Rochester Harbor

Marinas near Rochester Harbor

Introduction:

The Genesee River Inlet at Lake Ontario leads south seven miles to the town center of Rochester, but the majority of Rochester boating activities take place here at the inlet. The Genesee River is located off Lake Ontario in the city or Rochester about 70 miles northeast of Buffalo and 95 miles southeast of Toronto. Rochester and the Genesee River are excellent locales not only to lay in for a rest, but also to engage in further exploration of the surrounding areas. The Finger Lakes region is only a 30-mile drive to the south, and the greater Rochester area has over 11,000 acres of public parkland for fishing, hiking and camping. Rochester has a very active shopping area and there are more than a dozen museums covering different subjects in town.

History:

The area of western New York State around Rochester first belonged to the Iroquois, a Native American people who lived in villages, farmed extensive crops, hunted and traded with other tribes, and eventually, with Europeans. The five tribes of the Iroquois also formed a confederacy to promote peace among themselves and present a united front to outsiders. The Senecas of the Genesee Valley comprised the largest of these tribes and were known as the "Keepers of the Western Door."

Nearby Victor, New York features the State Historic Site at Ganondagan--the "capital" of the Senecas from 1650 until 1687, when it was destroyed by a large French army led by the governor of Canada. Illustrated signs mark trails where visitors can learn about the significance of plant life to the Seneca and about Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) customs and beliefs.

[i]Portions Courtesy Greater Rochester Visitors Association, Inc.[/i]

Navigating the Water:

The entrance to the Genesee River (sometimes called Rochester Harbor) is protected by two large breakwaters that each extend out more than 1500 feet into Lake Ontario. On approach, the west breakwater is marked with the Rochester Harbor Light, which stands more than 60 feet over the water with a white light that flashes over Lake Ontario every five seconds. To the east, the flashing green East Pier Light shines a green beacon over the water.

Once you have safely made it inside the breakwaters, the simple approach of “putting er’ in the middle” will keep deep water under the boat. The channel is dredged to depths of at least 20 feet up to the second opening bridge, and from there you will find depths of 16 feet or better. A swing bridge (left in the open position) crosses the channel about eight tenths of a mile in from the river entrance, and then a bascule bridge (24-foot closed vertical clearance; opens on signal) makes its way across about a quarter mile farther up.

There is no shortage of marinas in the Rochester/Genesee River area. Within the first mile and a half of the entrance, there are no less than six marinas that offer a variety of services such as haul-out, pump-out, fuel, repairs and transient dockage. There is a yacht club to port before the swing bridge that may accept transient members of reciprocal yacht clubs.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Transportation:

Visitors can reach Rochester by plane (over 200 flights daily at the Greater Rochester International Airport), by train (an Amtrak station is located in the city), by bus (a central terminal for motorcoach travelers is behind Midtown Plaza in downtown Rochester), or by expressway (NYS Thruway exits 45, 46 and 47).

Helpful Links:

City of Rochester

Rochester Visitors Association

Rochester Calendar of Events

Ropchester International Airport

Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority