Home

Creek Rats, Inc. has been working since 2001 to engage the community in restoring Onondaga Creek and encouraging its use for urban recreation.

Maps, links to monitoring the creek flow (speed), and other information about the creek are available on this website. Creek Rats also organizes several events and public float trips down the creek each season, listed below.

⚠ Boat safety for Onondaga Creek has important information to help plan a safe outing on Onondaga Creek.

2024 Events Calendar

Apr 13, 20204: Earth Day Shoreline Cleanup [Public]

We’ll be kicking off the 2024 creek season with a community Earth Day cleanup project to pickup trash inside the fences along Onondaga Creek’s shoreline. Come meet fun people and be part of making a difference while restoring Onondaga Creek as a natural community resource!

To help with planning, please “Register” for this event, or email us to tell us you’re coming. While this is a land event, dress to get dirty, and wear sturdy footwear.

June 2024 TBD: Ollie’s Day [Public]

Since 2019, Creek Rats has been actively maintaining Ollie’s Point in Franklin Square as a convenient creek take-out point. This year more than ever, the site needs some TLC to recover from the neighboring pedestrian bridge project. Tasks will include weeding invasive plants, shrubby willow planting / maintenance, raking, trimming, and weed-whipping. Event details will be announced later this spring.

July 2024 TBD: Summer Float [Public]

By popular demand, we will be hosting two public paddling events this year, our first one in July! This is a terrific event if you’re new to boating on the creek, or just looking to meetup with a community of fellow paddlers. Details will be announced later this spring. A limited number of canoes / kayaks and gear will be available to borrow, by request. While extensive boating experience isn’t required, a degree of comfort being in a boat is recommended.

August 2024 TBD: Annual Clean up [Public]

This year will be our 24th annual in-creek cleanup! While this year’s format will be a little different, the one thing that never changes is the importance of annual maintenance to keep the creek safe and navigable as a treasured natural resource for our community to enjoy. Please connect with us on social or check back for event details to be announced early summer.

September 2024 TBD: Fall Float OR Paddle Pedal [Public]

Autumn is an especially beautiful time of the year to enjoy fall foliage and wildlife sightings while paddling down the creek. We will host our second public paddling event to celebrate the season and another great season of creek projects in September. Details will be announced later this summer.

October 2024 TBD: Shoreside Community Event [Public]

Questions for us? Interested in brainstorming ways we can collaborate? Looking to meet fun new people? Or just still haven’t gotten enough of our creek-side stories this season? Whatever your reason, we’ll host one more public event — this one on land — in October with shoreside fun and seasonal snacks. Details will be announced later this summer.

Past Events and Projects

Our events typically repeat annually. If you see something that sounded fun and you missed it this year, mark your calendar to check back for next year’s date and time, or connect with us on social media.

2022 Past Events

Sun Oct 15: Fall Fun Float! [Public]

Are you curious to canoe or kayak Onondaga Creek, but unsure how to get started? Then this Fall Fun Float is for you! Join us and paddlers of all experience levels as we wrap another great year on the creek and enjoy a beautiful autumn day in CNY. The water is especially clear and low this time of the year making it the perfect time to try paddling for the first time. No gear? No problem! We have a limited number of canoes and kayaks (with life jackets and paddles) that we can lend. It’s first come first served, so please call ahead to reserve your spot.

Please note: Given the low water and construction projects, launch or take out points may change. Watch our Instagram & Facebook pages for updates!

  • When: Sunday October 15th @ 10AM. Please arrive between 9:30-10 AM to get situated.
  • Launch: Dorwin Ave Creek Access Point
  • Take out: Bear Street Inner Harbor Canoe Launch
  • Approximate duration: 3 hours
  • Parking: Cars can be parked on the side street at Dorwin Ave and in the parking lots at the Bear Street Inner Harbor Canoe Launch
  • Gear: Kayaks and canoes work best to boat Onondaga Creek. Everyone should wear a USCG approved life jacket. Please also dress warmly, and avoid cotton if you can. Nylon, polyester, or fleece are better choices to dry quickly and keep you warm.

Questions? Call Bob 315-396-2944 or Steve 315-345-2727 or connect with us. Before the event, please review our boat safety tips. We hope you’ll join us for our last public event of 2023!

Saturday, Sept 23rd: Paddle & Pedal [Public]

Bring your boats & drop your bikes to paddle/pedal Onondaga Creek! First we’ll paddle from Meachem Fields in the valley north to Plumb Street in Franklin Square. At Plumb Street, we’ll grab our bikes and pedal the Creekwalk trail to the “Mile Marketplace” in Kirk Park, hosted by Syracuse’s Parks & Recreation to celebrate fall with amazing food, music, and unique arts and crafts. Read onward for important event details!

Paddlers

Cyclists

  • When: Bikers meet approx. 12:30 PM, or when paddlers begin arriving
  • Where: Bikers leave from Plumb Street in Franklin Square and head south on the Creekwalk trail to Kirk Park

General Mile Marketplace Attendees

This is a community created event: you will need to bring your own boats, bikes, lifejackets, and helmets, and to make your own ride, boat, and bike arrangements. Here are some tips to help you!

  • TIME – expect the full trip from Meachem to the Mile Marketplace to take approx. 4 hrs.
  • CARS – leave your car at Meachem Fields. If you need a car at Plum Street, you can try arriving at Meachem early and finding other participants to shuttle with.     
  • BOATS & GEAR – you can typically leave boats/paddles/lifejackets near the Plum Street crossover. We suggest a cable/chain & lock if you’re concerned.
  • BIKES & GEAR – you can typically pre-position bikes near the Plum Street crossover or on a car rack. We strongly suggest you use a cable/chain & lock.
  • VALUABLES – keep phones/keys in a waterproof container and with you at all times. Don’t leave them with boats/bikes.
  • PADDLE ONLY – if you only do the boating portion you should park a car at Plum Street or find others doing the same and ask if they want to share a ride.
    BOATING NOTE – landing access is very limited on the creek. If you are paddling, you should be prepared to make the entire trip to Plumb Street.

Questions? Call Bob 315-396-2944 or Steve 315-345-2727 or connect with us. We hope to see you at this exciting event!

Home Headquarters Block Blitz! [Public]

  • When: Friday September 15th @ 10AM
  • Where: TBD

Annual Summer Cleanup [Public]

2023 will be our 23nd annual summer cleanup in and along the creek. Join us and a team of ESF freshmen completing their Saturday of Service and see what this year’s most talked about creek finds will be! Teams will collect trash & clear brush on the shoreline or in the water to restore Onondaga Creek as a community resource. Be part of people powered change! To help with planning, please call Steve (315-345-2727) or Bob (315-396-2944) and rsvp with your preference to work on land or with a canoe.

Rain or shine. We’ll provide gloves, tools, trash bags, and snacks!

When: Saturday, August 26th @ 10AM – noon(ish)
Where: Intersection of West Onondaga and Adam Street
Wear: Good, solid footwear that will stay secure on your feet while walking through the creek water and protect you from metal/glass on the creek bottom. Plus clothes that can get wet and muddy.

Onondaga Earth Corps/United Way Work Day [Public]

  • When: Thursday August 3rd @ 10AM
  • Where: TBD

July Fun Float [Public]

Come join us for a fun day exploring the city from the unique creek perspective! Our July Fun Float is our first public paddle of the 2023 season. As usual, we’ll launch in the valley (at Kelley Memorial Park) and paddle down to Ollie’s Point where we’ll have vehicles coordinated to bring everyone back to the launch. Or you can stage a bike in the harbor and pedal the Creekwalk upstream when you’re finished! The full trip takes between 2-3 hours, depending on creek speed.

This event is geared towards introducing new neighbors to the creek, so if paddling Onondaga Creek is something you’ve always wanted to try, mark your calendar! We have kayaks and canoes (plus paddles/life vests) available if you don’t already have your own gear. Please let us know if you’d like to use our gear so we can confirm we have enough for everyone. We’re also happy to pair you with an experienced canoe buddy if you’re new to boating in general.

Ollie’s Point Spring Maintenance/Gardening [Public]

Join us Sunday June 11 from 10am-noon to rake, weed whack, trim, and otherwise do spring maintenance at our Ollie’s Point take out site.

Spring Creek Scouting & Obstacle Cleanup [Creek Rats Core Team]

Stay tuned for the where/when. Weather allowing, we’re planning a late April scouting trip to look for obstructions and projects that need attention, and clear any obstacles we can in the moment.

Earth Day Shoreline Cleanup [Public]

We’ll be kicking off the 2023 creek season with a community Earth Day cleanup project focused on trash pickup and brush clearing along the shoreline.

  • When: Saturday April 22nd @ 10AM
  • Where: Corner of Midland Ave and Hovey Street
  • Gloves, tools, and trash bags will be provided. Plus snacks!

Come be part of making a difference while restoring Onondaga Creek as a natural community resource. To help with planning, please contact us if you’ll be joining for the Earth Day cleanup.

2022 Past Events

Saturday, Oct 1st: Onondaga Creekwalk’s “The Mile Marketplace”

Join Syracuse Parks & Recreation for a family-friendly day to showcase and celebrate unique offerings thriving in the South Side Creekwalk community. There will be urban farm stands, local chefs, local artisans, local musicians, professionals, and environmental educators. Parks & Rec will also be sharing information about improvement projects underway.

Make sure to drop by the Creek Rats table to say “hi!”

Saturday, Sept 24th: Just for Fun Fall Float

Join us for this float trip down Onondaga Creek, just to have fun and enjoy fall in Syracuse as viewed from the water. This year’s float is scheduled for Sat, Sept 24th, 2PM. We’ll have rides arranged to get everyone back to the launch site after a cider and doughnut fall snack. This trip is perfect for people who are new to paddling as the water is slow and shallow this time of year (plus we’ve had a season of doing creek cleanups to remove obstacles!).

To help with planning, please send us a note if you’re interested in attending. Let us know if you’ll be needing a canoe or kayak, and also if you’d prefer we match you with an experienced paddler.

Saturday Aug 27th: Annual In-creek and Shoreline Cleanup

Come help us clean up Onondaga Creek! Our 21st annual in-creek/shoreline cleanup will take place Saturday, August 27th. Volunteers should arrive by 9:30 AM.

  • Where: Midland Avenue @ Creekwalk
  • When: Saturday Aug 27th, 2022 from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM (ish)
  • Wear: Good, solid footwear that will stay secure on your feet while walking through the creek water and protect you from metal/glass on the creek bottom. Plus clothes that can get wet and muddy.

Given how low the creek water is right now, most volunteers will walk with us in the creek to collect an assortment of bikes, shopping carts, and other surprises and load them into canoes. A dumpster will be on-site to unload the canoes.

Plan to have fun and get muddy! Light snacks will be provided. Consider a towel and dry socks/shoes for when the work is done, and reach out if you have any questions.

Saturday, July 30th: Merry Ferry & Scouting Paddle

Join us for a Merry Ferry to paddle the creek, cut back some overgrowth, and do a scouting in preparation for our major August cleanup.

Sunday, Jun 12th: Ollie’s Point Revegetation Project Spring Maintenance Day

Work to stabilize the shoreline and control invasive Japanese Knotweed at Ollie’s Point in Franklin Square has been underway since 2019. Join us for our annual spring workday. Tasks include pruning willows, pulling out knotweed, weed whacking, raking, and some willow planting to replace what didn’t survive the winter.

Saturday, April 23rd: Earth Day Cleanup

Join Iroquois Trout Unlimited, Living Waters Church, and Creek Rats as we celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up the creek shoreline in the Hovey/Huron Street area!

Learn more about this yearly cleanup event or more information on enjoying the creek