Coyote Den and Overlook Trail

The Coyote Den and Overlook Trail is located within Ellison Park in Penfield, Monroe County, New York. You can find parking areas throughout Ellison Park that provide access to the trail system. Specific trailhead parking is usually well-marked within the park.

Generally, there are no entrance fees or permits required for day use of Ellison Park, which includes hiking the Coyote Den and Overlook Trail. For the most current information on park regulations, it's always best to check the official Monroe County Parks website: monroecounty.gov.

The Coyote Den Trail portion features a wooded gully with wooden bridges, corduroy log paths, and moss-covered logs. It often follows Irondequoit Creek. While generally easy to moderate, the Overlook Loop Trail, which incorporates the Coyote Den Trail, includes one very steep section where they connect. The path is mostly natural surface, winding through a diverse canopy of trees.

Yes, the trail is considered dog-friendly. Please ensure your dog is kept on a leash and that you clean up after them to maintain the trail's natural beauty for all visitors.

The trail is beautiful year-round, but it's particularly colorful in the fall due to the diverse canopy of tulip, maple, oak, sassafras, American hornbeam, and beech trees. Late summer also offers sunny areas filled with wildflowers, attracting butterflies. Spring brings fresh greenery and active wildlife.

The trail offers excellent opportunities for nature observation. You might spot birds like wood ducks, green herons, and great blue herons near the secluded spring ponds. Various frogs and toads are also common. Turkeys and owls have been sighted or heard in the area, and in late summer, wildflowers attract butterflies. The trail also features wooden bridges, corduroy log paths, and moss-covered logs, adding to its wilderness feel.

The Coyote Den Trail itself can be hiked as an out-and-back, but it is often combined with the Overlook Loop Trail to create a longer loop experience. The Overlook Loop Trail via Coyote Den Trail is approximately 3.2 km (1.99 miles) and forms a loop.

Yes, the route incorporates sections of the Overlook Trail and the Coyote Den Trail. It also briefly touches upon the Ellison Park South Trail.

Yes, the Coyote Den and Overlook Trail is generally considered family-friendly. The Coyote Den portion is easy to moderate, and while the Overlook Loop has a steep section, families can choose to navigate around it or take it slowly. The varied terrain and wildlife viewing opportunities make it an engaging experience for children.

While much of the trail is easy to moderate, the Overlook Loop Trail includes one very steep section where it connects with the Coyote Den Trail near Irondequoit Creek. Hikers can decide whether to tackle this incline or decline, or opt for alternative paths if they prefer to avoid it.

The full Overlook Loop Trail via Coyote Den Trail, which is about 3.2 km (1.99 miles), typically takes approximately 49 minutes to complete. The shorter Coyote Den Trail portion would take less time.