16.2 Miles
Distance

Novice
Skill Level

Class I-II
Whitewater

7-9 Hours
Paddle Time

120 Feet
Elevation Drop

7.5 FPM
Avg Gradient

The river continues to be narrow and remote with a large number of small wooded islands scattered throughout this segment. In the first eight miles, paddlers will find mostly flatwater with occasional riffles, boulder gardens and one class 1 rapids (shortly after the put-in).

The final seven miles contains several stretches of riffles, easy boulder gardens, and low-hazard rapids. Three of the rapids are named: Twin's Rapids, Railroad Rapids, and Two-Foot Falls. All three rate class 1-2 in moderate flows. Additionally, the final two miles contains several pitches of unnamed rapids with one high-speed, class 1-2 occuring where the river forks into two narrow channels around a medium-sized island.

The surrounding landscape varies from bottomlands of tall marsh grasses and dense northern lowland forest, to rocky ledges and steep sloping hills. When the forest closes in it is often made up of: pine, spruce, box-elder, poplar, aspen and maple. Several large spring-fed sloughs join the river including the Wisconsin Slough, which is located two miles downstream from the Highway 139/189 bridge. Wildlife is abundant.

River Camping

There are two primitive, riverside canoe campsites in this segment. One is located at Twin's Rapids and the other is near Two-Foot Falls. Both are free and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Please limit your stay to one night only!

Season

The river is usually navigable throughout spring, summer and into fall. It can be scrappy in places during periods of little rainfall.

River Level Information

River Gauge Location: US Hwy 2 Bridge, MI (north side)
Suggested Minimum Level: 220 cfs / 3.5 feet
USGS Website: 04060993

USGS Daily Discharge Graph (cfs)
USGS Water-data graph for site 05397500
USGS Daily Discharge Graph (height)
USGS Water-data graph for site 05397500