LEHIGH VALLEY TRAIL; NORTH BRANCH:
MENDON-ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: March 23, 2025
Length: Lehigh Valley Trail: North Branch; 12.9 miles
Lehigh Valley Trail; South Branch; 0.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat stone-dust rail trail.
Directions:
To Start from the Plains Road parking lot at Rochester Junction in Honeoye Falls [Southern End]; From I-390 take exit 11 to Route 251 east 3.8 miles. Turn right on Plains Rd. The parking lot will be on your left.
To Start from the E Henrietta Road parking lot in Henrietta [Central Section]; From I-390 take exit 11 to Route 251 east. Turn left on E Henrietta Rd (Route 15A) and travel north 2.2 miles to the parking lot on your left.
To start from Genesee Valley Park; Northeast parking area in Rochester [Northern End]; From I-390 take exit 17 to Route 383. Head left (north) to Genesee St. Continue straight on Elmwood Ave and cross over the Genesee River. Take an immediate right on Moore Rd into the park. Parking lot will be on your right.
The Lehigh Valley Trail; North Branch follows the old rail bed of the former North Branch of the Lehigh Valley RR. It connects to the Erie Canalway Trail; Syracuse-Rochester and Erie Canalway Trail; Rochester-Buffalo at its Northern Terminus in Rochester and the Lehigh Valley Trail at its Southern Terminus at Rochester Junction in Honeoye Falls. The Lehigh Valley Trail; South Branch also travels a short distance from Rochester Junction South, to Clover St. For more information visit; LEHIGH VALLEY TRAIL; NORTH BRANCH & LEHIGH VALLEY TRAIL; NORTH BRANCH .
Starting from the Plains Road parking lot at Rochester Junction in Honeoye Falls [Southern End]; A replica Train Station is located here (restrooms and water fountain) next to where the original Rochester Junction Station once stood. The Lehigh Valley Trail; North Branch begins from the Eastern Side of Rochester Junction Park, at the junction with the Lehigh Valley Trail. The 0 Mile Marker is located here.
Note; The Lehigh Valley Trail passes through Rochester Junction traveling East-West. At its Western End, it connects to the Genesee Valley Greenway . At its Eastern End, it crosses the North-South Auburn Trail , before ending at Lehigh Crossing Park.
Note; The Lehigh Valley Trail; South Branch, briefly shares the rail bed with the Lehigh Valley Trail heading East. You pass by the site of the old RR Interlocking Tower and Pump House and you'll come to the Lehigh Valley Trail; South Branch on your right. Follow the stone-dust trail South, into the woods and across a wooden bridge before you come to an intersection. Continue straight.
Note; Left takes you across two wooden bridges and back out to the Lehigh Valley Trail.
The trail turns left, off the old rail bed through the Great Bend Nature Park, before bringing you to the gravel Clover Street parking area after 0.8 miles.
Heading Northeast from Rochester Junction, the stone-dust Lehigh Valley Trail; North Branch travels through the park, past an old red rail car and replica Train Station. This was the site of the old Rochester Junction RR Station (restrooms, water fountain & informational sign). Cross Plains Rd and you'll pass by an old RR Speeder Shed, followed by the 0.5 Mile Marker (Mile Markers located every 0.5 miles). Partially open wooded corridor. I haven't checked out this next section. Cross Route 251 in Rush, followed by Pinnacle Rd at 2 miles, where the trail turns North. Cross Jeffords Rd followed by E Henrietta Rd (Caution; crosswalk, but high speed traffic) at 3.6 miles where you'll find the E Henrietta Road parking lot in Henrietta. I have checked out this section. Map Board located here. Travel through a tunnel underneath Route 71 and another tunnel underneath I-90 where the trail veers right off the rail bed taking you past open fields to Nevins Rd at 5.5miles. You must continue on-road, North, along Nevins Rd (residential) out to Lehigh Station Rd, where a crosswalk takes you over to Florendin Drive. Continue North, along Florendin Drive (residential) and you'll pick up the stone-dust trail on your left at 6.2 miles. Come to some ball fields at Veterans Memorial Park.
Note; A trail Loops around the Western Park ball fields and also includes a Spur to the Eastern Park ball & sports fields, playground & parking lots.
Continue left around the Western Park ball fields, over a bridge and past the Town offices to Calkins Rd at 6.9 miles.
Note; On-road detour of 2.4 miles. This next section is not recommended for kids on bikes.
Head left, West, following a wide sidewalk (narrow on-road shoulder available). Cross some RR tracks, travel underneath I-390 and come to W Henrietta Rd where you turn right, North. Narrow sidewalk or shoulder available. Turn left, West, on Bailey Rd (sidewalk or wide shoulder), cross some more RR tracks and come to John St at 9.3 miles. Across the street you'll pick the paved Lehigh Valley Trail; North Branch, as it travels North, alongside the road. Several road crossings, before you cross Jefferson Rd, to a sidewalk, where you travel alongside Brighton-Henrietta Townline Rd. Cross some RR tracks, before turning East and cross Red Creek, before rejoining the stone-dust trail on your left at 11.1 miles. Continue North, along a power line corridor, crossing a sub-station access road, followed by Crittenden Rd and E River Rd at 12.6 miles.
Note; Left, West, along E River Rd brings you to the entrance of Genesee Valley Park.
Continue along a crushed gravel road, passing by a power sub-station and you'll come to two sets of old RR bridges, side by side, that cross over I-390 and the Erie Canal bringing you to the paved Erie Canalway Trail; Syracuse-Rochester after 12.9 miles and the end of the trail in Rochester.
Note; To reach the Genesee Valley Park; Northeast parking area in Rochester head left, West, along the paved Erie Canalway Trail; Syracuse-Rochester, traveling underneath Moore Rd through Genesee Valley Park; Northeast (North of I-390 & Erie Canal & East Side of Genesee River). On your right is the Genesee Valley Park; Northwest parking area. From here you can connect to the Genesee Valley Greenway & Genesee Riverway Trail .
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