This is a brand new nature preserve for you to explore! We welcome your input on trails, features, and habitat improvement by emailing us at land@geneseelandtrust.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
Address: 600 Lake Road, Town of Ontario, Wayne County
Size: 18 acres
Why You Should Visit: Although Deer Creek Woods East is only 18 acres, it makes a big difference for migrating birds and pollinators, like the monarch butterfly. This nature preserve, which is a half-mile from Lake Ontario, offers a variety of habitats for you to visit including meadows, woodlands, and wetlands along Deer Creek. If you’re looking for a short stroll in nature, this Preserve offers sights and sounds of songbirds (especially each spring and fall), pollinators, wildflowers, and other native plants and wildlife. Offering a mix of sun and shade, this new preserve is a great one to visit for young families.
Parking: The parking lot for Deer Creek Woods East is located at 600 Lake Road in the Town of Ontario. If navigating through Google or Apple Maps, me sure to include ‘Town of Ontario’. The parking lot is made of crushed stone and can accommodate 8-10 vehicles. Please be careful entering and exiting the parking lot on to busy Lake Road. There are no direct public transit options at this time.
Trails: We are well underway creating new trails! Currently there are several grassy trails throughout the preserve. Since trails are new they’re uneven and bumpy throughout. Please be careful exploring them and we thank you for your patience as we improve them over the next few months. Find the trail map for Deer Creek Woods East at the button below.
Restrooms: There are no restrooms at the preserve. The nearest public restrooms are 5 miles away along Route 104 (McDonalds, Tractor Supply, Bill Gray’s, etc.)
History: The work of saving land in this neighborhood began in 1994, when Janet Buchanan-Smith donated her first voluntary conservation easement of 87 acres, while retaining private ownership of the land. She followed this with another conservation easement of 104 acres in 2000. In 2021, neighbors Ann and Floyd Welker protected their beautiful 32 acre property with the Land Trust. In 2021 and 2022 the Land Trust purchased 56 acres from John Creatura which is now Deer Creek Woods West. Then, in 2024 Bob Smith, gave Genesee Land Trust the opportunity to purchase his 18 acres which is now Deer Creek Woods East.
We extend our deepest thanks to Janet Buchanan-Smith, Bob Smith, John Creatura, Amanda Smith-Hatch, Keith Hatch, and Ann and Floyd Welker. Together with contributions from nearly 1,000 Land Trust members, we’ve protected nearly 300 acres in this neighborhood for people, plants, and wildlife.
Please note: Only Deer Creek Woods East and Deer Creek Woods West are open to you and other public visitors. Please respect our neighbors by obeying all signs, gates, and fences. There are no trails connecting Deer Creek Woods East and Deer Creek Woods West. Thank you for helping Genesee Land Trust be a good neighbor!
Photos by Genesee Land Trust staff