Canandaigua Outlet

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.

Warning

Not far downstream from the Fishing Access, be careful about the river-right bank. At the cow pasture, if you grab what looks to be an inviting eddy, you risk getting zapped by an electric fence.

Wildness and Crazy Out-of-Control 'Paddlers'

For years, the town of Shortsville held its 'Wild

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