General Information
Mendon Ponds Park is the largest Monroe County Park with 2,500 acres of woodlands, ponds, wetlands and glacially created landforms. This distinct park offers six lodges and seven shelters, all available for rental. Mendon Ponds has many recreational areas, Sharon’s Sensory Garden, Wild Wings, Inc., a Youth Camping area, and a boat launch.
The six enclosed lodges come with picnic tables, burner stove tops, a wood burning stove, a grill and water/bathrooms outside nearby. The Cobblestone House has a refrigerator and an oven plus indoor bathrooms, and the Stewart Lodge has a refrigerator. The open air shelters have picnic tables, grills, and bathrooms nearby.
For information and reservations please call 585 753-PARK (7275) or go to our Online Parks Reservation System.
Location and Directions
The park office is located at 95 Douglas Road, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472. Mendon Ponds Park, which is approximately 10 miles southeast of Rochester, is located south of the New York State Thruway I-90 in the Towns of Pittsford and Mendon. It is bordered by Clover Street on the west and Pittsford-Mendon Center Road on the east.
Click to get detailed directions.
Download park map (268k PDF).
View GIS photo of the park.
History
Mendon Ponds Park's unique complex of glacial features helped to make it a National Natural Historic Landmark in 1969. There is a 550 acre nature preserve, and 30 miles of self guided trails full of wildlife. The native preserve is home to a population of chickadees that you can hand-feed.
Rules and Regulations
Mendon Ponds Park is open daily 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. and has a carry in-carry out rule, which means you must take all your garbage with you for disposal after leaving the park. Glass is not allowed. All pets must be leashed and you are responsible for cleaning up after them.
For a complete listing of the Parks regulations download the Monroe County Parks Law document (52k PDF).
Winter Park Hours
November 1st until March 31st, Monday through Thursday the park is open 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Lodges are available to rent from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Friday through Sunday the park is open from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Lodges are available to rent from 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
Summer Park Hours
April 1st until October 31st, the park is open everyday from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Lodges and shelters are available to rent from 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
Restrooms
See the park map for specific locations.
Trails
Before heading out to Mendon Ponds Park print the map. The color coded hiking trails and additional details will keep you on the right track.
Water Activities
There is a car top boat launch located off Douglas Rd., which can be used for all non-motorized boats.
Fishing is allowed in Mendon Ponds Park as long as those fishing are 16 years or over and have a fishing license. For fish regulations (size and season) please contact the County Clerk's Office.
Winter Activities
There are two designated sledding hills located across from the Cavalry House Lodge on Douglas Road, and next to the East and West Lodges on Canfield Road. Many trails are groomed throughout the winter, which accommodate cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. On January 21st 2007, will be the Mendon Ponds Winterfest. For the 2007 information flyer click here.
Sharon’s Sensory Garden
A Sensory Garden for Your Enjoyment
Throughout the United States, sensory gardens are being created to provide persons with disabilities a more suitable opportunity to enjoy nature and the outdoors.
Sharon’s Sensory Garden is a unique sensory garden for people with visual or physical disabilities. The sensory garden has over 170 feet of plant exposure designed for visitors to touch, tear, and smell the plant life.
Sharon’s Sensory Garden has a diverse selection of plants, highlighting color, texture, fragrances, and form. Flowerbeds are raised and pathways through the garden are properly graded for visitors in wheelchairs. Plant listings and labels are in Braille and raised lettering to help educate visitors.
Sharon’s Sensory Garden is a wonderful addition to Mendon Ponds Park for everyone to enjoy. The experience of visiting the sensory garden will enhance your enjoyment of nature as well as your awareness of people with disabilities.
Sharon’s Sensory Garden is located in Mendon Ponds Park (behind the Nature Center). For additional information, please call Tom Pollock at 585 256-5877.
Wild Wing's Inc.
Wild Wings is a not-for-profit educational organization that houses and cares for permanently injured, non-releasable birds of prey (raptors). Their mission is to teach environmental stewardship through programs featuring the resident raptors as our teaching partners. They perform demonstrations at schools, scout meetings, and many other corporate and private events. The resident raptors can be seen at the new facility at Mendon Ponds Park. They are open to the public every day (except Wednesday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
