Penfield offers several distinctive places to enjoy nature and outdoor recreation. Abraham Lincoln Park lies on the southeast shore of Irondequoit Bay; the habitats of Thousand Acre Swamp range from swampy lowlands to wooded uplands, and Irondequoit Creek also features trails and a boat launch. Ellison Park is also home to a replica of the original Fort Schuyler. To plan your visit, start by choosing your preferred focus: a waterfront location, varied habitats, trails or an activity on the creek. These places offer specific alternatives for each.

On the Shore of Irondequoit Bay

Abraham Lincoln Park covers 182 acres and lies on the southeast shore of Irondequoit Bay, within the Town of Penfield. Recreational activities there include hiking and running trails; snowshoeing is also possible. The bay location gives your visit a clear geographical focus, while the activities offer different ways to get moving. When planning, you can first decide whether the waterfront, hiking or running, or snowshoeing is the main draw for you.

Wetland and Creek Landscape

Thousand Acre Swamp in Penfield offers a different focus. Its habitats range from swampy lowland areas to wooded uplands. In contrast to Abraham Lincoln Park's location on the bay shore, what stands out here is the transition between wetland and wooded upland. This makes it an interesting place if the range of habitats, rather than a single stretch of waterfront, is the deciding factor in your choice.

The landscape also varies in Ellison Park: natural woodlands are joined by steep slopes and the floodplain of Irondequoit Creek. The park's main entrance is in the Town of Penfield. The Coyote Den Trail offers a specific trail option there. It is 1.1 miles long, with that distance applying one way.

A non-motorized boat launch in Ellison Park serves boats on Irondequoit Creek. It complements the trail with another way to include the creek in your day's plans. The park is also home to a replica of the original Fort Schuyler. If you would like to include boating or a historical point of interest in your plans as well as a trail, Ellison Park offers these options too.

Trails on Both Sides of Irondequoit Creek

Channing H. Philbrick Park adds to the creek-focused options with 3.5 miles of trails along the north and south sides of Irondequoit Creek. Access is via Route 441. By comparison, the Coyote Den Trail in Ellison Park is a 1.1-mile one-way trail. The figures describe different types of routes: here, trails along both sides of the creek; there, a single one-way trail. If choosing between the two parks, you can weigh whether trails along both sides of the creek or the clearly specified one-way trail better suits your day's plans. Route 441 also provides a specific point of reference for getting to Channing H. Philbrick Park.

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