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New York | St. Lawrence County

Grass RiverPyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch to Canton DEC launch area above the village dams

A six-mile Class I Grass/Grasse River route from the public Pyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch to the Canton DEC launch area. The corridor adds a distinct North Country flatwater option with documented safe Pyrites parking and ADA carry, a public Canton endpoint, explicit small-dam boundary, and a downstream same-river proxy gauge.

Route location

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Plan this route

Distance6 river miles
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 3 hours depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Grass River at the USGS Chase Mills monitoring station in New York.
River contextGrass River at Chase Mills; same-river proxy context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo 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 distance6 river milesPyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch to Canton DEC launch area above the village dams
DifficultyeasyThe route source rates this reach Class I and flatwater-oriented, but low water, strainers, small dams near Canton, private banks, and a downstream proxy gauge require conservative planning and a verified early take-out.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the confirmed Canton DEC launch area above the village dams, then drive to the Pyrites Route 21 facility. Confirm the exact take-out boundary, parking, and carry 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 the Pyrites-to-Canton reach. The wider Grass River complex has separate managed access and camping sites, but those are not substituted for this route. Arrange separate lodging or a confirmed legal campground; do not camp at either launch or on private banks.
SeasonMay-SepCanWePaddle identifies May–September as the more dependable planning season. The North Country reach can become shallow late in summer, while small dams and changing current near Canton require an early take-out plan and same-day visual inspection.

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 six-mile Class I Grass/Grasse River route from the public Pyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch to the Canton DEC launch area. The corridor adds a distinct North Country flatwater option with documented safe Pyrites parking and ADA carry, a public Canton endpoint, explicit small-dam boundary, and a downstream same-river proxy gauge.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Pyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Pyrites facility is documented as a kayak/canoe launch with safe Route 21 loading/unloading parking and an ADA-accessible trail. Confirm current ownership, hours, parking, and any posted event-day restrictions before use.

Finish

Take-out

Canton DEC Grass River launch area
Open mapDirections to take-out

NYSDEC lists the Canton launch for canoes and small motorboats, but CanWePaddle identifies small dams in Canton. The route boundary is above those dams; verify the exact landing and do not portage or continue without a separate hazard/access review.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Pyrites facility is documented as a kayak/canoe launch with safe Route 21 loading/unloading parking and an ADA-accessible trail. Confirm current ownership, hours, parking, and any posted event-day restrictions before use.
  • NYSDEC lists the Canton launch for canoes and small motorboats, but CanWePaddle identifies small dams in Canton. The route boundary is above those dams; verify the exact landing and do not portage or continue without a separate hazard/access review.
  • The route uses the common Grass/Grasse River naming. Keep source names intact when searching locally, and treat the Chase Mills station as downstream proxy telemetry rather than a route-local reading.

Watch for

  • USGS 04265432 proxy below 150 cfs, above 2,500 cfs, rising quickly, unavailable, or inconsistent with Pyrites/Canton visual conditions
  • small dams and mandatory take-out boundary near Canton, shallow gravel, strainers, wind, cold water, and bridge approaches
  • private banks, parking restrictions, launch maintenance, limited bailout options, daylight loss, and a proxy-gauge decision

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Route gallery

Photos

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

The Grass River at the USGS Chase Mills monitoring station in New York.
Grass River at Chase Mills; same-river proxy context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Geological Survey
USGS public domain

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 New York corridorPyrites to Canton; 6 miles; Class I

    CanWePaddle publishes the matching reach, distance, Class I character, season, endpoint names, proxy station, and conservative flow band.

    Source

  • Public water accessPyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch and NYSDEC Canton Grass River launch

    Grasse River Heritage documents safe parking and an ADA-accessible Pyrites launch trail, while NYSDEC lists the Canton hard-surface launch and its canoe/small-boat suitability.

    Source

  • Proxy flow guidance150–2,500 cfs estimated runnable range using USGS 04265432 at Chase Mills

    CanWePaddle labels Chase Mills as a downstream proxy and the range as conservative and informational; local inflow and Canton dam operations can diverge.

    Source

  • Canton dam and launch contextTake out above Canton small dams at the DEC launch area

    The route source sets the small-dam boundary and NYSDEC publishes the Canton launch location and facilities.

    Source

  • Same-river proxy gaugeUSGS 04265432, Grass River at Chase Mills, NY

    USGS provides continuous telemetry at a same-river downstream proxy; local rainfall, tributary inflow, and dam operations can make route conditions diverge.

    Source

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

    CanWePaddle / Grasse River Heritage / NYSDEC St. Lawrence County access sources 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.

More in New York

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New York route guideBrowse every tracked New York route.St. Lawrence CountyJump to routes in this region.

More on Grass River

All 8
Clare Road / North Branch public access to Downerville State Forest confluence accessSt. Lawrence County / Clare and RussellHard · 4.7 planning river milesDeGrasse State Forest hand launch through the South Branch/main Grass River corridor to the Pyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launchSt. Lawrence County / DeGrasse, Pyrites, and Grass River corridorHard · Approximately 17.5 planning miles from the DeGrasse hand launch through the South Branch/main Grass River corridor to the Pyrites Route 21 launchDownerville State Forest / North Branch confluence access to Russell Route 24 bridge accessSt. Lawrence County / RussellModerate · 2.7 moving-water river milesLampson Falls Waterway Access Site to Downerville State Forest / Grass River confluence accessSt. Lawrence County / Clare and RussellHard · 4.1 whitewater river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Oswegatchie RiverVillage of Heuvelton Boat Launch to Lafayette Spring Street bridge, Ogdensburg · about 12 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 10 downstream river miles from the Heuvelton Boat Launch to the Ogdensburg Lafayette Spring Street bridgeEast Branch Oswegatchie RiverFlat Rock / Fine area to South Edwards / Edwards public hand launches · about 15 straight-line mi awayHard · 15.4 American Whitewater miles for Flat Rock to Edwards; the recommended bridge-in-Fine to bridge-in-South-Edwards line and exact route mileage require field confirmationRaquette RiverHelenbrooks Hole / Stowe Lane to Cold Brook Drive · about 15 straight-line mi awayModerate · 0.29 whitewater river milesRaquette RiverRiver Road access about 0.6 mile below Raymondville Dam to Massena Springs Town Park · about 24 straight-line mi awayEasy · 7.8 canoe miles (NYSDEC lists the Raymondville-to-Massena Springs river section as 8.4 miles)

Quick answers

Grass River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Pyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch to Canton DEC launch area above the village dams route on the Grass River?

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 Pyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch to Canton DEC launch area above the village dams route on the Grass River start and end?

This route starts at Pyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch and ends at Canton DEC Grass River launch area, 6 river miles on the water.

Is the Pyrites Route 21 kayak/canoe launch to Canton DEC launch area above the village dams route on the Grass River 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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