Canandaigua Outlet,

Mill Drop

Mill Drop
Photo of Adrian Vanden Bout by Wade taken 6/6/2004 @ 670 cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

Updated November 5, 2005

Canandaigua Outlet flows north from the outlet of Canandaigua Lake to the Erie Canal. The creek is full of strainers and wildlife. The only interesting whitewater occurs where the creek passes through Shortsville ("The Shortsville Run").

The Shortsville Run is a 2.3-mile class II-III whitewater paddle with a 5-foot vertical waterfall drop (class III) at the "Old Mill" immediately above the Highway 19 bridge at Littleville. The average gradient throughout the length of the Shortsville Run is ~27 feet per mile. The maximum sustained gradient occurs in that half-mile stretch between the Highway 41 (Shortsville Road) bridge and the takeout at Jones-Blunt Park, where the gradient is ~50 feet per mile.

DIRECTIONS:
(See this map for detailed, local info on the shuttle.)

To the Takeout:
Take Route 21 South through Manchester to Shortsville.
Take a Left onto Water St.
Park in one of the parking areas, next to the stream on the Left.

To the Putin:
Continue South on Water St.
Stay straight, crossing Main St. and the tracks. The road you're now on is Sheldon St.
Sheldon St. curves around Right, becoming Aldrich St. At the next intersection, bear Left (South) onto Pioneer Rd.
After about half a mile, Pioneer Rd. T's into Rte. 19. Bear Right onto County Road 19. Park near the tracks and hike up to the (main) putin.

Note: the Fishing Access Site is on Pioneer Rd., near CR 19. As noted below, use this putin at your own risk.

Wildness and Crazy Out-of-Control "Paddlers"
For years, the town of Shortsville held its "Wild Water Derby" on this stretch. Lots of locals showed up in all manner of boats, including Grumman canoes and homemade rafts. The great news is that, after a nine-year hiatus the race was resurrected for 2006! It was the largest ACA-sponsored event in NY in 2006--and it was twice as big in 2007. It took place this year on April 24-25, 2009. See this link for details.