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Outdoor Activities

Downtown Trail System

The mission of Rochester's Trails and You, is to promote physical activity through the use of the city trail system. The city trails are a convenient way to include physical activities such as inline-skating, biking, running or walking. Even lifestyles changes, such as walking the dog, walking to work, biking leisurely or walking briskly can benefit you significantly.

Downtown Rochester trails are bituminous or concrete surfaced and are available for pedestrian, bike, in-line skate, wheelchair, and stroller use. There are many walking/running events and work projects that occur on the trails each year.  The Trail Notices page lists general information about events and projects to help inform trail users.  All the events listed are organized by private groups outside of the Park and Recreation Department, unless noted.  All trails remain open for public use during events.

ARTWalk

ARTWalk is a community public art program that showcases art throughout Downtown Rochester, highlighting all forms of media. The program is sponsored by the Rochester Downtown Alliance’s Downtown Cultural Initiative. Most exhibits are free and open to the public. Click here for a full list of locations and installations

Rochester Trolley & Tour Co.

Hop on the historic Rochester Trolley and enjoy one of their many tours of downtown Rochester. Founded in 2006, the Rochester Trolley & Tour Company provides a variety of public and private sightseeing tours along with trolley and coach charters for larger groups featuring personal service, complete tour and trip planning, knowledgeable and friendly guides, and a commitment to excellence every step of the way.

To view a list of upcoming tours, click here.

Rochester Downtown Farmers Market

Saturdays: 4th St & 4th Ave SE
7:30-Noon

All locally raised products by Family Farms. Expect to find a wide variety of produce, quality meats, eggs, dairy, baked goods, preserves, honey, syrups, fruit, and herb vinegars, pickles, salsa, noodles, flour, fresh-cut and potted herbs, gourds, flowers and plants, goat milk soap, and other speciality items produced by farms located within a 50 mile raduis of Rochester.

The Rochester Downtown Farmers Market is a project of the Rochester Downtown Farmers Market Association, seeking to support sustainable agriculture and the family farm by sponsoring a market to provide farmers with a well-organized retail marketplace, to provide local access to quality farm products, and to strengthen the ties between the family farm and the community.

Opening day for the summer season is May 4th! There will also be midweek markets available.

Soldiers Memorial Field Park

Grab the family and head over to Soldiers Memorial Field park. This park offers 6 outdoor lighted tennis courts, softball diamond, nearby Roy Sutherland Park play area, football field, and running track. 

This park is also home to the Soldiers Field Memorial. This Memorial honors all American veterans who, although separated by generations, share a common undeniable goal - to valiantly protect our country's freedoms. This Memorial, conceived in 1995, was built without tax dollars due to the time, talent and treasure contributed by the Memorial Committee and the countless other volunteers who also contributed to honor those who served. Learn more about the memorial, here.

Soldiers Field Golf Course

Soldiers Field is a classic course located in downtown Rochester along the Zumbro River. Designed by Hugh Vincent Freehan and opened in 1927, the golf course features tree lined fairways, well-bunkered greens, and challenging shots over the river. Measuring less than 6,000 yards, Soldiers Field has proven time and time again that strategy and ball placement, and not just length, are requirements to scoring well on this challenging layout. The golf course is open to the public as well as host to tournaments and leagues throughout the golf season.

Check availability, here.