NYFalls.com Talk

my family used to go to Mendon Ponds a lot in the summers. we actually swam in some of the ponds and picnic'ed often. it was a little grimy back then, like 15 years ago. i haven't been in a while to roam around. has anyone gone lately? is swimming still sanitary or allowed? ha

have there been any changes to the park?

one of my fondest memories of Mendon Ponds was taking my horse there to ride with friends. that park has some great horseback riding trails...

I love Mendon Ponds and studied it in college.
You're not supposed to swim there (and that's gross!)
Have you checked out Devil's Bathtub in the summer?
There's a hidden bog in there with carnivorous plants.


There is a waterfall in this otherwise flat park, but it's man-made.

Here's a park brochure

Here's what the park looks like from the sky
It was made from melting chunks of glacier leaving behind all the crap it picked up.

If you like Mendon, Powder Mills Park is another great one... with swimming

I believe and right next door to Mendon there is a small undeveloped nature preserve/wetland that you can spot a lot birds, mammals turtles and frogs. Not very many people go there. If you go in the early morning, you will see hundreds of turtles line the ponds. Here's a map.

The Devil's Bathtub is creepy. I once had to stand IN that during a "photo scavenger hunt" type thing in college.

(Get a photo of someone standing in Devil's Bathtub = 50 points)
you get the idea.

I was under the impression it was deep but never got in it myself to see.
The bog further down suppossedly is hundreds of feet deep below the peat mats.

i have never been to powder mill park, close to work though, so i should check it out...

on the topic of gross places to swim/bathe:
matt - did you ever research the "Avon Downs"? i grew up in avon so i've been there lots of times. has a horse racing track, little-league fields, horse shows, park/picnic areas, etc etc. they have sulfur springs that used to attract lots of famous people as well as locals. people used to sit for hours in the sulfur springs for health reasons. pretty smelly actually. on a nice hot, breezy day you can smell the Downs miles away.

Hmmm, never heard of it. I should check it out. I remember reading about Clifton Springs, NY being a big destination for people seeking sulfer to heal themselves. Turns out it just makes you smell like farts. I went there a few years back and everyone who lived there didn't know their whole town smells like rotten egg poop.

well the residents of Avon sure knew. i can't believe that people actually lived so close to the Downs, smelling like rotten eggs all the time! there are trails around the park also that have areas of quicksand. believe me, we used to ride our horses around that area and it freaked the horses out if they stepped in it by accident.

Matt wrote: There's a hidden bog in there with carnivorous plants.

Ooooooo....where is it??? I wanna see it!