Mendon Ponds Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Mendon Ponds Park, located in Monroe County, New York, is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.


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Summary

The park spans over 2,500 acres and features a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, and birdwatching.

One of the park's main attractions is its extensive trail network, which includes over 20 miles of hiking trails and 10 miles of multi-use trails for biking and horseback riding. Visitors can explore a diverse range of habitats, from wetlands and meadows to hardwood forests and glacial ponds.

Another highlight of Mendon Ponds Park is its wildlife. The park is home to over 100 species of birds, making it a prime spot for birdwatching. Visitors may also encounter other animals, such as white-tailed deer, coyotes, and foxes.

In addition to its natural attractions, Mendon Ponds Park also boasts several historical landmarks, including the Stewart Lodge, a rustic log building constructed in 1930, and the Quaker Meeting House, built in 1827.

The best time of year to visit Mendon Ponds Park depends on personal preferences. Spring and fall are popular times for hiking and birdwatching, while summer is ideal for swimming and fishing. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and ice skating on the park's ponds.

Overall, Mendon Ponds Park offers visitors a chance to experience the beauty and diversity of the New York outdoors, with something to offer for all ages and interests.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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