Location: Town of Ontario, Wayne County
Size: 47 acres
Description: The 47-acre Maguire Family Wildlife Sanctuary is composed of woodlands, shrubs, and wetlands with approximately 1/2 mile of frontage along Bear Creek and a Bear Creek tributary. It is less than two miles from Lake Ontario and provides important habitat for migratory birds.
Trail Description: To access the trail, park along the road at the end of Thompson Drive. Look for the green Genesee Land Trust trailhead sign. Shortly after beginning the trail you will need to cross over a creek. Tall boots are recommended if it has recently rained. After crossing the small creek, follow the edge of the larger Bear Creek south, which makes a loop around the property. The trail loop is approximately 1/2 mile.
Photos by Nigel P. Kent and Genesee Land Trust staff
History: The Maguire Family Wildlife Sanctuary was donated to Genesee Land Trust by Margaret Eleanor Maguire Diamond in November 2015. Mrs. Maguire Diamond donated the property to Genesee Land Trust to honor her siblings, parents, and grandparents. The property has a history of farming and was once an active farm with orchards, pastures, and fields. When farming the land was discontinued, succession took over and that land has grown into the mixture of habitats present today – a wildlife sanctuary. Read the story here
Getting There
Driving Directions: Take 104 East from Rochester to Knickerbocker Road. Turn left (north) onto Knickerbocker Road. Turn right onto Bear Creek Drive. Follow Bear Creek Drive to the stop sign and turn right to continue. Turn right onto Thompson Drive and park along the shoulder of the road. Please do not block access to driveways, and be respectful of our neighbors.
Approximate Address of Parking: 7299 Thompson Drive, Ontario, NY 14519
GPS Coordinates: 43.258329, -77.281639