Help in Finding and Enjoying the Greenway

The May 25 1999, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle article talked about being able to travel the Greenway from Genesee Valley Park to Letchworth. That will be possible soon, but right now it requires a few road detours. Here is a summary of what you will find on the Greenway.

Genesee Valley Park

Park in the lot by the swimming pool. Take the Genesee Riverway Trail to the Genesee Valley Greenway. The Riverway Trail is paved and heads southwest from the parking lot. (The Genesee Valley Canal and the Pennsylvania Railroad passed on the west side of the parking lot and trail on their way to Rochester. In Rochester, the Genesee Valley Canal intersected with the Erie Canal, about where Nick Tahou's Restaurant is located today.)

A short distance along the Genesee Riverway Trail, there will be a turn off for the Erie Canalway Trail going east toward Pittsford over the bridge. For the Greenway, keep going straight. From here on, the Erie Canalway Trail and Genesee Riverway Trail are together and go over the canal on the arched bridge. (You will see the old Pennsylvania Railroad bridge on your right and a slight depression that was the canal prism, also on your right.)

Once on the other side of the canal, the Genesee Valley Greenway joins the Genesee Riverway Trail and Erie Canal Recreationway. There is a sign post with arrows for Greece and Scottsville. The Erie Canalway Trail goes north along the west side of the canal toward Greece. The Genesee Valley Greenway goes northwest under 390 toward Scottsville. The Genesee Riverway Trail goes straight ahead along the banks of the Genesee River. All trails are paved.

Right now take the Genesee Riverway Trail instead of the Greenway as the Greenway is closed in the area of the Fire Training Academy until construction of a new fire training facility is complete. The Genesee Riverway Trail loops up to join the Genesee Valley Greenway south of the Fire Training Academy.

The Greenway travels southwest along the river, crosses Weidner Road and then curves up to the parking lot for Peach's Restaurant. If you wish to continue south on the Greenway, you need to bike south along Route 383, (Scottsville Road) until you reach Route 253, (Ballantyne Road). Turn right (west) on to Ballantyne to reach the Greenway again. You will know the Greenway by the yellow gates and the sign on the gates. There is also signage that will help guide you.

If you want to see a good example of an historic canal culvert, at Ballantyne Road head north on the Greenway, .5 mile. Just before the trail crosses Black Creek, take the path to the east down to the banks of the creek. You will get a good view of this rare double arched culvert.

The reason for the trail detour is that there is still active rail line between 84 Lumber on Scottsville Road and the east-west CSX tracks that cross Scottsville Road. Soon, a trail detour will be constructed along the west side of Scottsville Road that will establish a continuous off-road trail in this area. The trail will be developed by Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) as part of an environmental benefits project.

Little Black Creek

RG&E has also developed a paved parking area and pocket park north of 84 Lumber on the banks of Little Black Creek, just south of the Scottsville-Paul Road intersection. A hand carry boat launch has also been installed. From this parking area you can access the trail as well as view another historic canal culvert and waste weir.

Brook Road

From Ballantyne Road the trail heads south to Brook Road through a wooded environment. At the Brook Road trailhead, north side of the road, there is a large gravel parking lot with room for parking of horse trailers. A wood chip path leads over to the Greenway.

Route 383 (Scottsville Road) Crossing

Another point of confusion may be the trail crossing of Route 383 (Scottsville Road) just north of the Village of Scottsville. The train used to go under the road, but when the road was reconstructed some years ago, the underpass was removed. It now creates a situation where the trail is twenty to thirty feet below the road. Ramps will to be constructed at this location to make this crossing easier, but, for the time being, one needs to be very mindful of the traffic and make sure that there is nothing coming in either direction before crossing. The trail continues on the other side. Look for the evidence of the black cinders from the old railbed. Snowmobiles are prohibited in this area between Morgan Road and Route 253, until the ramps are constructed.