Robert G. Wehle State Park – Henderson, NY

Robert G. Wehle is one of those state parks where first impressions can be deceiving. Upon first glance, this park looks like any other dog-friendly park, but venture a ways into this park, and you will be greeted with the most stunning beauty, cliffs that have been artistically carved by the wind and water from Lake Ontario.

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A Little Bit of History

Robert G. Wehle State Park was the home of a famed English Pointer breeder, Robert Wehle. Although his family-owned Genesee Brewing Company, this property is where he ran his kennel, Elhew English Pointers. He was also an artist, and you can see several of the sculptures of his beloved dogs in the park. There is a small pet cemetery, a last memorial to Robert Wehle’s dog.

Most Scenic Trail on Lake Ontario

This park has one of the most scenic trails that runs along Lake Ontario. I must warn you that while breathtaking, it can also be dangerous. The Snakefoot Trail runs along the cliffside, providing a spectacular view of the carved cliffs. There are no guardrails here. You will want to take extra care with young children who can easily fall over the edge if left unsupervised. There are quite a few ledges that you can stand on to appreciate the view. We visited on a very hot and windy day. The waves at several lookout spots along the trail came up over the cliff and soaked us thoroughly. Not only was it amazing to watch, my kids thought it was a blast to experience.

FYI- There is no swimming at this park.

Walking The Shore

If you continue hiking the Snakefoot trail, you will notice that the cliffside will begin to descend and get closer to the lake level until you can walk over the rock ledges and wade in the water. I wouldn’t recommend this when the lake is rough, but this is a great way to cool off on a hot day. A lot of algae is on the rocks, so they can be slippery. Swimming here is prohibited, but they don’t say anything about wading.

I can’t state this enough, Robert Wehle is an amazingly beautiful park, and the view from this end of the park is fantastic. We have made numerous trips to this park and have had a different experience each time. One of the things that makes the experience so incredible is that no matter how many cars are in the parking lot, we rarely see anyone when were hiking along the cliff.

We could sit on the rocks, put our feet in the water, and enjoy the serenity of the beautiful surroundings.

Dog Park

This park is very popular with dog owners. We saw people enjoying this beautiful park with their favorite 4-legged friends. The park has lots of graveled trails near the parking lot, water fountains with dog bowls underneath, and lots of places to grab dog poop baggies to pick up after your pooch, so the park can stay beautiful for everyone who visits. (No one likes stepping into dog poop.)

Park Amenities

In addition to the spectacular cliff hike, this park has other great amenities, such as tennis courts, picnic areas, gazebos, and an excellent dog-themed playground. There is also a gorgeous house and guest cottage on the property, Robert Wehle’s former home, that guests can rent through reserveamerica.com. The price is a bit steep, but the residence is completely private, with a spectacular view.

Winter at Robert Wehle

This park is incredible year-round. We visited Robert Wehle again in the winter; its snow and ice-covered cliffs were amazing. This is a fantastic place to snowshoe and cross-country ski. We saw plenty of people enjoying the groomed trails leading to the cliffs.

Even if it appears very calm, the wind coming off the lake can be intense. Be prepared for the temperature to be at least 10 degrees colder along the cliffs than in the center of the park. We hiked approximately a mile along the cliff-top until we reached a place where we were able to climb safely down to the shore. If you plan on exploring this area, microspikes or Yaktrax are an absolute must. This area is basically a sheet of ice. It is harder to hike in the deep snow, so keep that in mind when you start out. Also, just make sure you give yourself enough time to return to your vehicle. Hiking along the cliffs is dangerous in the dark.

Winter Wonderland

We recently had the privilege to see this gorgeous park covered in ice. It was like nothing we had ever seen before. The path, tree, and shrubbery, just about whatever stood still was completely covered in an inch thick of ice. It was a slippery walk along the cliffside, but we were prepared, wearing microspikes. Warning: Please always check the conditions before hiking this trail. It can be dangerous under certain circumstances, such as ice and snow.

Every inch of the trail sparkled and shined in the sun and it was an incredible experience.

Out and About With Nova

As this park is first and foremost a dog park, all leashed dogs are welcome here. We took the first opportunity we had to bring Nova here to see what she thought of the park. She loved it. Even the icy trail didn’t stop her from strutting her stuff.

Even though this is a dog park, we didn’t find any poop (or bags of poop) laying around. Which always makes me happy! Dog owners need to be vigilant about cleaning up after their pets so that we can continue to enjoy the great outdoors with our favorite four-legged friends.

We brought Nova back to Robert Wehle State Park in the summer so she could enjoy the park in the warmer weather. She had a fantastic time playing in Lake Ontario. Even though it might be tempting, dogs must always be leashed here, even when they are playing in the water.

Getting to Robert G. Wehle State Park

5182 State Park Rd., Henderson

Google Map Link

This park is located on the peninsula near Henderson Harbor off Route 3. We were able to find our way via our GPS.

Have you visited this park? Did you bring your dog? What did you think of the cliffs? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.