August 3, 2026
| Reporter | Clark b benahm |
Honeoye Creek is almost entirely a class I paddle except for a short class III stretch that begins one mile south of Honeoye Falls. This stretch of the creek is solid class III and consists of two series of rapids ( The Ledges). The total drop is 50 to 60 feet over 3,000 feet, giving The Ledges an average gradient of -90 to -105 feet per mile. The creek flows over a dam located in downtown Honeoye Falls, New York, creating an 12-foot high waterfall. Running the slide line is the best way for beginners then run the left line above 4ft is a perfect smooth drop Honeoye Creek floods during the spring. The highest recorded flood peak was 6,600 cfs on June 23, 1972.
THE PUTIN
The putin is problematic. You can putin at the Highway 5 & 20 bridge approximately 3 miles south of Honeoye Falls, but that puts 3.5 miles of class I flatwater between you and The Ledges. A better putin is from highway 65, about one-half mile upstream from the Martin Road bridge, at the highway's closest approach to the creek. You must obtain permission to cross 100 yards of private farmland for this putin.
'THE LEDGES'
The Ledges of Honeoye Creek consists of two sections, The Martin Road Ledges and the Highway 65 Ledges. Both sections are staircase drops, with multiple 2-foot ledge drops. Many of these ledge drops have recirculations resembling those of low head dams. You must scout the creek to identify potentially sticky hydraulics, especially at high water. The Martin Road Ledges can be scouted from Martin Road bridge. The Highway 65 Ledges can be scouted from the Highway 65 bridge and the river-right bank.
The run over the Martin Road Ledges begins 1,000 feet upstream of the Martin Road bridge. The creek drops 15 to 20 feet (for a gradient of -80 to -105 feet per mile). After passing under the bridge, the creek flattens out for 500 feet before approaching the Highway 65 Ledges.
The Highway 65 Ledges drops 15 to 20 feet over 500 feet, for a gradient of -155 to -210 feet per mile. Once under the Highway 65 bridge, the creek drops over several more 2-foot ledges before becoming a class I creek 1,000 feet past the bridge.
THE TAKEOUT
Once into the class I flat water downstream from the Highway 65 bridge, paddle another to the Big Eddy Park.
Water falls is runnable 3.8 feet or above on right left you need 4 feet or more the dam is falling apart so watch for rebar at the bottom