The staff at Cumming Nature Center do a wonderful job hosting the maple sugaring weekend. We had tickets for the event with breakfast. It was very busy upon arrival with staff on hand to help with parking. Check in was a breeze allowing us to get in line for the breakfast. Depending on your arrival be prepared to wait for all you can eat pancakes, sausage, and beverages. The line moved quickly. The staff was on top of breakfast traffic and cleanup. We loved the breakfast buffet items being sourced locally, including the beverages from Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters and Schutt's Apple Mill. The pancakes were delicious and filling. Admission to the event also included access to the numerous trails on site. We enjoyed hiking and taking in the views The entire event was so well organized and fun! We enjoyed all of the educational and informative demonstrations on the maple trail. It was a memorable time for our entire party. Be sure to stop by the gift shop on the way out. We took home maple syrup and a few souvenirs to remember our day. read more

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My mom's coworkers highly recommended this nature center, so over Memorial Day weekend we went out to picnic there and explore and enjoyed our experience! Tucked away near Naples, NY, the Cumming Nature Center can be found down winding roads. All guests must visit the Main Building to get started. It costs $3 a person to enjoy the trails and museum. Teachers are free! The girl who was working the day we went was awesome, suggesting different trails, and pointing us to the picnic area complete with a pavilion, and plenty of tables and shade, and even a fire pit. After enjoying our picnic lunch, we hit the trails which were well maintained and well parked. The provided maps were easy to follow and matched precisely with the colored trail markings allowing us to use our time and energy wisely! Inside the main building they have clean bathrooms, and a variety of information about local animals, vegetation and history. They have many stuffed animals such as moose, wolves, beavers, etc. Downstairs they have tables and an area that looks to be for school groups to learn about local animal life. All in all we enjoyed our visit, and definitely recommend visiting to enjoy the fresh air and nature if you find yourself near Naples! read more

We love the Cumming Nature Center and have experienced it in all the seasons. In years past, in late summer, we've attended the annual classical music concert among the tall pines (magical), in fall we have walked the nature trails and enjoyed the fall foliage (gorgeous), and in winter, probably our favorite, we have cross country skied amongst the absolute silence of the wooded trails, spotting wildlife and enjoying the views. The CNC is part of the Rochester Museum and Science Center. Admission in winter is $5 pp or $15 per family and grants you access to the nature center (with awesome displays, an art gallery and in-door bathrooms) and the extensive trail network. In winter, they offer rental packages for cross-country skiers that include skis, boots and poles for $15 pp, and they also have snow shoes for rent. The charges cover the cost of maintaining the Center and the trails, and are definitely a bargain compared to other local cross-country areas like Bristol ($15 pp for a pass plus $18 pp for rentals). They even offer lessons for newbies, so that is something to keep in mind ($15 pp, and if you combine a lesson with skis, the package is $25). If you have your own skis (which we do), you can just pay the entrance fee, strap on your skis and go! The Center has 12 MILES of groomed xc ski trails, which is awesome, again, compared to Bristol which only has a total of 3 kms of trails, and they only make snow on 1.2 km of that...but that also means the 12 miles at CNC are only groomed when there's actually enough natural snow. You can get more info on trail conditions and events on the website. Last thing I'll say is that the xc ski trails at CNC are patrolled by the Genesee Valley Ski Patrol, and there is a big fundraiser at the CNC specifically to benefit the patrol, the Nordic Fest, usually every Feb, and this year on Feb 13, 2021. Even with covid, they are planning to hold the event this year - masks are required when inside the nature center, and recommended when on the trails (and, added bonus, they keep your face warm on those really cold days!) - and there will be hot beverages for sale too! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this winter amps up and we get some good solid snow between now then! read more

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We decided to try their maple pancake and trail event. It was well worth the cost. This is the first time I have gone to a maple pancake event they considered diet restrictions. They had regular pancakes and sausage, gluten free pancakes and vegan pancakes and vegan sausage. It was so nice since I am going more of a plant based diet with my medical issues. We walked the maple trail. We learned so much from the amazing staff at the tables. My son loved the hands on things they had like taping a tree demo and the bucket carrying. It was a little cold and muddy but the experience was well worth it. Well worth the trip and definitely recommend it to others. read more

We drove an hour to take our children cross country skiing for the first time and when we got there we were told they weren't doing cross country skiing that day because of the Maple syrup festival they had going on. There was no mention of this being the case on their website. The kids were really disappointed that we just drove that far and that they weren't able to try it. We did walk around a little bit to see what the maple syrup festival was all about, but didn't have appropriate footwear with us because we didn't expect to be hiking. read more

It's a drive for me from Buffalo but it's worth it to visit this beautiful place. Loads of trails, nature, and a lot to take in every time you visit regardless of the season. They do a really cool Maple sugar demonstration in the early spring/late winter and a fundraising pancake breakfast as well! The trails are marked with different colors and are pretty clear from the various signs around the woods. They also have cross country ski trails and rent skis out to those interested during the winter time. There is a donation/admission fee for each family that visits but I always give more because I support the park and their conversation work. During the late spring and summer wear your bug repellent because the bugs were positively voracious upon my most recent visit and it really took away from what otherwise would have been a most pleasant experience. read more

The big Feb 2022 snowstorm inspired me to finally go find the tall pines and jump in (to snow shoes!). This place has a little of everything for the nature lover! The entrance indoors features a large foyer with a striking taxidermy display in the middle of the room. Light floods the room through big windows overlooking the grounds. Snow shoes and cross country skis are available for rent (pay first) to the left, & another turn enters into a round room of artwork by local artists and more taxidermy. There are books by local authors on sale as well as light snacks. Maps are free and you can even rent an empty backpack near the help desk. Happy people scurry to be on time for their cross country class or other adventures that the day holds. The staff are friendly and the trails are well marked. It was suggested we check out the upcoming events and classes ongoing. I plan on it. This is a wonderful friendly day trip during any season. read more

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We've been to the Cummings Nature Center before and really enjoyed it in the summertime. It's a really beautiful place to hike and to see the ponds and the birds and the animals along the paths. I think the most beautiful part is at the beginning of the trail where you look down through the row of pine trees that are perfectly placed. That is a beautiful picture. I was a little disappointed in the winter because I specifically went there to get a picture of the trees in the winter and was told that the path was groomed and you couldn't walk on it. Well I don't take no very well for an answer. LOL so I made my way off the groomed path through the trees and the bush to the side of it and got the picture I wanted. Some with people cross country skiing down the path and some without. Made beautiful pictures. I guess the thing that really upset me the most was the fact that when you come off Route 64 and you come to a T in the road there is a sign for the Nature Center that is missing and it doesn't tell you what direction you need to go in left or right and of course I went the wrong way and had to back track quite a bit to get to the center. And when we left and came back up to Route 64 at another point the sign directly across the street was upside down pointing in the wrong direction. It just seems to me that if they want people to visit this place and atleast find it, they should be aware that their signs are askew... maybe the employees are oblivious because they know where to go. I just think it would help if they put a little more effort into more signs especially off the main roads. Also in certain spots along the road the GPS will not pick up a signal, so now you don't know where you are. But if you can find it it's a beautiful place to visit :-) read more

My sister and new brother in law were married here this past weekend... the venue is unique and absolutely beautiful!! The staff was so helpful and responsive... All in all this is a gorgeous place to get married in upstate New York! read more

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Went here this winter to try cross country skiing. We arrived early, since rentals are first come first serve so there was no issue parking. When we left however, the parking lot was full. It costs a small fee to enter the nature center and we rented skis. We were fitted for our sizes and briefly explained logistically how it works. Of note, there were indoor bathrooms. There were maps printed out which we took a copy of. The trails were wonderful, well groomed and well marked. At every intersection, there was a map, so it was easy to figure out where you were going. I had a blast and want to come back again to go cross country skiing. read more

Not a far drive from Rochester in the Bristol Hills region. A great escape from the constant movement and noise of the city. Where you can walk for miles on trails through tall pines that provide shade and serenity. If you need to find yourself or need to busy your children, this is your place! There is an indoor area of taxidermies, turtles and tree frogs. Clean bathrooms and a water fountain before you start hiking! Loved it. read more

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