Take Your Bike: Family Rides in the Rochester New York Area

Over 300 miles of bicycle adventures. Fun and safe for the whole family.

This guidebook is packed with maps and details for 42 bicycling trails in the Rochester, NY region. Learn where to park, how long you’ll be riding, amenities to find along the way, and the type and difficulty of terrain to expect.

The trails range from easy, paved bike paths to more rugged mountain biking trails. Learn local history and discover new places to ride even if you’ve been a life-long resident.

"My husband is an avid biker who enjoys long road rides. I won't do that with the kids, so he was thrilled to be able to get us biking on trails. Take Your Bike was the real impetus for this and a blessing to me to know where we were going and what we were doing. And, I know the kids will be safe and have exercise and fun! Thanks." Sherry Sabo

"A great resource for people looking for good bike trails in the Rochester area. Take Your Bike contains easy-to-read maps of trails and locations, plus descriptions and difficulty ratings. A must-have for any Rochesterian with a bike!" Suebee via Amazon.com

The authors, Rich and Sue Freeman decided to make their living from what they love—being outdoors. In 1996 they left corporate jobs to spend six months hiking 2,200 miles on the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. That adventure deepened their love of the outdoors and inspired them to share this love by introducing others to the joys of hiking. Since most people don’t have the option (let alone the desire) to undertake a six-month trek, they decided to focus on short hikes, near home. The result was the first version of Take A Hike! Family Walks in the Rochester Area. They went on to explore hiking, bicycling, skiing, snowshoeing, and waterfalling trails throughout Central and Western New York State. This is their 9th guidebook.

The Freemans’ passion for outdoor adventure continues. In 1997 they thru-hiked the 500-mile long Bruce Trail in Ontario, Canada. In 1998 they bicycled across New York State, following the Erie Canalway Trail and 1999 found them hiking a segment of the Florida Trail. In 2000 they bicycled the C&O Canal Trail from Washington D.C to Cumberland, MD. In 2001 they hiked across northern Spain on the Camino de Santiago Trail and hiked a section of the International Appalachian Trail in Quebec, Canada. In 2002 They climbed the highest mountain in Africa—Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Freemans’ regularly present slide shows about their adventures.They also publish a free, bi-monthly e-newsletter on outdoor recreation in central and western New York State.Since beginning their new career writing and publishing books, the Freemans’ have pared down their living expenses and are enjoying a simpler lifestyle. They now have control of their own destiny and the freedom to head into the woods for a refreshing respite when the urge strikes. Still, their life is infinitely more cluttered than when they carried all their worldly needs on their backs for six months on the Appalachian Trail.