Genesee

My 3rd trip of my 1st adventures during 2022 on this section in an open solo esquif canoe. I'm a novice on whitewater in a canoe, likewise with my partner in a kayak. Anyone with better skill sets will not perfer this water at 9.0 ft however if seeking to develope your paddling skills it offers great technical challenges with little water risk, although I have been forced to take a swim on one occasion. I have rafted the WV Gauley river both Upper and Lower, The NY Black river, and the PA Youghiogheny. The views on this section of the Genesee river thru the state park are the best I've experienced. Be watchful of rain falls, the river is very responsive, I've experienced half foot gage level changes from put in to take out, study the water gage data history to better understand. Land slides and rock falls are possible, know and apply simple hazard mitigations and it'll prove to be very enjoyable.

The Entrance rapid described here is actually about 150yds upstream of the put in at Lee's Landing as opposed to downstream from it. A quick ferry across and short portage up to the pool above gives you access to this rapid that runs close to the wall on river left.

r Falls, Letchworth Gorge

High-speed surfing at the bottom of Red Ball. River level is about 10 feet.

Playing around at The Sluice. It's good for surfing, blasting, micro-eddy hopping and stern squirts.

Jim Albano 'screwing around' in a squirt boat below the falls in Letchworth Gorge

We tried surfing here earlier that day, but were unsuccessful until the water rose to about this level.

Most people don't go upstream of the normal put-in, but, if you are doing just the 'Loop', then you will have plenty of time to explore this upper section, to the first waterfall. Levels over 10.5' will require ropes to go too much further upstream.
This is the last playable feature, before taking out of the 'Loop' (which is roughly over a mile long, than walk back to the put-in.) As usual, different levels make a feature better than others.

Just showing off the gorge in the fall. Level was really low (9.3) but that is OK since we were able to port up to the base of the falls ... beautiful.

Letchworth Gorge in Letchworth State Park, showing the class 2 section of the river at low water (8.5 feet on the Portageville gauge).

Letchworth normally has surging waves at this level but a couple of holes/waves were great this Spring. They surfed there long enough for me to park my boat, get out, get my camera, take some pictures, and get back in.