Flatwater Tours

Our new flatwater tours will guide you to some of Western New York's hidden wilderness.  Our ACA certified instructors will cover the necessary safety skills and concepts to reduce your risk on the water and can help you develop a solid foundation of kayaking strokes, boat control and maneuvers that will let you paddle further.  We provide boats, paddles and life jackets and we can also accommodate canoeists if that's what you prefer.  Our low instructor to student ratio insures that you will get personal attention and safety is always our highest priority. These tours can begin a lifetime of enjoyment paddling our area’s many lakes and ponds.

All participants must be able to swim.

Genesee Valley Park to Corn Hill Landing

This stretch of the River goes past the University of Rochester and Mt. Hope Cemetery and includes views of downtown Rochester from the water.  We'll paddle to Corn Hill Landing, where you can  grab an ice cream or scout out a location for a post-paddling dinner.

Irondequoit Creek: Ellison Park to Irondequoit Bay

This trip starts off in the creek in Ellison Park then broadens out into marshland where you will see geese ducks, and other birds nesting in the reeds.  You will also have the chance to paddle in open water through Irondequoit Bay as you pass under Empire Blvd heading north toward Lake Ontario.   Along the way you will see beautiful views of the bay. 

 Hemlock Lake

Hemlock and Canadice Lakes are owned as a water source by the City of Rochester.  As such they are protected from development and the jet skis and power boats that are ubiquitous on other Finger Lakes.  This creates an impressive feeling of solitude and a great opportunity to see wildlife.  The south end of Hemlock Lake is also home to several nests of bald eagles, so it's common to get a glimpse of our national bird.

Canadice Lake

Like next door Hemlock Lake, Canadice is a protected waterway and an impressive example of wilderness in the Finger Lakes.  It's steep valley is an impressive site driving in and is even more beautiful from the water.

Red Creek

Red Creek runs through Genesee Valley Park and is home to birdlife and lots of turtles.  This tour starts at the GWC boathouse in Genesee Valley Park and goes up the Genesee River, jogs east on the Erie Canal and proceeds up Red Creek.  It's a great opportunity to see the central crossroads for water navigation in Rochester where the canal meets the river.

Erie Canal: Lock 32 to Schoen Place

This tour begins at the Lock 32 Whitewater Park and heads east on the Canal to the Village of Pittsford.  We'll end at Schoen Place, where you can grab dinner at one of the restaurants overlooking the Canal or just grab an ice cream.

Genesee River: Turning Point Park to Lake Ontario.

This tour will show the historic center of shipping in our region.  We'll start at Turning Point Park, which gets its name from the fact that ships would turn around here because the river constricts just upstream.  The park at Turning Point has just received a wonderful facelift from the City of Rochester and now boasts a boardwalk and trail that follow the river.  Then we'll head downstream past the Port of Rochester and end at the beach in Charlotte, which has an ice cream stand or multiple restaurants. 

Lake Ontario: Chimney Bluffs

This trip heads east past Sodus to the Chimney Bluffs, which are an impressive geologic formation reminiscent of the badlands of the Dakotas.  This is a great opportunity to see these unique formations from the water.  Grab dinner in Sodus or Sodus Point on the way home.

Black Creek

This trip starts on Black Creek and ends where the creek flows into the Genesee River near RIT.

Genesee River: Seth Green Park at the Lower Falls to Turning Point Park

This is a great chance to see the historic area just below the Lower Falls and paddle downstream through Rochester's inner gorge and under Memorial Bridge (Rte. 104).  From the put in, you can scramble upstream to see the Lower Falls from below.  This trip does include a decent hike downhill from the parking lot and some mild current just below the put in, but the views of the gorge are well worth it. 

Irondequoit Bay: Empire Blvd to Lake Ontario

This stretch of Irondequoit Creek runs through Ellison and Tryon Parks and ends at Empire Blvd. on Irondequoit Bay.  This area of wetlands are known as "Rochester's Secret Wilderness" and birdlife is very common.  We'll end at Empire Blvd near MacGregor's if you're looking for a burger after paddling.

Braddock Bay

On this tour we'll explore the Braddock Bay Fish and Wildlife Management Area and it's tributaries, Salmon and West Creek.  This state land is a prime waterfowl nesting area just west of Rochester and is a common resting area for migratory waterfowl in the Atlantic flyway.