Home › New York › Pittsford › Great Embankment
Great Embankment
4.6 ★★★★★ 170 Google reviews · Running trail in Pittsford, New York · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Great Embankment's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Park with a kids' playground, picnic tables, and soccer fields, plus canal views.
What runners say about Great Embankment
“The parking lot gets kind of crazy but the well maintained fields along the Erie Canal are a great place to watch a soccer or lacrosse game.”
“A great new playground with lots of fun stuff to climb, plus a very short walk to the canal path or an easy wooded trail for some scenic exercise!”
The great embankment Park, is part of the erie canal heritage Trail. Complete it in 1822, and it’s 1 mile long, 70 feet high across. This is a clean park it has soccer fields and playgrounds for the kids.
Nice place to go, parking is free. Plenty of trails & ball fields. There is a connecting trail to the canal, public restrooms, playground & geocaches nearby. Neat park out of the way.
Park is a good size and a decent amount of things to do, I love the trail along the canal. People are respectful whether your walking or riding and the trail is well kept and clean.
Along the Erie Canal. For a short walk start here an go to Bushnell basin and back. about 2 miles. The embankment allowed the canal to span a valley without needing to build locks. Today the park has a number of sport fields. The canal is the focus for many people.
Trail conditions & character
“A great new playground with lots of fun stuff to climb, plus a very short walk to the canal path or an easy wooded trail for some scenic exercise!”
“The parking lot gets kind of crazy but the well maintained fields along the Erie Canal are a great place to watch a soccer or lacrosse game.”
“I’m not going to say it’s inaccessible but the closest and most level walk is almost 1 minute and 40 seconds (I walk quickly) and it’s on a loose gravel path.”
“There is a connecting trail to the canal, public restrooms, playground & geocaches nearby.”
“I’m not going to say it’s inaccessible but the closest and most level walk is almost 1 minute and 40 seconds (I walk quickly) and it’s on a loose gravel path.”
“I’m not going to say it’s inaccessible but the closest and most level walk is almost 1 minute and 40 seconds (I walk quickly) and it’s on a loose gravel path.”
Plan your run at Great Embankment
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitetownofpittsford.org
- Social Instagram
Hours
| Monday | 8 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–9 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–9 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am–9 pm |
Running trails near Pittsford
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Thornell Farm Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 221 reviews
Spacious park featuring picnic areas, gardens and playgrounds.
Schoen Place
4.7 ★★★★★ 69 reviews
Waterfront spot featuring eateries, a brewery and boutique shops, plus picnic areas.
Carpenter Park at the Port of Pittsford
4.7 ★★★★★ 67 reviews
Calm area featuring canals, bridges and a monument, plus picnic tables and benches for relaxing.
