Lock 32 Whitewater Park

The waterfall at Lock 32 with canoe slaloms in front of it. Vines are growing across the rope used to hang the saloms.

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Location / Directions / Maps

Location: Southeast of Rochester on the Erie Canal, west of the Village of Pittsford, Town of Pittsford, Monroe County, New York.

Address: 2797 Clover St, Pittsford, NY 14534

Maps: Google Map, Topographic; Interactive map.

GPS Coordinates:

Lock 32 White Water Falls: N 43.09115 / W 77.54691
Parking area: N 43.09071 / W 77.54774
Canal Lock 32: N 43.09108 / W 77.54427

Directions: From Rochester…

Take I-490 east to Monroe Ave, Pittsford.
Turn south on Clover St. Follow it south for just over a mile.
Look for the entrance to the Canal Park on the right. Cross over the bridge and make the second right where a green sign marks “2797 Clover St.”

Or use Google Maps.

Parking: Park in the lot at the end of the unmarked road, before the gated business.

Weather

ROCHESTER WEATHER

Information / Accessibility / Accommodations

Note: Whitewater park is privately owned, but the Genesee Waterways Center allows visitors to come to the park to spectate, picnic, and enjoy the park during the day. It’s important that we respect their land, equipment, and other visitors as we utilize this privilege. It’s also cool that they have public paddling hours!

Number of falls: One man-made waterfall.

Size/Types: This 25 ft high spillway has concrete blocks along its path to stir up the water. The water pours from the canal above, under a bridge at the top of the falls, and into the spillway below. Several rapids spot the whitewater course along the park.

Best time to visit: Daytime. Spring through early fall, when the canal has water (it is drained for winter). The annual Lockapalooza event is great for catching whitewater action.

Flow: It is generally regulated by canal levels. Consistent when the canal is full.

Waterway: The Erie Canal is a man-made body of water that crosses the state east-west. At Lock 32, this 600 foot long spillway (designed to help regulate water levels in the canal) has been converted into a facility for whitewater kayaking. The spillway waters rejoin the canal just east, past Clover St.

Time: About 1 minute to see the falls. A few more minutes to check out the rest of the course. White water classes and event times vary.

Seasons/Hours: When the canal has water (spring and summer months – it’s dry in late fall through winter). Daytime only.
Public Padding Hours: Sunday 12pm – 8pm; Monday: Closed; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday Closed; Thursday: 5pm – 8pm; Friday: 5pm – 8pm; Saturday: 12pm – 8pm.

Lock 32 Whitewater Park informational sign next to a storage trailer

Admission: Free for visitors. Check the Genesee Waterways Center website for information on becoming a member to be able to paddle during member hours.

Handicap accessibility: None.

Pets: Unknown.

Swimming: Not allowed.

Accommodations: White water course, kayaking lessons, special events, equipment rentals. Across the canal is the Lock 32 Canal State Park and Erie Canal Heritage Trail.

A small man-made waterfall along the whitewater course at Lock 32

Description

AKA: White Water Falls; Lock 32 Falls

What a wonderful idea, to take New York’s underutilized (and in some places, crumbling) canal system, and build an existing lock spillway (designed to remove excess water used when locks are emptied) into a whitewater kayaking course like no other. This was the vision of Rick Williams of Brighton, who helped transform this Department of Transportation afterthought into a wonderful whitewater playground for training, events, and overall, fun.

The 600 ft course begins at a launch platform adjacent to a large man-made cascade. Topped with a blue and yellow-painted bridge, the waterfall is made out of cement, and has aggregate stones jutting out from its face, making the falls frothy and loud. It drops a total of 25 ft, from the height of the Lock (and canal) it drains. It’s a wonderful backdrop to the beautifully designed course downstream. Wave holes, pools, boils and a lot of frothy action await paddlers along the way; all in a controlled and safe environment operated by the Genesee Waterways Center. A cleared section and paved path along the south of the waterway allow for friends, family, coaches, press and enthusiasts to watch and cheer on the paddlers.

Admission to the park is granted (during operating hours) for members of the Genesee Waterways Center. Membership fees may not be justified for a photo or two of the falls, but if you are at all interested in learning (flat or white water) kayaking, membership is well worth it. Members may also bring up to two guests to check out the park. Lockapolooza is an annual weekend paddling event filled with activities, including races, free instruction, and freestyle competitions. It’s the perfect time to visit, free of charge, to get some action shots of paddlers tackling the course.

Since its opening it has attracted world-wide attention and the admiration of paddlers from all walks of life. And it should. It is a beautiful park, filled with the sounds of rushing water, and the history of the New York State Canal system.

Canoe slaloms along the whitewater course at Lock 32

Some turbulent water along the waste weir near Lock 32

A view of turbulent water surrounded by canoe slaloms

History

Rick Williams, of Brighton, was riding along the canal bike path one day in 1996 and took notice of the Lock 32 spillway, which reminded him of a whitewater course. His vision, to clear and reshape the spillway into a suitable training course. Working with the Canal Corporation and the State Department of Transportation, what began as a vision, continued with a $25 permit, and progressed through a lot of donations and elbow-grease, and evolved into a beautiful park with a professional organization overseeing its operation and safety. Construction wrapped up in November of 1999 and its first full season in 2000 was an astounding success.

Hiking / Walking Trails

To see the spillway

Difficulty: Easy.

Distance: About 300 feet from the parking area to see the falls.

Markings: Rules/information sign at the trail-head. Paved trail.

Description: From the parking area, follow the paved trail into the brush. It will open up as it approaches the spillway. Across from here is where kayaks enter the course. Shortly after is the falls. You can continue on the trail to see the rest of the course. Turn around and go back after about 900 ft.

The man-made waterfall on a waste weir from the Canal at Lock 32

Whitewater Park and Lock 32 State Canal Park Interactive Map

Lock 32 Whitewater Park Falls Media

Lock 32 Whitewater Park Videos

Lock 32 Whitewater Park and Erie Canal Photo Gallery

A canoe slalom next to a pile of boulders

A picnic table and boat cleat along the canal at Lock 32 Park

A friendly reminder that the photos on this page are under copyright of the creator and unauthorized commercial use will result in a bill being sent for license fees.

Interesting Stuff

Lock 32 State Canal Park

The south side of the lock is the Whitewater Park. The north side is a small state-run park, which centers around the operation of the lock. The park is a wonderful place to sit for a picnic, launch a canoe, jog, hop onto the Erie Canal Heritage Trail, or check out the lock operation. A raised viewing platform gives visitors excellent views of boats raised by the lock waters. A large pond above the lock was once used as a canal-side port and turning point during the system’s heyday. It’s now empty.

A Historic Marker for Erie Canal Lock 32 titled "Changing Alignments". It talks about the lock being one of 3 in Pittsford that has gone under enlargements over the years.

Lock 32 control house and an empty lock in Pittsford.

Photography Tips

Distance

You can’t get close to these falls, so bring a lens with enough reach.

Flags

The course flags may seem like they get in the way of a beautiful waterfall picture, but don’t think that way. Use them in your composition to show depth, and direction.

Silky Water Effect

To get that smooth cotton-candy look to the falls, you need to use a Neutral Density (ND) filter on your lens. The ND filter will block some of the light from entering the lens without altering the color, and thus allow your shutter to stay open longer. This blurs the water and creates a soft white gloss to the foamy areas of the falls. Check out the article for the all the details.