Flint Creek, New York, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | II-III+(IV) (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 50 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLINT CREEK AT PHELPS NY | ||||
| usgs-04235250 | 250 - 1500 cfs | II-III+(IV) | 00h57m | 82 cfs (rc= -0.7 ) |
Flint Creek is a shallow, seasonal creek in the Finger Lakes Basin, with origins in the steep
ridges of Italy Valley, Southeast of the Southern end of Canandaigua Lake. The creek is
characterized by a series of technical Class-III-IV ledge drops through the village of
Phelps.
There are numerous stopper pourovers, shallow holes and surf waves associated with these ledge
drops.
At high water (Stage 4.5 feet), Flint Creek is a fast & furious Class-IV run with serious
consequences and close encounters with strainers. More than a few people have been spanked hard
at high water, with the loss of numerous paddles and boats.
Though its watershed is quite large, Flint Creek is rarely runnable. The good thing is that it holds water much better than many small creeks.
As a general rule, the creek is runnable only during the spring runoff or after moderate-heavy rains, when there is enough water to run the Old Mill Falls in downtown Phelps.
Lat/longitude verified by GPS.
The linked USGS gage appears to be a new phenomenon. (Note: many of these new gages are the direct result of American Whitewater's close alliance with the USGS, through its officers and advocates and through the StreamKeeper Project. You are a member...aren't you?)
There is a hand-painted gauge on the Eagle Street bridge in Phelps (see description below). Consider the creek runnable when there is enough water to run Old Mill Falls in downtown Phelps (about 3.5 feet or higher on the gauge).
Class III- @ 3.0 at the bridge (~2.3', 170 cfs USGS)
Class III @ 4.0 at the bridge (~3.2', 450 cfs USGS)
Class IV- @ 4.5 (~3.8', 1100 cfs USGS)
Class IV @ 5.0 at the bridge (~4.2', 1800 cfs USGS)
Class IV+ @ 5.5
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLINT CREEK AT PHELPS NY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| usgs-04235250 | 250 - 1500 cfs | II-III+(IV) | 00h57m | 82 cfs (rc= -0.7 ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Orleans Putin | N/A |  |
| 0.3 | Single Drop | III | |
| 1.2 | Shroo Hole | II |   |
| 1.9 | Wheat Rd. Putin | N/A |  |
| 3.3 | Double Drop | III | |
| 3.6 | Trippple Drop | III | |
| 4.0 | Third Bridge | N/A |  |
| 4.9 | Toxic Hole | III | |
| 5.4 | Concrete Factory | III | |
| 5.9 | The Tubes | III+ | |
| 6.3 | Old Mill Falls | IV |  |
| 6.3 | Old Mill Falls (at higher water) | IV |  |
| 6.3 | Old Mill Falls (at low water) | IV | |
| 6.4 | The Last Stretch... | III | |
| 6.7 | Takeout | N/A |  |
For a longer run, putin off Waddell Road in Orleans. You get about five additional playspots (including "Shroo Hole") and one good rapid ("Single Drop") at normal levels.
Lat/longitude coords verified by GPS.
Shroo HoleA ledge-hole that extends across most of the river, this one is the best playspot on the upper section of the creek, and one of the best playspots on the whole creek. Don't miss it.
The putin, for when time is short, is located 2 miles southwest of Phelps, just off Rte. 488 at the Wheat Road bridge. See the map.
At approximately 1.75 miles you will find the 15-foot high Trippple Drop. This is a series of 5-foot ledges. A normal line is river left. At high water, the hole at the bottom can be sticky. Grab the eddy left at the end of the rapid if you're looking to play this hole.
This, the third small walking bridge that you encounter, is a low bridge that can collect wood. Like the bridge at Double Drop, it has the most headroom at the extreme river left. Soon afterwards is the notorious Toxic Hole.
At about 2 miles, as you approach Highway 96, you will drop over a steep 3-foot high pourover into a deep pool. This is named Toxic Hole for the abundant brown froth found in the pool.
Toxic Hole is a nearly-symmetrical ledge with a powerful recirculation, depending on the level. It appears as a harmless drop from the road, and by boat scout, but it has consequences for those who don't take it seriously. Logs and branches have been seen worked in this feature for quite some time. This feature carries extra risks because it is viewable from route 96, and amateurs might attempt to run this ledge without the proper knowledge. The drop is literally no more than 3 feet.
So don't take this one lightly, my friends; take this drop by heading about as far left as you can go, and by paddling aggressively as you reach the drop. If you run it sideways, or if you don't work hard to paddle out of its recirc, don't come crying to me.
Passing the concrete factory in PhelpsThe rapids at Melvin Hill Road bridge are a series of ledge drops between a concrete supply yard.
Farther downstream is one of the best rodeo holes on the river, just before the Eagle Street bridge.
It is located about 100 feet upstream from the bridge, toward river right. The hole would be outstanding, were the creek not so shallow.
Just downstream from Eagle Street is a wonderful, solitary hole in the center of the river.
Below this hole, a low-angle slide drops you into a river-wide surf wave. Then, you will notice a substantial horizon line as you approached the next bridge.
This is a river-wide ledge. The biggest (and most jarring) drop is in the middle, and consists of a 5-foot vertical waterfall drop.
Toward either side, the ledge is only about 4 feet high, and is more of a steep slide.
About 50 feet downstream from this ledge drop is the next bridge, called The Tubes.
Popping out of the TubeThe Tubes is a railroad bridge with three arches. This bridge is quite dangerous because of the ever-changing accumulation of strainers.
The main current usually funnels into the middle tube, which is usually clogged with debris. BE VERY CAREFUL HERE, SCOUT THOROUGHLY AHEAD OF TIME.
The left tunnel is the most difficult and most interesting. Immediately after this bridge is a river-wide, 3 or 4-foot pourover.
Wade Bowman contributes:
"This is an extremely technical section, and the water is extremely shallow for a long distance following the tube, which is something foot scouting will not reveal. When I say shallow, I mean about an inch of water (at a high level), and it moves very fast. Be sure you are on balance and prepared after the first drop, before entering the tube. Being on edge or out of your boat would be a disaster at this point."
Between The Tubes and the Williams Street bridge is only one interesting river-wide ledge drop. River left is a slot with a large rooster tail. Sneak just right of the roster tail. At very high water, you may bypass the slot on far river right, over a pourover. Immediately before the Williams Street bridge there is a nice boofing rock in the center of the current. It has a large pillow in front of it.
Air Time at Old Mill Falls
Old Mill Falls
reach
state
reachlink
Orleans to Phelps, Flint Creek New York, US (mobile)
User Comments
when in doubt, scout! One riverwide (mandatory portage) strainer about 2.8 miles into the run (from
the Orleans put in) after the Wheat Rd bridge, before Trippple Drop. There is also a whole lot of
wood at the top of Doubble Drop.
"Third Bridge," the low bridge about 1/4 mile upstream of Toxic Hole (see map). The log takes up
about 1/2 of the channel, on the right. So, of course, go left. (And if it's >1300 cfs, duck!)
Also, there's a big tree lodged against the right bridge abutment at Concrete Factory. It's easy to
avoid, right or left--but it will likely collect more wood with subsequent heavy rains. Stay tuned.