Mill Creek
Village of Dexter (PnP)
| Difficulty | II |
| Length | 0 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 10 fpm |
| Permit | |
| Gauge | Mill Creek Near Dexter, Mi |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 66 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 14, 2026 |
River Description
A nice little park-and-play about 150 yards long, located at the Main St. bridge in the Village of Dexter, at the west end of town. It comprises four rock weirs and a boulder field where a deteriorating low-head dam was removed in late 2008. The drop on the run is about five feet. The contractor has done a nice bit of work here, creating features designed for sediment control and water quality (aeration) but that provide recreational value as well. This is a very novice-friendly, easy place for new paddlers to build skills as well as a fun surf spot for the more experienced.
Mill Creek flows into the Huron River just downstream of this location, to join the stretch described on the American Whitewater page for the Huron (of Lower Michigan) It's a good place to launch and do both in one run.
The village has completed work as of late 2012, and there is now a very nice park along river right the full length of the run. The put-in is a wide set of steps into the water, and the take-out similar. There is parking both above and below the bridge, including marked canoeist-and-kayaker-only spaces in the lot below the bridge.
The river-right side of the first weir is a really nice side surf at low flows, and a decent spot to do 360s at mid flows. It's a good place to practice ferries, back and forth between the small river left and large river right eddies. At high flows it is fun if you can stay in it, but the eddies flush out so you only get one shot at it. It's flushy at high flows, so as you drop in, paddle like nuts upstream.
Next is a boulder field that extends from just upstream of the bridge all the way under the bridge. For paddling practice, its value is to float through it angled but just at current speed, and maneuver around the rocks. It's very shallow. The boulder field is what makes this stretch Class II; it does require maneuvering, but nothing challenging. On river left at th
...River Features
Take Out
Put In
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportRan Mill Creek Sunday June 27th, 2021 at 577 cfs. Another great level for surfing and decent eddies left and right for ferry moves. Five good surf waves throughout. All but the top right wave above bridge had eddy service. Right eddy under bridge a little shallow but not 'bony'. The other eddies good.
Ran this May 20, 2020 at 850 cfs. Water was two inches deep over the sidewalk under the bridge on the right with some running down the sidewalk upstream. We thought this was a fun level. There was a good surf wave top right with easy access from the left, a manky but fun surf wave center just under upstream side of the bridge and a great fast surf wave on the right to center just below the bridge with easy right eddy service. Fun ferry practice also. Good eddies right and left. We expected the rapid to be washed out since the level was quite above the listed maximum but found the opposite. Perhaps the maximum should be increased. This level would be fun for strong intermediates and above, probably a little pushy for novices or paddlers with high 'flip' potential.
Did a quick run today at 273 cfs. Seems to be about the ideal level. 1st weir wave-hole is just right for doughnuts; surfing at 2nd weir is OK, 3rd is good. 4th is excellent at this level, robust, fast, a bit of surge, requires lots of carving, outstanding practice wave.
At high water the 1st weir wave hole and the surf waves at 3rd and 4th weirs flush out, but the 2nd weir comes into its own.