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New York | Monroe County / Fairport and Pittsford

Erie CanalErie Canal Boat Company, Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin and return

A 7.7-mile round-trip Erie Canalway paddle from the accessible Erie Canal Boat Company dock in Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin and back. The official itinerary identifies the exact out-and-back trip, while the Canalway guide documents Fairport, Ayrault Road, Kreag Road Park, Bushnell’s Basin access, amenities, and bridge/traffic context.

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Plan this route

Distance7.7 Canalway miles round trip from Erie Canal Boat Company in Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin and return
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2–4 hours including the return leg
ShuttleCar shuttle
Bushnell’s Basin docks beside the Erie Canal in Pittsford, New York.
Route photoFairport to Bushnell’s Basin Erie Canal route contextPhoto by Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distance7.7 Canalway miles round trip from Erie Canal Boat Company in Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin and returnErie Canal Boat Company, Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin and return
DifficultyeasyThe published route is calm canal flatwater with no locks, but the Fairport harbor is busy, the canal has vertical walls through town, the Main Street lift bridge and commercial/powerboat traffic require attention, and the return leg doubles the exposure to wind and wakes.
ShuttleCar shuttleNo conventional shuttle is needed because the official itinerary is round trip. Launch and park at the confirmed Fairport dock, retain Ayrault Road as a conditional bailout, and use Bushnell’s Basin as the turnaround/conditional take-out only after confirming the dock and return conditions.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified, but follow current NYS Canal Corporation navigation hours, boating/PFD, invasive-species clean-drain-dry, launch, parking, dock, bridge, and posted closure rules. Confirm any business or municipal launch restrictions before staging.
CampingDay tripBushnell’s Basin provides dock amenities and may have seasonal overnight boater facilities, but no campsite is claimed for this exact day trip. Arrange separately verified lodging or a managed campground and do not camp on the canal bank, towpath, parks, or private shoreline without explicit permission.
SeasonMay-OctPlan during the NYS Canal navigation season and confirm current launch, bridge, dock, and waterway notices before departure. The Fairport-to-Bushnell’s Basin section is sheltered flatwater, but summer powerboat traffic, wind, vertical canal walls, and seasonal canal-level changes still matter.

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 7.7-mile round-trip Erie Canalway paddle from the accessible Erie Canal Boat Company dock in Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin and back. The official itinerary identifies the exact out-and-back trip, while the Canalway guide documents Fairport, Ayrault Road, Kreag Road Park, Bushnell’s Basin access, amenities, and bridge/traffic context.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Erie Canal Boat Company accessible dock, Fairport
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Erie Canal Boat Company dock is a commercial/adaptive launch context; confirm current hours, rental/launch procedure, parking, and whether self-launch access is available on the intended date.

Finish

Take-out

Bushnell’s Basin Docks and Canal Amenity Center
Open mapDirections to take-out

Ayrault Road is a public concrete launch with limited parking and no overnight parking in the Canalway guide. Treat it as a shorter-trip or bailout anchor only after verifying current signage and water entry.

Road shuttle

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Access planner

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On-water distance3.9 miMixed access
On-water timeAbout 2–4 hours including the return legFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Erie Canal Boat Company accessible dock, Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin Docks and Canal Amenity Center is about 3.9 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Erie Canal Boat Company dock is a commercial/adaptive launch context; confirm current hours, rental/launch procedure, parking, and whether self-launch access is available on the intended date.
  • Ayrault Road is a public concrete launch with limited parking and no overnight parking in the Canalway guide. Treat it as a shorter-trip or bailout anchor only after verifying current signage and water entry.
  • Bushnell’s Basin has limited parking and a popular floating dock. Confirm current dockmaster/municipal rules, congestion, and whether a kayak can safely land before treating it as a take-out.
  • Do not use Fairport’s vertical walls, private docks, rowing facilities, or towpath edges as substitute access. If the return becomes unsafe, use only a named public access or call for a prearranged support plan.

Watch for

  • USGS 04218700 unavailable or inconsistent with local canal level; seasonal drawdown, low water, wind, wakes, and rapidly changing weather
  • Fairport Main Street lift bridge, vertical walls, commercial and powerboat traffic, rowing activity near Fairport Crew Club, bridges, guard gate 9, and limited bailout options
  • Erie Canal navigation hours/notices, dock congestion, municipal parking, Ayrault access, Bushnell’s Basin dock availability, and the return leg before committing to the full round trip

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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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

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Route gallery

Photos

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

Bushnell’s Basin docks beside the Erie Canal in Pittsford, New York.
Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin Erie Canal route contextPhoto by Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Official Erie Canalway destination photograph

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 official day tripFairport to Bushnell’s Basin and return; 7.7 miles; no locks

    The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor publishes this exact round-trip itinerary and describes the Fairport rental/launch and Bushnell’s Basin destination.

    Source

  • Fairport public water accessErie Canal Boat Company, 7 Liftbridge Lane West; accessible dock with launch slide and transfer bench

    The Canalway guide publishes the Fairport launch coordinate, address, facilities, and paddling note. Confirm current commercial launch operations before relying on it.

    Source

  • Intermediate public launchTown of Perinton Boat Launch / Ayrault Road Launch, 426 Ayrault Road

    The official guide documents the concrete ramp, portable toilet, limited parking, and no overnight parking; the point is retained as a conditional alternate/bailout anchor.

    Source

  • Bushnell’s Basin public water accessFloating dock and canal amenity center at 43.06250, -77.47855

    The guide and NYSDEC identify the public Bushnell’s Basin dock/hand-launch context with limited parking and boater amenities. Verify current dock and parking rules.

    Source

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

    USGS provides current canal-system stage/discharge context, but the station is west of Fairport and does not capture local wind, wakes, bridge, dock, or navigation conditions.

    Source

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

    USGS 04218700 is a current Erie (Barge) Canal station west of the Genesee River at Rochester. It provides regional canal-system stage/discharge context, but it does not certify local Fairport water level, bridge clearance, wind, wakes, dock availability, or navigation status; use it only with direct local checks.

    Source

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

    Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor / NYS Canalway Water Trail / Town of Perinton 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

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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New York route guideBrowse every tracked New York route.Monroe County / Fairport and PittsfordJump to routes in this region.

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Quick answers

Erie Canal paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Erie Canal Boat Company, Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin 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 Erie Canal Boat Company, Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin and return route on the Erie Canal start and end?

This route starts at Erie Canal Boat Company accessible dock, Fairport and ends at Bushnell’s Basin Docks and Canal Amenity Center, 7.7 Canalway miles round trip from Erie Canal Boat Company in Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin and return on the water.

Is the Erie Canal Boat Company, Fairport to Bushnell’s Basin 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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