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New York | Livingston County

Genesee RiverJohn Wesley Powell Park / below Mount Morris Dam access to Avon NY Route 5/20 hand launch

A fourteen-mile Class I Genesee River route from the public John Wesley Powell Park / below-Mount-Morris-Dam access to the NYSDEC Avon Route 5/20 hand launch. The corridor extends existing Genesee coverage upstream with a distinct broad-valley reach, direct Mount Morris telemetry, official endpoint access, and a hard boundary below the dam.

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Plan this route

Distance14 river miles
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 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 distance14 river milesJohn Wesley Powell Park / below Mount Morris Dam access to Avon NY Route 5/20 hand launch
DifficultyeasyThe route source rates this reach Class I, but fourteen miles of broad river, woody debris, changing current, cold water, dam-adjacent launch constraints, and limited bailout options make it a substantial day rather than a short beginner float.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the DEC Avon Route 5/20 hand launch, then drive to John Wesley Powell Park in Mount Morris. Confirm the below-dam access, parking, ramp, and final Avon landing in daylight 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 for this corridor. Arrange separate lodging or a legal campground near Mount Morris or Avon; do not camp at John Wesley Powell Park, the Avon launch, islands, or private Genesee banks without explicit authorization.
SeasonApr-OctCanWePaddle identifies April–October as the more dependable planning season. Dam operations, spring floodwater, woody debris, late-summer low water, and the long shuttle matter more than the calendar alone; check the direct Mount Morris gauge and local conditions.

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A fourteen-mile Class I Genesee River route from the public John Wesley Powell Park / below-Mount-Morris-Dam access to the NYSDEC Avon Route 5/20 hand launch. The corridor extends existing Genesee coverage upstream with a distinct broad-valley reach, direct Mount Morris telemetry, official endpoint access, and a hard boundary below the dam.

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Put-in

John Wesley Powell Park / below Mount Morris Dam access
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Mount Morris route source describes a below-dam access, while the community map identifies John Wesley Powell Park as a public canoe/kayak launch. Confirm the current ramp, parking, and exact below-dam river entry rather than using the dam recreation area or a private bank.

Finish

Take-out

Avon NY Route 5/20 DEC hand launch
Open mapDirections to take-out

NYSDEC lists the Avon endpoint as a hand launch with 13-car parking. Hand-launch capacity, seasonal restrictions, and river level can change; verify the site before staging the shuttle vehicle.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Mount Morris route source describes a below-dam access, while the community map identifies John Wesley Powell Park as a public canoe/kayak launch. Confirm the current ramp, parking, and exact below-dam river entry rather than using the dam recreation area or a private bank.
  • NYSDEC lists the Avon endpoint as a hand launch with 13-car parking. Hand-launch capacity, seasonal restrictions, and river level can change; verify the site before staging the shuttle vehicle.
  • New York navigation rights do not create blanket permission to cross private banks or launch from unposted land. Use named public access points and follow current signs and local rules.

Watch for

  • USGS 04227500 below 300 cfs, above 5,000 cfs, rising quickly, unavailable, or inconsistent with the launch visual
  • Mount Morris Dam releases, woody debris, strainers, muddy banks, bridge approaches, cold water, and long unbroken travel time
  • limited bailout options, private banks, parking capacity, daylight loss, and the Avon downstream boundary

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Conditions

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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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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 near Mount Morris, NY
DischargeChecking
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24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
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Rain last 24hChecking
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Air tempChecking
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Preferred range300 cfs to 5,000 cfs
Low threshold300 cfs
High threshold5,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreCanWePaddle Mount Morris to Avon estimated runnable range: 300–5,000 cfs
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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 corridorMount Morris to Avon; 14 miles; Class I

    CanWePaddle publishes the matching reach, distance, Class I character, season, endpoint areas, direct gauge, and conservative flow band.

    Source

  • Public water accessJohn Wesley Powell Park below Mount Morris Dam and NYSDEC Avon Route 5/20 hand launch

    The Mount Morris community map identifies a free-parking canoe/kayak launch, and NYSDEC lists the Avon Genesee hand launch at 42.917550, -77.756288.

    Source

  • Direct flow guidance300–5,000 cfs estimated runnable range at USGS 04227500

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

    Source

  • Dam and navigation contextLaunch below Mount Morris Dam only; respect New York public-water navigation and private-bank limits

    The route source sets the below-dam boundary and NYSDEC explains that public navigation does not automatically authorize access across private waterways without navigability or permission.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 04227500, Genesee River near Mount Morris, 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 / Livingston County and NYSDEC Genesee 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 in New York

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More on Genesee River

All 7
Avon Route 5/20 DEC access to Wheatland/Scottsville Genesee River accessLivingston and Monroe CountiesEasy · 13 river milesGenesee 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 LandingLee’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

Oatka CreekLe Roy Red Bridge / Munson Street to Mumford NYSDEC hand launch · about 17 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 9 planning river miles from Le Roy Red Bridge to the NYSDEC Mumford hand launchOatka CreekNYSDEC Mumford launch to Canawaugus Park / Scottsville · about 18 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 8 river miles from the NYSDEC Mumford hand launch to Canawaugus Park in ScottsvilleHoneoye CreekNYSDEC Fishell Road hand launch toward Golah Road and the lower Honeoye Creek corridor, returning to Fishell Road · about 20 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 backBlack CreekChurchville Park to Black Creek Park · about 25 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 John Wesley Powell Park / below Mount Morris Dam access to Avon NY Route 5/20 hand launch route on the Genesee River?

Paddle Today watches Genesee River near Mount Morris, NY and treats 300 cfs to 5,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the John Wesley Powell Park / below Mount Morris Dam access to Avon NY Route 5/20 hand launch route on the Genesee River start and end?

This route starts at John Wesley Powell Park / below Mount Morris Dam access and ends at Avon NY Route 5/20 DEC hand launch, 14 river miles on the water.

Is the John Wesley Powell Park / below Mount Morris Dam access to Avon NY Route 5/20 hand launch 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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