Genesee County Park and Forest

Visited August 16, 2021

11095 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany, NY 14054

68 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny 10:00 AM - 10:40 AM

The bathroom building I used was open and clean with a flushing toilet and running water. Drive past the first picnic shelter until you see a shelter with a playground. The block building on the left side of the road has the toilet facilities.

Dogs on leash are welcome. Come prepared to pick up after your dog.

I would allow 2 hours or more to explore more of the trails in this park, especially if you visit when the nature center is open. Wesley and I hiked clockwise for 1.1 mile on a pleasant undemanding loop that included the Wilderness Trail and Death Row Trail. It was one of the first trails we encountered after driving through the gates. The grassy part of the trail was still wet with dew at 10:00 AM so I would wear waterproof boots. The trail was mowed and maintained so shorts would be okay if you are staying on the trail. There is a bench in the wooded area of the trail just at a good resting point.

Before I left the park, I parked at the interpretive center (nature center) and leaving Wesley in the car with air conditioning, I took a super-quick peek at the outdoor learning area. If I had little ones, I imagine we would spend a lot of time here. There are no signs saying dogs are not allowed here, but similar sites usually frown on dogs visiting which is why I left Wesley in the car.

Some of the trail was single file but much of the trail could accommodate two people walking side by side. I saw 4 people while at the park near the bathroom facilities but I had the trail to myself.

There was no litter on this trail.

There is no foliage encroaching on the trail long pants were not a necessity.

Mosquitos were present but respected the long pants, hat, and bug spray.

No cost for parking.

Parking in a paved lot that will host 20+ vehicles is by the nature center on the right of the road I used to enter the park.

I parked in a gravel-dirt lot near the first picnic shelter on the left. It is not far past the nature center.

While in the park, I saw a robin and a chipmunk. I saw cherry, birch, staghorn sumac, maple, and oak trees. I saw Queen Anne's lace, milkweed, mayapple, vetch, teasel, and goldenrod.

Genesee County Park is part of the WNY Summer Hiking Challenge. https://outsidechronicles.com/challenge

For more information about the park and trails: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/parkforesthistory.php

For more information about the nature center: https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/inc.php

Signage at the entrance.

Signage at the nature center and the large parking lot on the right.

Small parking lot to the right of the sign for the toilet facilities.

View of the playground from the small parking area by the toilet facilities. This is by E1 and E2 on the park map at http://cms1files.revize.com/revize/geneseecountynew/images/parks/GPS%20GCP%20Map%20Color%20Final%201_25_18.pdf

Picnic Pavilion where I parked near the trail head. This is marked as G and P (for Parking) on the park map at http://cms1files.revize.com/revize/geneseecountynew/images/parks/GPS%20GCP%20Map%20Color%20Final%201_25_18.pdf.

Trail head where I started. It is just down the road from parking within easy view of the parking spot. This trailhead is marked as 16 on the map at http://cms1files.revize.com/revize/geneseecountynew/images/parks/GPS%20GCP%20Map%20Color%20Final%201_25_18.pdf.

This is across the road from where we entered. This is where we exited, finishing the loop at #17 on the map. We went clockwise which is very nice but you could go counterclockwise if that is what you prefer.