Durand Eastman Park Walking Tour
Introduction
Durand-Eastman Park is located along the shore of Lake
Ontario between the Genesee River and Irondequoit Bay. Its topography
is characterized by steep wooded ravines that drain from South to North.
Several of the ravines drain into ponds frequented by fishers. The
park has a nearly mile long beach that is mostly unusable by swimmers due to
high bacteria levels in the water and lack of life guards. The park
has several roads that run through it, enabling access to its many picnic
shelters and trails. During the summer months, especially on weekends, when
all of the roads are open the areas near the shelters can be noisy from car
stereos and other electronic devices. During the winter, when some of
the roads are closed, the park is beautifully silent and peaceful.
The park is very popular with dog walkers. Some of the
dog walkers are responsible and leash their dogs and pick up after them,
others are not so responsible. The paved roads are often littered with
dog droppings.
The trails along the edges of the lakes are beautiful except
near popular fishing spots. There, you will see empty beer cans, fast
food containers, and other detritus left by fishers. The fishers don't
wonder far from their cars, so the farther you stay away from Lakshore
Boulevard, the less trash you will see. There is divine retribution,
most of the fish in the ponds are probably contaminated.
Maps, Directions, and Satellite Imagery
Official park Web site
Reader recommendations
The following description was provided by Inforochester.com visitor, Susan Lamberton
skyewillow@hotmail.com.
"Another suggestion to explore: The beach at Durand Eastman Park (Lakeshore Drive, W. Irondequoit) and across the street if
you can find it, on the edge of the park, is the "White Lady's Castle" (actually the remains of a hotel that used to be there) which, though
a popular place for teens to drink/party is also one of the best spots to catch a sunset I've ever experienced. To find the place, take 590N
to the "Sea Breeze" exit go straight through the next intersection onto Sweet Fern. This will become Lakeshore Drive. You will curve around
quite a bit, and on your right will pass a marshy area, then a couple of houses. Soon after that on your left, look for a recessed area with
a small area for cars and a railing. If you get to the Durand Park Entrance, you've gone too far. Set back a bit from the road are some
stairs off to the right leading up the hillside. If you look up, you can see the castle-like foundation which is where you're headed. At the
top you will find a grassy area good for picnicking, and a wall atop the foundation that I like to sit on while watching the sunset over the
lake. If you venture into the woods on the other side of the grassy area you can climb down to the ponds and explore a bit (wear shoes you
don't mind getting dirty if you plan to do this!) This is a really neat spot to visit especially if you are familiar with the legend of the
White Lady of Durand Eastman Park.
Well, I hope you enjoy exploring that place as much as I have... If you do go, let me know how you liked it!"
Reply
I have written about Durand Eastman Park in terms of cross/country skiing on this Web site at: Cross-country ski
areas, Rochester, New York, but not in terms of walking. The park is beautiful in every way that Susan describes it. It has
ponds, marshes, a stream, hills, and of course Lake Ontario. One of the first fall walks I ever took in Rochester was to Durand
Eastman Park. The fall foliage was spectacular, the trails were well groomed, and the varied landscape enjoyable to explore.
What is not so great about the park is that it is heavily used and abused. It is a party spot, so in the summer loud music pumped out
of the backs of cars is common. Discarded beer cans, bottles, and broken glass are seen more than one would like or expect.
However, if you are in a party mood this may be the place to be. Then there's the red tide. The beach at Lake Ontario is often
closed because of rotting dead fish killed by red tides. Then there's the issue of the park's deer. Homeowners build or buy
houses on the edge of the park and then object to wildlife eating their cultivated plants. The deer population grew and the problem
became a major issue. The deer population has been reduced by several methods. None of the methods have met with the approval of
environmentalists. When I first visited the park I saw deer from time to time. In recent years, I have not seen a single deer.
Because of the high number of park visitors it is unusual to see any kind of wildlife except for birds and squirrels. The most common
four legged mammal I have seen year round are dogs.
One of my favorite times to visit the park is on rainy gray summer and fall days. Few people go to the park when the weather is
poor. It's quiet, peaceful, and all of its charm shows through.
For more information on Durand-Eastman Park visit InfoRochester's
Gardening page.
More Rochester Walks.
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