Dog Friendly Parks

Hiking with Dogs at Durand Eastman Park

Read our guide to hiking with dogs at Durand Eastman Park just outside of Rochester, NY
Written by Kevin Sando

Fall in Western New York is a special time of year.

The vibrant colors of the foliage are truly among the best in the country.  We usually try to get out on a handful of hikes each season, but you know how life can get in the way. Since October was quickly approaching its end, we recently decided to take advantage of (likely one of the last) beautiful Fall days and squeeze in an adventure before the snow starts falling.

Our Golden Retriever Harley at Durand Eastman Park

Durand Eastman Park

Where is Durand Eastman Park?

Durand Eastman Park is located in just North of Rochester, NY up against the shore of Lake Ontario. This land was dedicated in 1909 and now encompasses nearly 1,000 acres. Park features include nearly a mile of Lake Ontario waterfront, as well as several small inland lakes amidst steep wooded hills and valleys.

Park facilities include 8 shelters and 1 lodge which are available for rent.

Durand Eastman Park Trail Map (Monroe County Parks)

Map Source

How Do I Get There?

There are several entrances to Durand Eastman Park, with the two main access points being from the South Via Kings Highway and from the North via Lakeshore Boulevard. Kings Highway takes you through the Durand Eastman Golf Course which consists of 18 scenic holes designed by famed course architect Robert Trent Jones.

Are Dogs Allowed at Durand Eastman?

They sure are, but as with most parks, they must be leashed at all times. And of course you MUST clean up after them!

Exploring Durand Eastman Park with the dogs on a crisp Fall day

What to Do at Durand Eastman

  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Geocaching
  • Snowshoeing

TIP: We would strongly recommend printing a map before you go, as the trails are not exactly well marked!

Hiking at Durand Eastman Park

Below we describe our route, and one that we would recommend to maximize your experience at the park.

Mapping our route along the various trails of Durand Eastman Park

 

Eastman Lake Trail

If you are looking to get some hiking in, the majority of park trails are located off Log Cabin Road. To access, you will want to turn in from the North via Lakeshore Boulevard. While there are trailheads near the start of the road, we would suggest continuing up the hill to the loop at the top where there is more parking (Indicated by the black dot in the map above). From here you can head back down (on foot) via the Eastman Lake Trail.

Hiking with Harley along the Eastman Lake Trail

This is a semi-steep, and heavily wooded trail, so wear proper hiking gear. Much of the trail winds very close to the lake and has a tendency to get muddy and slippery. The majority of the trail is shaded under a canopy of maple, oak, cherry, and beach trees – so make sure to dress for a lack of sunlight.

Veering right when you reach Eastman Lake will keep you along the Eastern shore and allow you to avoid having to double back once you reach Lakeshore Boulevard – or walk along what is a fairly busy road. This cuts off about half of the 1.5 mile trail, but if you pair it with the rest of the route we describe, you will get in plenty of distance!

Enjoying a Fall hike in Western New York - does anything beat the colorful foliage and crisp air?

At this point (on the South side of the lake) the water is murky and a great place to spot painted turtles, frogs and toads – so keep your eyes peeled. However, due to the high algae concentration, I would not recommend allowing your pup to wade into this area!

As you continue along a bit more, the water gets more clear and the views open up revealing some great shots of the lake. If you are visiting in the Fall, the reflections of the foliage off the lake is worth the trip alone.

Catching a pair of swans in Eastman Lake

This area is also a great place to catch a variety of water fowl which make a home in the area (or pass through during migration) including swans and warblers.

Owens Point

Roughly halfway along the Eastman Lake Trail you will see a small path on a strip of land jutting out into the lake. This leads to Owens Point, which is one of the best spots to enjoy the view of Eastman Lake. There is a also a bench out here so its a great spot to relax and take a water break.

Enjoying the view at Owens Point off the Eastman Lake Trail

Durand Lake Trail

Once you reach Log Cabin Road, head straight across to get started on the Durand Lake Trail. This trail is a bit more rugged than the Eastman Lake, and a bit harder to see. Just hug the lake until you see red trail makers indicating the Trott Lake Trail. At this point we would suggest veering off onto this trail as opposed to continuing around the lake toward Lakeshore Boulevard.

Trott Lake Trail

Whether you head left or right on the Trott Lake Trail, continue hugging the lake until you reach the Southernmost portion where there is a large open field. This was a great spot to let the dogs roam around a bit and really appreciate the smells of the wild.

Hiking off log cabin road near the Trott Lake Trail

There was absolutely nobody around when we reached this spot, so we hung around for quite a while. We even had the chance to catch the first snowflakes of the year!

Charlie is happy to see the first snowflakes of the season

Log Cabin Road

After making your way to the southernmost portion of this field a small cut through the woods will lead you back onto Log Cabin Road. Once you have made your way onto Log Cabin Road you can simply follow it back up the hill (to the right) to where your car is parked. This portion of the road is often closed to vehicles, but keep an eye out just in case.

Trimble Lake

When you hit Trimble Lake (along Log Cabin Road) you can be sure that you are headed in the right direction.

Looking over Trimble Lake from Log Cabin Road at Durand Eastman Park

Once we got back to our car, we had a bit of daylight left so decided to check out one other spot in the park…

Durand Eastman Beach

As we mentioned above, one of the main highlights of Durand Eastman is the beach access to Lake Ontario. Head out on Log Cabin Road the same way you drove in and cross Lakeshore Boulevard where you will find several large parking lots. Any one of these is only roughly 100 ft. from the beach so go ahead and park where convenient.

Gorgeous view of Lake Ontario from Durand Eastman Beach

Above is the view from the parking lot, so you can see just how short of a walk to the beach you are dealing with!

Harley and Charlie enjoying the dog beach at Durand Eastman Park near Rochester, NY

Harley and Charlie had a blast walking on the sand and digging around a bit. This was Charlie’s first experience with waves, so he was a bit hesitant to enter the water – even barking at each crest as they approached the shore! Once he settled down however, we let them both get their feet wet. Seeing as it had just been snowing, we figured just a taste of water was enough!

Rochester NY dog beach at Durand Eastman Park

Light was fading fast at this point so we took a few moments to really take in the view and enjoy the crisp Lake air before heading back home.

Why MyDogLikes Hiking at Durand Eastman Park

While the beach is a very popular destination in the Summer months, the rest of the park across the street is much less well known. This was our first visit to the park and we will without a doubt be back. (Perhaps even in the winter for some snowshoeing?) The views were spectacular and it is the perfect spot to catch the fall foliage in the Rochester, NY area.

All in all, Durand Eastman is a relatively small park where you can get a lot of bang for your buck (figuratively speaking – as there is no entrance fee!). Each trail is only between .5 and 1.5 miles long and even if you combine a few together as we describe above, it can easily be tackled in a couple of hours.

Have you ever visited Durand Eastman?

Let us know in the comments below and of course please leave any questions you may have!

About the author

Kevin Sando

Kevin is a mechanical engineer with a degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He has move than a decade experience in new product design, prototyping and early stage manufacturing. Pairing this background with his love of dogs, gives him a unique perspective to evaluate the design and execution of new and interesting pet products.

7 Comments

  • This is an absolutely beautiful park. Thank you for sharing this with us. Your photos are wonderful and articles are always top notch! You’re very luck to live in such a beautiful place.

  • Thank you for including Owen’s Point. It is named after my beloved nephew who died November 5, 2013 at 19 years old. His cousin Nick built the bench and sign there (with help from Owen’s dad, uncles, and grandfather). There’s also a stone, but it’s often covered with snow or leaves. It’s a special place.

    • Wow, I had no idea about the history of that spot – Thank you for sharing with us. It really is a beautiful and peaceful place and a touching tribute to Owen.