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See all 7 routes on Genesee River

New York | Livingston and Monroe Counties

Genesee RiverAvon Route 5/20 DEC access to Wheatland/Scottsville Genesee River access

A thirteen-mile Class I Genesee River route from the public Avon DEC access to the Wheatland/Scottsville-area public hand launch. The route adds a distinct western New York corridor with direct Avon telemetry, a conservative cfs screen, public endpoint access, and explicit downstream limits before the Rochester dam and waterfall hazards.

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Plan this route

Distance13 river miles
DifficultyEasy
Typical time5–6 hours depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Genesee River flows near Avon, New York, beneath wooded banks.
River contextGenesee River at Avon; route and gauge context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by National Weather Service Northeast River Forecast Center

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distance13 river milesAvon Route 5/20 DEC access to Wheatland/Scottsville Genesee River access
DifficultyeasyThe published itinerary rates this corridor easy, but current, bridge structures, islands, shallow gravel, cold water, and changing access conditions remain material hazards.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the Wheatland/Scottsville-area DEC hand launch, then drive to the Avon Route 5/20 hand launch. Allow time to inspect the long reach, current bridge/debris conditions, and the exact final landing before launching.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is identified by the route source. Follow current New York boating, PFD, DEC access, parking, park, and posted rules; verify any event-day or seasonal restrictions before launching.
CampingDay tripNo legal on-route or endpoint campground is documented by the route sources. Treat this as a daylight trip and arrange separate lodging or a legal campground; do not camp at the hand launches, islands, or private Genesee River banks without explicit authorization.
SeasonApr-OctCanWePaddle identifies April–October as the more dependable planning season. The Genesee can become shallow in dry weather and faster after rain; use the direct Avon gauge, rainfall, trend, bridge/debris inspection, and current access notices together.

Plan ahead

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A thirteen-mile Class I Genesee River route from the public Avon DEC access to the Wheatland/Scottsville-area public hand launch. The route adds a distinct western New York corridor with direct Avon telemetry, a conservative cfs screen, public endpoint access, and explicit downstream limits before the Rochester dam and waterfall hazards.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Avon Route 5/20 DEC hand launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

Avon is a DEC hand launch with parking for about 13 cars; confirm current availability and bank footing before staging the upstream vehicle.

Finish

Take-out

Wheatland Scottsville-area DEC hand launch
Open mapDirections to take-out

The Wheatland endpoint is a DEC hand launch with parking for about 12 cars in the Scottsville-area corridor. Confirm the final landing and avoid using nearby private banks or bridge shoulders as substitutes.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Avon is a DEC hand launch with parking for about 13 cars; confirm current availability and bank footing before staging the upstream vehicle.
  • The Wheatland endpoint is a DEC hand launch with parking for about 12 cars in the Scottsville-area corridor. Confirm the final landing and avoid using nearby private banks or bridge shoulders as substitutes.
  • The Blueway map is informational and access sites can open or close. Recheck current notices, parking, and river conditions immediately before the trip.

Watch for

  • USGS 04228500 below 400 cfs, above 6,000 cfs, rising quickly, unavailable, or inconsistent with the launch visual
  • shallow riffles, logjams, overhanging trees, bridge abutments, large rocks, cold water, and post-rain debris
  • long shuttle, limited bailout options, private banks, thunderstorms, daylight loss, and the downstream Rochester dam/waterfall boundary

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Photos

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The Genesee River flows near Avon, New York, beneath wooded banks.
Genesee River at Avon; route and gauge context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by National Weather Service Northeast River Forecast Center
U.S. government public domain

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteGenesee River at Avon, NY
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range400 cfs to 6,000 cfs
Low threshold400 cfs
High threshold6,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreCanWePaddle Avon to Scottsville estimated runnable range: 400–6,000 cfs
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 New York corridorAvon to Scottsville; 13 miles; Class I

    CanWePaddle publishes the named reach, mileage, Class I character, season, endpoint areas, downstream limit, and conservative flow band.

    Source

  • Public water accessAvon DEC hand launch and Wheatland/Scottsville-area DEC hand launch

    NYSDEC publishes both endpoint hand launches, coordinates, and parking capacity in the Livingston and Monroe county listings.

    Source

  • Direct flow guidance400–6,000 cfs estimated runnable range at USGS 04228500

    CanWePaddle links the direct Avon gauge and labels the range conservative and informational, not a go/no-go authority.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 04228500, Genesee River at Avon, NY

    USGS publishes continuous stage and discharge data at Avon for this route corridor.

    Source

  • Blueway safety contextPublic-access map with logjam, bridge, rock, waterfall, dam, PFD, and rescue guidance

    The Genesee River Blueway map explicitly tells paddlers to study the route, inspect hazards, portage when needed, and know the waterfall and dam locations.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 04228500, Genesee River at Avon, NY

    USGS provides continuous stage and discharge telemetry for the route corridor.

    Source

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

    CanWePaddle / NYSDEC Genesee River Blueway access sources and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.

    Source

  • Image decisionApproved same-river context image used for route presentation

    The image is labeled as river-level context when it depicts the named river elsewhere, not this exact reach.

    Source

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More routes to check next

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More in New York

All 282 routes
New York route guideBrowse every tracked New York route.Livingston and Monroe CountiesJump to routes in this region.

More on Genesee River

All 7
Genesee Waterways Center, Genesee Valley Park to Corn Hill Landing and returnMonroe County / RochesterModerate · About 6.8 miles round trip from Genesee Waterways Center to Corn Hill LandingJohn Wesley Powell Park / below Mount Morris Dam access to Avon NY Route 5/20 hand launchLivingston CountyEasy · 14 river milesLee’s Landing to St. Helena / Letchworth GorgeWyoming County / Letchworth State ParkHard · Approximately 5 river miles from Lee’s Landing to St. Helena; the route source places the take-out at about 4.5 miles and the reach at 5 milesPetten Street car-top dock to Lower Falls boundary out-and-backMonroe County / Rochester lower GeneseeModerate · Approximately 5 planning miles out and back from the Petten Street car-top dock toward the Lower Falls boundary; exact turnaround distance varies with local navigation conditions

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Honeoye CreekNYSDEC Fishell Road hand launch toward Golah Road and the lower Honeoye Creek corridor, returning to Fishell Road · about 6 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 7 round-trip paddling miles from the NYSDEC Fishell Road hand launch toward the Golah Road railroad-bridge reach and backOatka CreekNYSDEC Mumford launch to Canawaugus Park / Scottsville · about 8 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 8 river miles from the NYSDEC Mumford hand launch to Canawaugus Park in ScottsvilleOatka CreekLe Roy Red Bridge / Munson Street to Mumford NYSDEC hand launch · about 13 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 9 planning river miles from Le Roy Red Bridge to the NYSDEC Mumford hand launchBlack CreekChurchville Park to Black Creek Park · about 15 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 sources

Quick answers

Genesee River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Avon Route 5/20 DEC access to Wheatland/Scottsville Genesee River access route on the Genesee River?

Paddle Today watches Genesee River at Avon, NY and treats 400 cfs to 6,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Avon Route 5/20 DEC access to Wheatland/Scottsville Genesee River access route on the Genesee River start and end?

This route starts at Avon Route 5/20 DEC hand launch and ends at Wheatland Scottsville-area DEC hand launch, 13 river miles on the water.

Is the Avon Route 5/20 DEC access to Wheatland/Scottsville Genesee River access route on the Genesee River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.

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