A walk along Main Street in the Village of Phelps offers views of Flint Creek Falls and the sound of the falls. You’ll also find historic buildings, a museum with permanent and changing exhibits, and trails for a variety of activities. You can shape a visit to Phelps around local history, nature, or a specific event date.
Scenery, Waterfalls, and Trails
The Town of Phelps features varied landscapes: north of the Thruway, the area is shaped by drumlins and wetlands; to the south, it is relatively flat to gently rolling. In the Village of Phelps, get a close-up experience of Flint Creek Falls on a walk along Main Street: the route offers views of the falls and their sound.
Another way to experience the landscape is the multi-use Ontario Pathways trail. It runs from Canandaigua to Phelps and is suitable for hiking, biking, running, horseback riding, birdwatching, geocaching, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The first few miles of the trail pass several waterfalls along Flint Creek. These nature experiences offer different ways to explore: Main Street provides views of the falls in the Village, while Ontario Pathways is a route with a variety of activity options.
Historic Buildings and Exhibits
The Phelps Community Historical Society draws on its archives and collections for exhibits, programs, and events about Phelps. Its museum is housed in the Howe House and features permanent and changing exhibits, including 19th-century household and agricultural equipment. The Howe House also includes a rare two-story brick outbuilding.
Cobblestone houses are also part of Phelps’s historic character: they are particularly common here. In western New York, such houses were built from the 1830s through the Civil War. The Phelps Town Hall, built around 1849 and listed on the state and national registers of historic places, offers another point of reference in time. These buildings provide visitors with different ways to connect with the past, from the museum and its exhibits to the architecture around town.
A walking tour is offered in the historic town center. You can also visit the Country Lawyer’s Office there. The tour focuses on the historic town center, while a visit to the Country Lawyer’s Office centers on a single building.
Parks and an Annual Event
The parks in Phelps offer different features. Redfield Park has a pavilion, a concession building, a baseball field, and a playground. At Crooked Bridge Park, visitors can splash in the creek or enjoy a picnic. Redfield’s park facilities and play options contrast with the two specific ways to spend time by the creek.
A special date on the event calendar is Phelps Sauerkraut Weekend, held every year on the first weekend in August. The program includes a parade, a recipe contest, and rides; everyone also receives a free piece of sauerkraut cake. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Victor, Canandaigua, Shortsville
Go to the regional travel overview: Ontario County.
