site. Three more reservation hikes are coming this summer: Squawkie Hill, Gardeau, and Caneadea.
•Little Beard’s Town. Home of Degewanus, Mary Jemison, before she was “White Woman of the Genesee.” Saturday, May 3, 1 to 3 p.m. Meet at Cuylerville parking area (GPS 42.777205, – 77.870221). (1 mile or less).
•Ohagi. The only known Tuscarora reservation in the area. Saturday, June 7, 11 a.m. to noon. Meet at Yard of Ale 3226 Genesee Street, Piffard, NY 14533. (1 mile or less).
For information on future guided outings, email genesee.education@parks.ny.gov to receive The Genesee Naturalist, the free newsletter and event calendar for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation’s Genesee Region.
For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518-474-0456.
Provided information
