Flint Creek - Orleans to Phelps


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Flint Creek,

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Orleans to Phelps

Class II-III+(IV)
4 Miles
Avg Gradient 50 fpm

Old Mill Falls


Old Mill Falls
Photo by Harry A. Marinakis, M.D.

Gauge Information

Name Range Updated Level
FLINT CREEK AT PHELPS NY 250 - 1500 cfs 02h06m 10 cfs (rc= -1.0 )


River Description

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.


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2009-05-31 21:35:12

Editors

Stream Team Editor
Matt Muir
Fairport, NY


Trippple Drop

Detail Trip Report Edit  Trippple Drop  Flint Creek, NY(202.30KB .jpeg)

Low Bridge! Everybody down!

Detail Trip Report Edit  Low Bridge! Everybody down!  Flint Creek, NY(79.11KB .jpeg)

First Drop

Detail Trip Report Edit  First Drop  Flint Creek, NY(175.02KB .jpeg)

Double Drop

Detail Trip Report Edit  Double Drop  Flint Creek, NY(1.09MB .avi)

Old Mill Falls

Detail Trip Report Edit  Old Mill Falls  Flint Creek, NY(658.85KB .avi)

Flint Creek Map

Detail Trip Report Edit  Flint Creek Map  Flint Creek, NY(94.21KB .jpeg)

Double Drop

Detail Trip Report Edit  Double Drop  Flint Creek, NY(49.51KB .jpeg)

Old Mill Falls

Detail Trip Report Edit  Old Mill Falls  @Flint Creek Orleans to Phelps, NY(45.80KB .jpeg)

Old Mill Falls

Detail Trip Report Edit  Old Mill Falls  @Flint Creek Orleans to Phelps, NY(31.45KB .jpeg)

Old Mill Falls

Detail Trip Report Edit  Old Mill Falls  @Flint Creek Orleans to Phelps, NY(31.45KB .jpeg)

Old Mill Falls

Detail Trip Report Edit  Old Mill Falls  @Flint Creek Orleans to Phelps, NY(32.29KB .jpeg)

Strainer as of

Detail Trip Report Edit  Strainer as of  Flint Creek, NY(284.70KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

300 cfs is what most paddlers might call a minimum. If you were really jonesing for a Flint run, you could bounce down at 200 cfs.

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

Gauge Information

Name Range Updated Level
FLINT CREEK AT PHELPS NY
usgs-04235250 250 - 1500 cfs 02h06m 10 cfs (rc= -1.0 )

RangeWater LevelComment
0.0000-250.0000 extremely Low-barely Low
250.0000-500.0000 barely runnable-med runnable
500.0000-1100.0000 med runnable-a bit pushy runnable
1100.0000-1500.0000 a bit pushy runnable-high runnable
1500.0000-3000.0000 barely High-extremely High Around 1500 cfs, the bridge after Double Drop becomes a mandatory portage.

Report - Reports of Flint Creek Orleans to Phelps and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Flint CreekOrleans to Phelps [NY] Old Mill Falls n/a Harry A. Marinakis, M.D.
318d13h06m Flint Creek [NY] Low Bridge! Everybody down! 1600 cfs Matt Muir
4y220d22h06m Flint Creek [NY] Strainer as of 280cfs Eric Fleming
4y225d22h06m Flint Creek [NY] Flint Creek Map n/a Matt Muir
4y230d22h06m Flint Creek [NY] Double Drop n/a Matt Muir
5y170d22h06m Flint Creek [NY] Double Drop 650 cfs Matt Muir

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News





icon of message No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run.

User Comments


2005-04-27 07:28:59 (1659 days ago)
Eric FlemingDetails
Strainer to be aware of as of April 25, 2005 see picture 10718 in archive.
Add a Comment

Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
-1.8Orleans PutinAccess
-1.6Single DropIII
-0.6Shroo HoleIIPlayspot
0.0Wheat Rd. PutinPutin
1.4Double DropIIIPlayspot
1.7Trippple DropIIIPlayspot
3.0Toxic HoleIIIHazard
3.6Concrete FactoryIIIPlayspot
4.1The TubesIII+Hazard
4.5Old Mill Falls (at low water)IVHazard Waterfall Photo
4.5Old Mill FallsIVAccess Hazard Waterfall Photo
4.5Old Mill Falls (at higher water)IVHazard Waterfall Photo
4.6The Last Stretch...IIIPlayspot
4.9TakeoutTakeout

Rapid Descriptions

Orleans Putin

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.



Single Drop (Class III, Mile -1.6)

This is probably a class-III-IV rapid that you can scout from the river right, which is private property owned by very friendly folk. Please be friendly and leave no trace. You can also walk down from the putin on a river left trail. It's probably a 500 ft. walk. On the right is a 4-5 ft. boof onto shallow water (the last 10 ft. near the shore don't look too much fun. Center right is a stairstep of two 2-3 ft. ledges. Center left is a boof of approximately 6 ft. into shallow water (high water only). Left is sort of a slide with a somewhat sticky hole at the bottom.



Shroo Hole (Class II, Mile -0.6)

A 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.



Wheat Rd. Putin
The putin is located 2 miles southwest of Phelps, just off Rte. 488 at the Wheat Road bridge. See the map.

Double Drop (Class III, Mile 1.4)

The first bridge that you cross under is Griffith Road, about 3/4 mile downstream from the putin. At about 1.5 miles you will approach the 10-foot high Double Drop, near the intersection of two old railroad bridges.
The first bridge is very low, and it is NOT runnable above 4.5 feet. When the bridge is runnable, however, there's a great playhole just above the bridge. Surf like a champ, and if you get kicked off the wave towards river right, be prepared to do a "prophylactic roll" to avoid schmackin your fool haid on the bridge.
Be watchful for strainers jammed under the bridge.
You can get an idea of the clearance under the "Double Drop Bridge" by looking at the Griffith Road bridge as you float under it. There are three drainage tubes in the concrete on the river-right side of the bridge, visible at 4.3' on the painted Eagle Rd. gauge, ca. 800 cfs.) If the tubes are under water, you might consider getting out in the eddy below (river left) and hiking down to take a look at the Doub.



Trippple Drop (Class III, Mile 1.7)

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.



Toxic Hole (Class III, Mile 3.0)

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.



Concrete Factory (Class III, Mile 3.6)

The 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.



The Tubes (Class III+, Mile 4.1)

The 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.



Old Mill Falls (at low water) (Class IV, Mile 4.5)

Old Mill Falls

Old Mill Falls

Here is a photo of Old Mill Falls at low water. Click on the photo for details.



Old Mill Falls (Class IV, Mile 4.5)

Old Mill Falls

Old Mill Falls
Photo by Doug Roode

WARNING! Old Mill Falls is a dangerous class IV drop. You must scout the waterfall carefully. Portage around the falls by taking out on river right, across from the liquor store.

The Old Mill Falls is a vertical 11-foot high dam and waterfall in downtown Phelps. It is easily scouted from the Old Mill Liquor Store and the Route 96 bridge. Even a casual examination of the falls reveals rooster tails almost all the way across the base of the falls. These rooster tails disclose the presence of rocks that could make for an ugly landing.



Old Mill Falls (at higher water) (Class IV, Mile 4.5)

Old Mill Falls

Old Mill Falls
Photo by Harry A. Marinakis, M.D.

Here is a photo of Old Mill Falls in typical spring conditions. Click on the photo for details.

The Last Stretch... (Class III, Mile 4.6)

Immediately after the falls, the creek enters a tunnel under Route 96 and drops over a ledge. This ledge is mentioned only because the hole there is UGLY. The long stretch of rapids visible downstream from the Route 96 bridge are the last on the creek. At high water (Stage 4.5+ feet), there is a tremendous stopper hole here. Be careful.



Takeout

Takeout at the next bridge (Mill St.), just 200 yards downstream from the Route 96 bridge.





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