There seems to be no end to the stunning natural destinations in New York State, like this gorgeous nature preserve we found in Canandaigua. This preserve didn’t strike us as anything spectacular when we began our hike, but by the end, we couldn’t believe what a hidden gem this 90-acre preserve was.
Views of Canandaigua Lake
The crown jewel of this preserve is the multiple splendid views of Canandaigua Lake. We visited in early spring when the trees were still bare and were treated to the most breathtaking vistas (the preserve is appropriately named.) Keep in mind, The lake is fairly far away; the views are lovely, but there is a lot of land between you and the lake, and at no point do you end up on the shore of the lake. Still, it is a beautiful hike around the preserve, and boom, there is Canandaigua Lake in the distance multiple times throughout your hike.
Waterfalls
The real surprise of the Canandaigua Visit Nature Preserve are the elongated waterfalls along the west edge of the preserve. There are numerous creeks that flow along the edges of the preserve, and the varying heights of the land within the preserve lead to lovely waterfalls. Most of these can only be seen over the edge of the trail. They aren’t large at all, merely creek trickling down a hill over rocks, but pretty nonetheless.
On our return visit in the summer, the creeks weren’t quite dried up, but it was enough that we could climb up a ways and see a lovely drop waterfall. The creek was a little on the buggy side as it was shaded.
(Please note: We aren’t encouraging others to climb the falls. We do not by any means encourage engaging in dangerous activities.)
Hiking Trails
At the moment, there are only two marked trails on the map, the White Trail (which runs the circumference of the preserve) and the Blue Trail (which is a shortcut across the center of the preserve.) However, we saw a great deal of evidence of trail work, and hopefully, new trails will soon be opened.
When we visited in the spring, I have to tell you that the trails were extremely muddy. Boots are a must here. While there was no real standing water, there were plenty of muck puddles throughout the trail. When we returned in the Summer, the ground was more or less dried out other than in a few spots, and it had rained a few days prior.
The trails were even more beautiful in the summer. It was a hot day when we visited, and while much of the trails are in the open, some are covered, more like hollows, to be honest, and breathtaking.
There is clearly elevation changes as you hike here, but most are subtle enough that you really never notice. The hills that are noticeable are short jaunts that won’t leave you winded. What is truly impressive about this preserve are the views. Yes, the lake views are what this preserve is famous for, but there are other views from the top of small hills that are truly breathtaking.
Out and About With Nova
Dogs are welcomed at the Preserve, provided they are leashed. As I mentioned, the preserve is very muddy in the spring. Nova loved her walk here. The diversity of habitat makes it more than just an interesting hike; it is beautiful. We had this preserve completely to ourselves, making walking the dog much easier.
As always, please clean up after your pet. It is important that we pet owners respect these wild lands that permit us to walk our dogs there.
