The Other Fairy Trail in Rochester

by Chris Clemens

Back in 2016, I wrote a post about the Fairy Trail in Tinker Nature Park. For years, it’s been a popular spot for families to discover the mystical fairy homes while getting some fresh air. Sadly, the popularity of the fairy trail brought some complications for park staff. As of March 2019, the homes along that trail have been removed.

Luckily, there’s another fairy village in the Rochester area. This one actually has way more houses than the Tinker trail had. And, they even have an upcoming event where you can build a house and place it on the trail!

I recently visited Black Creek Park in North Chili to see if all the fairies had finally thawed out from winter.

Black Creek Park

The Monroe County park claims over 1,500 acres of land, and it stretches on for what feels like forever. Appropriately named for the Black Creek that borders the northern edge of the park, there’s a little bit of everything. There are ponds, pine forests, and wide open grassy areas with opportunity for bird watching, geocaching, horseback riding, and even fishing.

The park has lodges to rent out for parties, and playgrounds for the kids, and many, many miles of trails. Those trails have to be maintained by someone, and the good folks at Trails ROC are some of the humans that make it happen. These guys do great work by creating, maintaining, and educating the public about trail use all over Monroe County.

The Fairy Trail Of Black Creek Park

In April 2017, the folks at Trails ROC created a brand new walkway in Black Creek Park. The new path twists and winds through a pine grove that is easily accessible from a parking lot. Apparently, it’s exactly the type of spot that fairies want to live. Ever since the trail’s inception, little homes lining the path have been popping up.

A couple are need of fairy FEMA assistance, as it looks like winter wasn’t kind to all the houses.

Everyone knows that fairies are friends to woodland creatures, so a few of those have found a home here, too!

Finding the Fairy Trail

To find the trail, enter Black Creek Park from Union Street just south of Route 490. At the first fork in the road, turn left toward the Woodside lodge. The first parking lot is the nearest to the Fairy Trail entrance. Before you get to that parking lot, you’ll see a wide trail to the left marked with two large boulders. That clearing is where you’ll find access to the Fairy Trail.

On this map, look for the pointing finger to find the spot with the trailhead.

Build A Fairy House

On May 4th, the Trails ROC team will be on site to clear fallen trees, clean up from winter, and yes–make fairy houses! Families are invited to show up and get involved to make some spirited houses, and place them along the trail.

Eric Eagan, the current President for the Trails ROC group, told me they intended for this Fairy Trail to about building community and supporting families. He said, “Families can come out. We will have materials. They can build little houses and then walk and place what they built where they want along the trail.”

For more information, checkout the Trails ROC event posting on Facebook.

Be sure to checkout the Birdsong Fairy Trail in Mendon Ponds Park, too!

Chris Clemens is the Founder/Publisher of Exploring Upstate. From his hometown in Rochester, he spends as much time as possible connecting with the history, culture, and places that make Upstate New York a land of discovery. Follow him on Twitter at @cpclemens