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New York | Monroe County / Genesee Valley

Black CreekChurchville Park to Black Creek Park

A planning-only Black Creek moving-water route with at least 10.8 straight-line miles between the official Monroe County Churchville Park and NYSDEC Black Creek launch anchors; exact wetted-channel mileage is not reconciled in the current sources. Local route documentation describes a generally pleasant Churchville-to-Black-Creek-Park paddle, while also warning that low water may require dragging and downstream sections can accumulate substantial log jams. USGS 04231000 provides direct same-creek stage and discharge context at Churchville.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAt least 10.8 straight-line miles between the named public endpoints; exact wetted-channel mileage is not reconciled in the current sources
DifficultyModerate
Typical time4–8 hours depending on stage
ShuttleCar shuttle
Black Creek near Churchville, New York, in the National Weather Service river-gauge gallery.
Route photoBlack Creek at Churchville; federal gauge-area context for the Churchville Park to Black Creek Park routePhoto by National Weather Service Northeast River Forecast Center

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAt least 10.8 straight-line miles between the named public endpoints; exact wetted-channel mileage is not reconciled in the current sourcesChurchville Park to Black Creek Park
DifficultymoderateThe segment is generally calm and low-gradient, but shallow water, soft banks, current around structures, cold-water immersion, strainers, water-quality changes after storms, and a long commitment between public exits make it a guarded moderate planning route.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the NYSDEC Black Creek launch in Black Creek Park, then drive to Churchville Park. Confirm park hours, seasonal gates, parking, the carry to the water, and a daylight margin for slow water, shallow drags, and wood-related delays.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Monroe County Parks, NYSDEC launch, New York boating/PFD, invasive-species, parking, and water-quality rules. No route-specific paddling permit is identified; do not infer private-bank landing, shoreline camping, or access beyond the named public launches.
CampingOptions nearbyMonroe County provides nearby road-access campground/basecamp options, including seasonal Webster Park family camping and other managed park camping. No Black Creek endpoint or bank camping is claimed; reserve or verify a separate legal campground and leave the river access areas as day-use sites.
SeasonApr-OctLate-spring through fall day-use flatwater is the most practical window. Spring rises and recent storms can add current, debris, and bank instability; summer low water can require dragging or turning around at shallow or wood-blocked sections.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A planning-only Black Creek moving-water route with at least 10.8 straight-line miles between the official Monroe County Churchville Park and NYSDEC Black Creek launch anchors; exact wetted-channel mileage is not reconciled in the current sources. Local route documentation describes a generally pleasant Churchville-to-Black-Creek-Park paddle, while also warning that low water may require dragging and downstream sections can accumulate substantial log jams. USGS 04231000 provides direct same-creek stage and discharge context at Churchville.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Monroe County Churchville Park Black Creek boat launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

Churchville Park is a public Monroe County park launch, but the stored coordinate is the county GIS water-access anchor; confirm the current dock/landing, seasonal hours, parking, and exact water entry before launching.

Finish

Take-out

NYSDEC Black Creek launch in Black Creek Park
Open mapDirections to take-out

The DEC Black Creek point is an official hard-surface launch coordinate with 10-car/trailer parking; confirm current approach, waterline, debris, and take-out conditions in the field.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Churchville Park is a public Monroe County park launch, but the stored coordinate is the county GIS water-access anchor; confirm the current dock/landing, seasonal hours, parking, and exact water entry before launching.
  • The DEC Black Creek point is an official hard-surface launch coordinate with 10-car/trailer parking; confirm current approach, waterline, debris, and take-out conditions in the field.
  • The Churchville gauge is immediately downstream of the dam and cannot certify the full downstream channel. Do not continue past Black Creek Park on the assumption that the lower creek is equally clear or reversible.

Watch for

  • 04231000 stage/discharge trend, recent rain, shallow riffles, dragging, muddy water, rising banks, and thunderstorms
  • Churchville dam exclusion, bridge hydraulics, downed trees, strainers, beaver obstructions, soft banks, and limited bailout points
  • seasonal park hours, parking/carry, the DEC Black Creek landing, private shoreline, water-quality advisories, and the Black Creek Park boundary

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Black Creek near Churchville, New York, in the National Weather Service river-gauge gallery.
Black Creek at Churchville; federal gauge-area context for the Churchville Park to Black Creek Park routePhoto by National Weather Service Northeast River Forecast Center
U.S. government image

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named moving-water corridorChurchville Park to Black Creek Park; at least 10.8 straight-line miles between official anchors; generally calm moving water

    Local route documentation references 7.8 miles to a Black Creek Park, but that figure does not reconcile with the official DEC endpoint coordinate. The route uses the official endpoints and a conservative straight-line minimum until a wetted-channel trace is verified; the same source documents current, shallow-water behavior, and downstream log-jam change.

    Source

  • Official public accessMonroe County Churchville Park launch and NYSDEC Black Creek launch in Chili

    Monroe County identifies the Churchville Park canoe/kayak launch, while NYSDEC publishes the Black Creek launch coordinate, hard-surface type, and parking capacity.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 04231000 Black Creek at Churchville, NY

    USGS provides current stage and discharge at a direct same-creek station just downstream from the Churchville dam.

    Source

  • Route-specific flow guidanceDirect gauge trend and visual inspection; no universal numeric cutoff accepted

    The route sources document calm water, low-water dragging, and downstream wood behavior but do not support a single safe stage or discharge threshold for the full segment.

    Source

  • Camping contextNearby managed Monroe County campground/basecamp options; no endpoint or bank camping claimed

    County parks publish separate seasonal camping options; the water-access points remain day-use launches and do not grant shoreline camping rights.

    Source

  • Route imageNational Weather Service Northeast River Forecast Center Black Creek at Churchville image

    The federal gauge-area image is clearly labeled as Black Creek context and does not certify current flow, wood, water quality, access, or a runnable line.

    Source

  • Direct live gaugeUSGS 04231000, Black Creek at Churchville, NY

    USGS 04231000 is a direct Black Creek station at Churchville, 0.3 miles downstream from the Churchville dam, with current stage and discharge records. It is useful same-creek context but does not reveal downstream wood, shallow bars, bridge hydraulics, water quality, or the condition of either launch.

    Source

  • Safety and river conditionsCheck live gauge, recent rainfall, trend, debris, bridges, and access conditions before launch

    Monroe County Parks / NYSDEC / USGS / Black Creek paddling report and its linked safety material warn that conditions change rapidly and require local inspection.

    Source

  • Image decisionApproved same-river context image used for route presentation

    The image is labeled as river-level context when it depicts the named river elsewhere, not this exact reach.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

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Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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Quick answers

Black Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Churchville Park to Black Creek Park route on the Black Creek?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Churchville Park to Black Creek Park route on the Black Creek start and end?

This route starts at Monroe County Churchville Park Black Creek boat launch and ends at NYSDEC Black Creek launch in Black Creek Park, At least 10.8 straight-line miles between the named public endpoints; exact wetted-channel mileage is not reconciled in the current sources on the water.

Is the Churchville Park to Black Creek Park route on the Black Creek suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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