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New York | Monroe and Orleans Counties / Western New York

Erie CanalHarvester Park, Brockport to Holley Canal Park and return

A 9.16-mile round-trip Erie Canal Water Trail paddle from the public accessible launch at Harvester Park in Brockport to Holley Canal Park and back. The Canalway day-trip inventory describes mild current and a picnic destination; the guidebook and NYSDEC identify the Brockport low-wall launch, Holley floating dock/kayak launch, park amenities, overnight camping context, and the Holley lift bridge/guard-gate sequence. This remains planning-only because the same-canal gauge is a Rochester proxy and current canal operations and access control the trip.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 9.16 Canalway miles round trip from Harvester Park to Holley Canal Park
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 3–5 hours depending on current
ShuttleCar shuttle
Erie Barge Canal near the USGS Rochester station, used as same-canal context for the Brockport to Holley route.
Route photoBrockport to Holley Erie Canal route contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 9.16 Canalway miles round trip from Harvester Park to Holley Canal ParkHarvester Park, Brockport to Holley Canal Park and return
DifficultyeasyThe Canalway day-trip description characterizes the canal current as mild and the trip as recreational, but lift bridges, Guard Gate 13, wakes, vertical walls, cold water, limited exits, and changing municipal access still require basic moving-water judgment.
ShuttleCar shuttleNo conventional shuttle is needed for the official round trip. Turn around at Holley Canal Park and plan the return with the canal’s mild eastward current; retain a vehicle-based retreat if weather, access, or energy changes.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified for the day trip. Confirm current Canal Corporation navigation notices, Brockport and Holley park/dock/camping rules, parking, seasonal closures, and any village permit requirements before departure.
CampingOptions nearbyHolley Canal Park’s guidebook listing identifies camping on the south side, while village rules and seasonal availability control whether an overnight stay is allowed. Treat this as endpoint-campground context only: confirm current reservation/permit rules, facilities, and arrival procedures before relying on it.
SeasonMay-OctThe Canalway route is seasonal and affected by canal levels, mild current, lift-bridge/guard-gate operations, storms, weeds, wakes, and changing launch conditions. Check navigation notices, the proxy gauge, and the actual public docks before launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A 9.16-mile round-trip Erie Canal Water Trail paddle from the public accessible launch at Harvester Park in Brockport to Holley Canal Park and back. The Canalway day-trip inventory describes mild current and a picnic destination; the guidebook and NYSDEC identify the Brockport low-wall launch, Holley floating dock/kayak launch, park amenities, overnight camping context, and the Holley lift bridge/guard-gate sequence. This remains planning-only because the same-canal gauge is a Rochester proxy and current canal operations and access control the trip.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Brockport Welcome Center / Harvester Park
Open mapDirections to put-in

The stored coordinates follow Canalway guide and NYSDEC public access-area anchors; dock, wall, parking, gate, and park conditions remain subject to current local operation.

Finish

Take-out

Holley Canal Park floating dock and kayak launch
Open mapDirections to take-out

Holley camping and docking are controlled by village rules and may require permission or a permit, especially for stays beyond the posted limit. Do not infer camping from the presence of a dock.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The stored coordinates follow Canalway guide and NYSDEC public access-area anchors; dock, wall, parking, gate, and park conditions remain subject to current local operation.
  • Holley camping and docking are controlled by village rules and may require permission or a permit, especially for stays beyond the posted limit. Do not infer camping from the presence of a dock.
  • The route is an out-and-back ending at Holley Canal Park; continuing east or west into another Erie Canal segment requires a separate access and hazard review.
  • The Rochester proxy gauge does not measure this canal pool directly. Pair telemetry with visual water level, current, weeds, debris, traffic, and bridge operations.

Watch for

  • USGS 04218700 unavailable, rapidly changing, or inconsistent with the local Erie Canal pool
  • Lift bridges, Guard Gate 13, wakes, motorized traffic, cold water, weeds/debris, vertical walls, private banks, and limited exits
  • Harvester Park, Brockport Welcome Center, Holley Canal Park, village camping/docking permits, parking, seasonal gates, and current navigation notices

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Erie Barge Canal near the USGS Rochester station, used as same-canal context for the Brockport to Holley route.
Brockport to Holley Erie Canal route contextPhoto by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS station photograph; same-canal proxy context

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named Canalway day tripHarvester Park to Holley Canal Park and return; 9.16 miles; zero locks

    The official Erie Canalway day-trip page publishes the endpoints, mileage, lock count, and mild-current description.

    Source

  • Public endpoint coordinatesHarvester Park 43.216012, -77.936964; Holley Canal Park 43.228046, -78.021456

    NYSDEC and the Canalway guide identify the public launch/dock areas, facilities, and parking context.

    Source

  • Camping and park rulesHolley Canal Park camping context on the south side; current village rules control

    The guidebook identifies camping and facilities, while current village rules govern park, docking, and overnight use.

    Source

  • Proxy live gaugeUSGS 04218700 Erie Barge Canal west of Genesee River at Rochester

    USGS provides same-canal stage/discharge context, not a direct measurement of the Brockport-Holley pool.

    Source

  • Route imageUSGS Erie Canal proxy station image used as clearly labeled same-canal context

    The presentation image is proxy context and does not claim to depict the Brockport-Holley reach.

    Source

  • Same-river proxy gaugeUSGS 04218700, Erie (Barge) Canal west of Genesee River at Rochester, NY

    USGS 04218700 measures the Erie Barge Canal west of the Genesee River at Rochester and is used as a same-canal proxy for this western reach. Canal pool level, local obstructions, wind, wakes, bridge/guard-gate operations, and launch condition can differ materially.

    Source

  • Safety and river conditionsCheck live gauge, recent rainfall, trend, debris, bridges, and access conditions before launch

    Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Western Erie Water Trail and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.

    Source

  • Image decisionApproved watershed/proxy-gauge context image used for route presentation

    The image is clearly labeled as watershed/proxy-gauge context and does not claim to depict this exact reach.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Keep exploring

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Nearby routes within 75 miles

Black CreekChurchville Park to Black Creek Park · about 8 straight-line mi awayModerate · At least 10.8 straight-line miles between the named public endpoints; exact wetted-channel mileage is not reconciled in the current sourcesBraddock BayBraddock Bay Park hand launch through Braddock Bay marsh toward the Lake Ontario connection and same-launch return · about 13 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2.5 round-trip planning miles from the Braddock Bay hand launch through the protected bay/marsh toward the Lake Ontario connection and back; distance is a conservative mapped exploration estimate, not surveyed mileageOatka CreekNYSDEC Mumford launch to Canawaugus Park / Scottsville · about 16 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 8 river miles from the NYSDEC Mumford hand launch to Canawaugus Park in ScottsvilleGenesee RiverTurning Point Park to Port of Rochester Marina / Genesee River mouth · about 16 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 1.8 downstream Blueway miles from Turning Point Park to the Port of Rochester public ramp/dock

Quick answers

Erie Canal paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Harvester Park, Brockport to Holley Canal Park and return route on the Erie Canal?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Harvester Park, Brockport to Holley Canal Park and return route on the Erie Canal start and end?

This route starts at Brockport Welcome Center / Harvester Park and ends at Holley Canal Park floating dock and kayak launch, about 9.16 Canalway miles round trip from Harvester Park to Holley Canal Park on the water.

Is the Harvester Park, Brockport to Holley Canal Park and return route on the Erie Canal suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a easy route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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