The trails through the swamp take you into a world of wildflowers, animals, birds and other natural wonders. This 500-acre preserve is located in the Town of Penfield, just outside of Rochester within Monroe County, NY.
Thousand Acre Swamp is supported by an active group of volunteers who help manage the preserve. We greatly appreciate their skills and love of this natural place. For information on how to volunteer, please call 585-546-8030. The trails on the property show you a world of wildflowers, animals, birds and other natural wonders.
Hours of visitation: Thousand Acre Swamp is open year-round from dawn until dusk. Please be aware that the parking lot is closed seasonally from December 15th to March 15th. Visitors are welcome to park at the Penfield Volunteer Ambulance during seasonal closure and walk to the preserve.
What to See: Thousand Acre Swamp boasts a remarkable variety of animal wildlife, including some rare or unusual species. You may see foxes, white-tailed deer, weasels, and coyotes.
The preserve is also a popular place to birdwatch. Visitors have spotted, among other species, eastern bluebirds, great blue herons, green herons, black-throated green warblers, wood ducks, woodpeckers, and ruffed grouse. As you walk the trails, look for red and white trillium, jack-in-the-pulpits, trout lilies, marsh marigolds, blue cohosh, witch hazel and cattails. Thousand Acre Swamp also features a number of large silver maple and ash trees.
Guidelines: To help ensure that this special place can be enjoyed for future generations, please leave no trace and carry out what you carry in. Camping, littering, hunting, fires, or removal or destruction of plants or animals are prohibited. See our full preserve visitation guidelines for more information.
