Genesee Valley Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club

Black Creek (Monroe, Genesee Counties)

Segment: Churchville Park to Bergen Swamp
Length: 6 miles (12 miles round trip)
Difficulty: Class 1

Maps: Delorme page number 71
USGS (7.5") Churchville

How to get there:

From Rochester take Route 490 West to Churchville, exit number 3. Turning right on to Route 36 North from the exit ramp. Follow Route 36 0.8 mile, crossing Route 33 in the village of Churchville, to Park Road. Do not cross over Black Creek. Turn left on Park Road and enter Churchville Park. Follow Park Road to Park Road Extension. Bear right on to Park Road Extension and turn into the boat launch parking area. Parking area is 0.5 mile from Route 36. Put in is at the boat launch.

Description:

The trip starts at the boat launch and heads West, upstream, towards the Bergen Swamp Wild Life Sanctuary. Black Creek is canoeable even in the dry season due to a dam impoundment in the village of Churchville. Meandering in a Westerly direction the creek passes through Monroe County's Churchville Park with a golf course on the North shore and small homes and cottages on the South shore. Before long the scenery becomes wooded banks and farm fields. Passing under the West Sweden Road, Route 19, bridge (Alternate takeout or put in on Northwest side of bridge) you begin to enter the Bergen Swamp Wild Life Sanctuary. The swamp is a hard wood swamp that is home to rare orchids. The turn around point is a short way above an old farm road delineated by two culverts. The creek flows through the culverts most of the year, but during high water in the spring it flows over the road. Canoes can be easily carried over if the water is not deep enough to float over the road. Shortly after this point one encounters many log jams left over from a major 1991 ice storm.

During late March to early April when the creek level is at its highest level due to the spring run off paddling above the culvert should be feasible as most of the strainers will be well below the surface.

Abundant wildlife can be spotted along the creek, especially during the spring and fall migrations.

Nearby Attractions:

Genesee Country Museum (Fee)