Boating, Fishing, and Travel Information for Rochester, NY
Rochester is sits on Lake Ontario’s southern shore. The Genesee River bisects the city. Charlotte is a lake front community in Rochester bordering Lake Ontario. It is home to Ontario Beach Park, commonly known as Charlotte Beach, which is a popular summer destination. A new terminal was built in 2004 for the Rochester-to-Toronto ferry service and was later sold after the ferry ceased operations in 2005. The Port of Rochester terminal still exists and has since been revamped. It now houses the restaurant California Rollin’, a coffee shop named The Nutty Bavarian along with offices for the marina created around it. There is marine freight service at the Port of Rochester on Lake Ontario, which is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
Things to do in Rochester
Seneca Park Zoo
Alongside the Genesee River, on the border of Rochester and Irondequoit, sits Seneca Park Zoo. A wide range of creatures from Amur Tigers to White Rhinos to keep the young and the curious engaged. The Zoo also offers educational programs and events throughout the year, promoting natural science and conservation. Find out more here.
Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
Open seasonally, this lighthouse was restored in 2014. The light is still used, automatically turning on a sunset and off at sunrise. Visitors can climb the tower and stop by the museum to learn about the history of the lighthouse and surrounding areas. Find out more here.
Ontario Beach Park & Charlotte Pier
On the northern shore of Rochester, on the mouth of the Genesee River, Ontario Beach Park offers 39 acres of natural coastline; recreational activities including fishing and volleyball; and a lodge that can be rented out. The Charlotte Pier extends out into Lake Ontario, forming the western side of Rochester Harbor. Find out more here.
Useful Resources for Rochester
- Everything boating in the Rochester area
- Information and resources for fishing on Lake Ontario
- Scenic fishing on the Genesee River
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester,_New_York which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
Boating in Rochester, NY Map View
From Irondequoit Bay west-northwest for 3.8 miles to the mouth of the Genesee River, deep water is about 0.5 mile offshore. A rock covered ½ foot is close inshore about 0.7 mile southeast of the Genesee River entrance.
Rochester Harbor, at the mouth of the Genesee River, is 54 miles west of Oswego Harbor and about 7 miles north of the main business district of the city of Rochester, NY. The river is navigable for about 5.5 miles above the mouth. The first of a group of dams is about 7 miles upstream from Lake Ontario. There is no navigable connection between the lower portion of the Genesee River and the New York State Canal, which connects with the river about 11 miles upstream from the lake. The surface elevation of the river falls more than 260 feet between the Rochester Terminal of the New York State Canal System and the head of navigation of the lower portion of the river below the dams. An unmarked dumping ground with a least reported depth of 35 feet is about 1.8 miles northeast of the mouth of the Genesee River.
Prominent features:
The stacks at the waste water treatment plant 1.9 miles southeast of the river mouth and the tall apartment building 1.1 miles southwest of the river mouth are the most prominent objects from offshore. Rochester Harbor Light (43°15’50″N., 77°35’56″W.), 40 feet above the water, is shown from a white cylindrical tower with red band on the outer end of the west pier.
Channels:
From Lake Ontario, the river is entered through a dredged channel that leads between two piers, thence upstream for 2.6 miles above the mouth. There are two turning basins, one just inside the mouth and the other 2 miles above the mouth on the west side of the channel; the upper turning basin is no longer maintained. The outer ends of the entrance piers are marked by lights; mooring is only allowed on the lakeside of the piers.
Dangers:
It is reported that northeast winds sometimes create waves as high as 6 feet that reflect through the entrance channel between the piers, making navigation into the harbor difficult. River currents sometimes compound this problem. A dangerous sunken wreck is 0.8 mile eastnortheast of Rochester Harbor Light.
Bridges:
The O’Rorke bridge, 1.25 miles above the pierheads, has a bascule span with a clearance of 41 feet (45 feet at center). Overhead power cables crossing the river 2.8 miles above the pierheads have a clearance of 141 feet. Above the limit of the federal project, a pipeline bridge, about 5.1 miles above the pierheads, has a fixed span with a clearance of 86 feet. The Ridge Road (U.S. Route 104) bridge, about 5.5 miles above the pierheads, has a fixed span with a clearance of 160 feet. The Driving Park Avenue bridge, 6.4 miles above the pierheads, has a fixed span with unknown clearance.
Quarantine, customs, immigration and agricultural quarantine:
Quarantine is enforced in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service.Rochester is a customs port of entry. Rochester has several hospitals.
Coast Guard Station:
Rochester Coast Guard Station is on the east side of the river just inside the mouth. A speed limit of 6 mph is enforced in Rochester Harbor.
Wharves:
Essroc Cement Corp. Charlotte Dock (43°13’50″N., 77°37’00″W: 488 feet of berthing space with 21 feet alongside and a deck height of 8 feet; three pipelines extend from wharf to eight concrete storage silos with a capacity of 23,925 tons; receipt of cement; owned and operated by Essroc Cement Corp.
Supplies:
Some marine supplies, water, provisions and diesel fuel can be obtained at Rochester.
Small-craft facilities:
Marinas at Rochester provide transient berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, electricity, sewage pumpout, marine supplies, launching ramps, mobile lifts to 40 tons and hull, engine and electronic repairs. In 1977, depths of 2 to 12 feet were reported alongside the berths.
Information from Coast Pilot: https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/files/cp6/CPB6_WEB.pdf. Chart reference: 14815
