A wrap-up of our 2025 Paddling Season on the Genesee River

Since 2018, we have partnered with the Genesee Waterways Center and the City of Rochester to offer canoe and kayak events on the river.  For 2025, we planned six such events.  Unfortunately, two of the most popular – a combined river/canal paddle through Lock 33 and a lower river paddle from Seth Green Park to the harbor – ran afoul of the weather and had to be cancelled.  Watch for these popular paddles to re-appear on our 2026 schedule!

Our July “Learn to Paddle/Ice Cream Social” event has become a mainstay of the program, attracting a sold-out group, most of whom were first-time kayakers.  

In August, we held our annual “River Clean-Up Paddle” (also sold out) and filled our boats with several hundred pounds of unsightly bottles, cans, and plastic from the banks of the river and Red Creek – while enjoying the warmth of a sunny summer evening on the water.

 
Later in August, we partnered with Walking for Rochester for a second clean-up event.  This time we worked north toward the University, picking up trash on the riverbanks as well as the adjoining trails.

Our traditional “City Skyline” paddle is always part of the larger ROC the Riverway Weekend celebration of the Genesee.  A large group of 18 enjoyed another sunny evening with early touches of fall in the trees.

Watch our 2026 announcements and this website for next year’s paddling program. If you have never been on the water, join us for the season-opening “learn to paddle” event – you will be amazed at how easy it is to learn this sport and how much you will enjoy being at one with our river.