Erie Canal–Rochester Genesee Guard Lock, Rochester E Mile 262.30 43.140218 -77.665844 E Mile 261.02 43.125829 -77.650762 Bridge E163, Chili Avenue (NY 33A) West Guard Lock Gates at each end of this chamber are left E Mile 262.27 43.139898 -77.665618 open during the navigation season, except when the river is unusually high. This guard Bridge E162A, pipeline lock protects the canal from flooding on the Genesee River. It marks the western E Mile 262.26 43.139758 -77.665480 approach to the Genesee River crossing. Bridge E162, Rochester & Southern/B&O Railroad E Mile 260.71 43.123165 -77.645656 Bridge E159, Scottsville Road (NY 383) E Mile 262.24 43.139429 -77.665194 Bridge E161A, pipeline E Mile 260.61 43.122320 -77.644010 Bridge E158, abandoned Pennsylvania E Mile 261.54 43.130825 -77.658195 Railroad bridge Bridge E161, Brooks Avenue (NY 204) E Mile 260.58 43.122089 -77.643520 E Mile 261.26 43.127749 -77.654558 Bridge E157, Westernmost of three arched Bridge E160, abandoned railroad bridge built pedestrian bridges leading to Genesee Valley for New York Central Railroad Falls Branch. Park. The bridges were designed by Olmsted Brothers, the successor firm of the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. 80 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Erie Canal–Rochester GENESEE RIVER E Mile 260.55 43.121872 -77.643108 43.120077 -77.636435 The Genesee River flows from south to north, Genesee Valley Park rising in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Plateau 1000 East River Road and emptying into Lake Ontario at Rochester. Rochester, NY 14623 Originally, the Erie Canal crossed the (585) 753-7275 Genesee on a stone aqueduct in downtown Genesee Valley Park lines both sides of Rochester. In the early 20th century, the the river at the confluence. Designed by canal was re-routed through a deep rock Frederick Law Olmsted, who had previously cut south of the city. Canal access continues designed Manhattan’s Central Park and by way of the Genesee Arm, a three-mile Boston’s Emerald Necklace, the 800-acre long navigable channel that extends north park offers two golf courses, picnic from here at the Genesee Crossing to pavilions, a pool, and playing fields. It is Corn Hill Landing and Court Street Dam. the main access point for the extensive PADDLING NOTE: Cross-currents at the network of hiking and biking trails in the crossing can be strong after storms in the Rochester area. The nonprofit Genesee Genesee headwaters. Dredges are often Waterways Center (see page 84) manages at work here clearing river-borne gravel. the city dock and boathouse on the west This area also sees a lot of use by rowing bank of the river, just north of the canal shells and sculls based at nearby boat- crossing. houses. They have right-of-way. The Genesee Valley Greenway extends south from here to the Village of Cuba in The Genesee Arm of the Erie Canal Allegheny County. The 90-mile corridor provides a pleasant side trip through follows the route of the old Genesee Genesee Valley Park and the University of Valley Canal (operated from 1840-1878) Rochester campus to Corn Hill Landing at and the bed of the old Rochester branch the edge of downtown Rochester. Buoys of the Pennsylvania Railroad. For more mark the winding channel. Just remember information on paddling, hiking, and biking that you will be paddling against the along the upper Genesee River, see current on your way back. Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway Corn Hill Landing is the downstream limit at fogvg.org. of navigation. Court Street Dam is about 1,000 feet below that. From there the river passes under the 1842 aqueduct before E Mile 260.40 43.120959 -77.643263 plunging 278 feet to the level of Lake Genesee Rowing Club Ontario over three large waterfalls. The Located on the south side under the 96-foot drop at High Falls is about 0.75 expressway. Paddlers may use this dock. mile below Corn Hill Landing. Viewing platforms and a pedestrian bridge over the gorge offer some great views of the falls. eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 81 Erie Canal ROCHESTER Dave Valvo Rochester The Erie Canal created boom towns all along A massive 800-foot aque duct carried the its length, but none boomed more than canal over the Genesee. The original 1821 Rochester. In 1821, the population was 2,500. aqueduct leaked, and in 1842 it was replaced Waterfalls on the Genesee River powered by a larger one slightly to the north. The numerous flour mills; Rochester was known second aqueduct crossed the river on seven as the Flour City. In the first ten days after the arches, each spanning 52 feet. The aqueduct Erie Canal opened in 1825, Rochester flour stayed in operation until the Barge Canal mills shipped 40,000 barrels of flour east to enlargement in 1918 moved the path of the Albany and New York City. By 1834, Rochester canal south of the city center. The canal had about 20 flour mills that shipped trough was covered and repurposed as the 500,000 barrels of flour a year, and in those city’s subway and the aqueduct became the nine years the population grew to 13,500. base of the current Broad Street Bridge. The city developed numerous cultural and Aqueduct Park between East Main and Court educational institutions and became a center streets on the west side provides a good of Abolitionism, with numerous safe houses vantage point. on the Underground Railroad. It was also a A number of historic sites and cultural center for the women’s suffrage movement. institutions in Rochester have Erie Canal The Susan B. Anthony House, a National associations and collections. Historic Landmark, is on Madison Street. 82 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Erie Canal–Rochester PLACES OF INTEREST OFF THE WATER Rochester is the third-largest city in New 43.152780 -77.580121 York and offers a very wide range of Rochester ARTWalk shops, restaurants, activities, and events. 900 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 43.152780 -77.580121 (585) 473-5787 George Eastman House and Museum rochesterartwalk.org 900 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 43.152542 -77.587463 (585) 271-3361 Rochester Museum & Science Center eastman.org 657 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 43.157693 -77.588180 (585) 271-4320 Memorial Art Gallery of the University rmsc.org of Rochester 500 University Avenue 43.154080 -77.608295 Rochester, NY 14607 Rochester Public Library (585) 276-8900 115 South Avenue mag.rochester.edu Rochester, NY 14606 (585) 428-8370 43.124854 -77.623143 roccitylibrary.org Mount Hope Cemetery 1133 Mount Hope Avenue MORE INFORMATION about things to do Rochester, NY 14620 in the Rochester area is available from (585) 461-3494 visitrochester.com. fomh.org E Mile 260.30 43.120632 -77.640692 E Mile 260.27, south side 43.119784 -77.639446 Bridge E151, second of three pedestrian Red Creek enters the canal here. bridges to Genesee Valley Park. E Mile 260.13 43.118340 -77.636218 E Mile 260.29 43.119709 -77.638931 Bridge E149, Moore Road/Main Drive Bridge E150, easternmost of three pedestrian bridges to Genesee Valley Park. E Mile 260.04 43.117599 -77.634784 Bridge E148, formerly a railroad bridge, now a pedestrian walkway. eriecanalway.org | NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK 83 Erie Canal–Rochester PADDLECRAFT SALES DOCKS ON THE GENESEE RIVER 43.175953 -77.522193 43.130225 -77.635095 Oak Orchard Canoe Kayak Experts Brooks Landing 1350 Empire Boulevard (NY 404) South Plymouth Avenue Rochester, NY 14609 Rochester NY (585) 288-5550 oakorchardcanoe.com FACILITIES: Electric, water, 175-foot bi-level dock suitable for tie-up, but not launch. Restaurants, shops, and 43.672600 -77.369540 attractions nearby. REI 450 East Henrietta Road 43.147568 -77.611654 Rochester, NY 14620 (585) 242-0787 Corn Hill Landing rei.com 290 Exchange Boulevard Rochester, NY 14608 Located at Citygate on the Erie Canal. (585) 325-7116 cityofrochester.gov 3 miles north of canal on the Genesee River. PADDLECRAFT RENTALS FACILITIES: Electric, water, restrooms. Car top launch. Restaurants, shops, and 43.122709 -77.636538 attractions nearby. Genesee Waterways Center 149 Elmwood Avenue Rochester, NY 14611 (585) 328-3960 LODGING geneseewaterways.org FACILITIES: Water, restrooms. Ramp and 43.130020 77.635469 low dock. Ample free parking. Distance from parking about 100 feet. Canoe and Staybridge Suites Rochester kayak rentals and instruction. University Brooks Landing 1000 Genesee Street Rochester, New York 14611 (585) 527-9110 staybridge.com The Brooks Landing dock is 50 feet from the hotel. 84 NEW YORK STATE CANALWAY WATER TRAIL GUIDEBOOK | eriecanalway.org Erie Canal–Rochester S T A P SAINT T A E U L Memorial Art Gallery of the S WEST T ST PL S N T SMITH Y O LOOP University of Rochester ST BROAD M R O T M U H R AIN T E EAST ST H N JAY ST ST A IN V Rochester NORTH 490 Public Library ST T W S .-, ILDER ST Genesee Aqueduct (1842) AN M UNION NORTH D O CHILD O Station 26 Hydroelectric G Court Street Dam Plant (1952 FERC P-2584) EA DANFORTH ST ST AV ml33 AV Rochester Frederick Douglas-Susan Rochester Museum AV P B. Anthony Memorial Bridge AR ST CHILI & Science Center K A ST V AV DOCTOR SAMUEL B MCCREE W R ON AY ALEXANDER T O A G E V r D Y N A N e George Eastman House I Corn Hill Landing FROST W LE L AV v BI i A E L Y K D E 383 R and Museum R O W ml O BE W COLUMBIA AV GREGORY ST ST D V V 490 A L .-, Staybridge Suites B N 31 ST ml O ST LINDEN Rochester University/ V A RS E H ST AN F AV M Brooks Landing F UT D E O J YM EXCHANGE O L N O P G O S L SAWYER ST I e W 15 FIELD UTH e ml O s E S e P H en T G O C.