Montreal, W.Fk., Wisconsin, US

Gile Falls to Hwy.2 (6.3 miles) (Rock Cut Falls (Railroad Rapids))

West Branch Montreal

West Branch Montreal
Photo of Harry House by Thomas O'Keefe

River Description

Tough to catch with water, but contains one of the longest IV- rapids in the state.

Some river guide descriptions break the run into two sections, using Kimball Town Park as the intermediate take-out/put-in. This shortens the upper trip to 5.0 miles, and yields a 'section 2' run with 1.5 miles of II-III rapids (down to just below Hwy.2) followed by about a mile of much lesser gradient before the confluence with the main Montreal River (midway through a described reach of that river). Breaking this reach as described here, you get virtually all of the whitewater on the West Fork in one reach.

Alternatively, put-in may be possible from backroads north of the town of Montreal, foregoing Gile Falls and cutting off 1.6 miles of flatwater.

Gile Falls (at/near the put in) is a scenic area where the river is squeezed between rock walls to plunge over a short falls. At most boatable flows you will be best advised to avoid the reversal that forms here by skirting as far left as possible. Just downstream, the river is diverted 90degrees left through a vertical walls of rock.

Much flatwater intervenes until Rock Cut Falls (a.k.a. Railroad Rapids) is encountered. Scouting is highly advised, as this area has been known to collect snags. There are virtually no eddies to the bridge, and only a few small ones below. A great series of (almost unavoidable) offset holes in a relatively narrow boulder-lined channel lead to a bit of slack water under the (defunct) railroad bridge. The action resumes (only slightly diminished) leading to a river-right ledge and rock jumble creating a final slide into a pool.

A short distance downstream, another river-wide irregular ledge creates a fairly nasty reversal at most runnable levels. The best route is a 'sneak' well to the right, with a short boof ledge, then enjoying the rapids which lead toward and past a fine rock outcropping on the right. Fairly continuous I-II action and flat but swift water will bring you to Kimball Falls, easily recognized by the clearing and park buildings on the left. Again, take out well in advance to scout. A fun series of small ledges lead down to a bridge, immediately after which the river is twisted and contorted into wrapping diagonal waves funneling into a final, wicked-looking hole.

Use the park at Kimball Falls (above or below the drop) as a short-run take-out, or proceed the next 1.5 miles through fairly continuous I-II action (with a couple boat-scoutable larger drops bordering on III) to the Hwy.2 bridge. A sweet, surfable wave forms in the downstream end of the culvert to finish off your trip.

AW members may click here for Part 1 of an article from the AW Journal, way back in 1981!
AW members may click here for Part 2 of the article.

In addition to this reach, the article also describes the following:
Michigan's
  Upper Presque Isle, 
  Lower Presque Isle, 
  Middle Black, 
  Lower Black, 
  Upper Silver, 
  Lower Silver, 
  Falls, and 
  Rock,
and Wisconsin's 
  Lower Brunsweiler, and 
  Montreal Canyon.