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Highland Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 4,532 Google reviews · Running trail in Rochester, New York · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Highland Park'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.

ScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADAWaterQuiet

Spring-blooming flowers & trees line a 150-acre park with a castle, sunken garden & amphitheater.

What runners say about Highland Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (4,532 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“The views from the park were astonishing,the park was very clean with many benches to.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 17 mentions

“The park is very beautiful and peaceful with birds chirping all around and wild animals like ground hogs, rabbits and squirrels jumping all around.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 9 mentions

“The park is very beautiful and peaceful with birds chirping all around and wild animals like ground hogs, rabbits and squirrels jumping all around.”

Highland Park is a lovely outdoor space in the Rochester area. We enjoyed walking around the park and seeing the variety of trees that were labeled. We recently had the opportunity to return in May just after the Lilac Festival.

★★★★★ — Carol , May 2025

Gorgeous park any time of the year! It has plenty of walking trails, benches and picnic tables.

★★★★★ — Emmaline , Jan 2026

Highland Park in Rochester truly lives up to its reputation as an urban oasis. It's simply amazing! Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the park masterfully blends stunning natural landscapes with peaceful serenity.

★★★★★ — Maikel , Jun 2025

Didn't know what to expect,however I dis enjoy the walk. I met a woman spinning yarn which was very interesting to watch, she let me touch the yarn before spinning and it was so soft. The views from the park were astonishing,the park was very clean with many benches to.sit along the way. A beautiful place.

★★★★★ — Denise , Aug 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 4,532 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 18 mentions

“The park is very beautiful and peaceful with birds chirping all around and wild animals like ground hogs, rabbits and squirrels jumping all around.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 7 mentions

“The park is very beautiful and peaceful with birds chirping all around and wild animals like ground hogs, rabbits and squirrels jumping all around.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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🐕 Dog-friendly

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Highland Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • At the trailheadwater — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitemonroecounty.gov
  • Phone+1 585-753-7270
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 10 am–4 pm
Tuesday 10 am–4 pm
Wednesday 10 am–4 pm
Thursday 10 am–4 pm
Friday 10 am–4 pm
Saturday 10 am–4 pm
Sunday 10 am–4 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Highland Park

180 Reservoir Ave, Rochester, NY 14620

Get directions

Running trails near Rochester

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Bausch & Lomb Riverside Park

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Natural surface

1.0 miles away

Genesee Gateway Park

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Scenic

Riverside walkway, part of the Genesee Riverway Trail, with a playground & boat ramp.

1.2 miles away

Brighton Town Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 336 reviews

Brighton, NY

Natural surfaceScenic

Centered on a 12-acre pond & nature path, this green space includes 2 pavilions & a lodge for rent.

1.2 miles away

Brickyard Trail (North Entrance)

4.8 ★★★★★ 40 reviews

Rochester, NY

Scenic

Compact hiking area featuring wooded sections and ponds as well as nature, wildflowers, and wildlife.

1.4 miles away

The Brickyard Trail At The Sandra Frankel Nature Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

Rochester, NY

1.4 miles away

Buckland Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 607 reviews

Rochester, NY

A park with a lodge, trails, playgrounds, baseball fields & courts for tennis & basketball.

1.5 miles away

All running trails in Rochester, NY →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.