Pike, Wisconsin, US

B) CTH.K to Barker Rd. ("Yellow Bridge") (3.4 miles)

Horseshoe Falls open boat

Horseshoe Falls open boat
Photo of Tim by Steve

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
PIKE RIVER AT AMBERG, WI
usgs-04066500	200 - 2000 cfs	I-II	66d20h24m	141 cfs (rc= -0.2 )
	Rather low, but can be done. Many areas will be a scrape, but a few rapids will be good. Gauge (255 sq.mi. drainage) lies 7.3 miles upstream. Two small tribs intervene, so gauge may be up to 10% low of actual flow on this reach.

River Description

A small pocket wave/hole at the put-in allows surfing and beginners practice ferrying in good current (in the outflow) at low levels. At high levels, it becomes very playable. An easy rock-dodge rapids leads to a pool where the river takes a 90 degree left bend through a narrowing in a rock walled gorge. Again, surfing and enders are possible at higher levels.

More minor rapids lead to the first commmonly named drop, Scrounge Canyon, a narrowing of the river, as it passes through a dells with minor boulder garden. This is a great place for novice boaters to practice catching as many eddies as possible on either side of the river, while absolute beginners will probably just hang on down the center from top to bottom.

Numerous small rapids lead to Horseshoe Falls, where the river is diverted around an island. The right (much larger) channel drops over a short (1-1.5') ledge, and stong current and 'funny water' immediately follow.

Not far downstream is one of the best play spots, White Dog. Surfing and enders are great at moderate to high flows.

Various technical rock garden drops follow until the finale, Yellow Bridge. The river passes under Barker Road, where there had been an old iron bridge, painted yellow. The bridge has been replaced, but it lives on in the name of this rapid (and the section of river). The drop begins with a twist to the right across a short, irregular sloping ledge, to an intermediate pool. From the pool, the river twists back to the left as it drops over another ledge, then down the longest boulder garden rapids on the run before the take-out on the left bank. At high water, this is a real rip-snorting rapids which most beginner/novice boaters will take out above. For those who do run the drop, takeout is just around a right hand curve just as the action subsides.

Note: Please be considerate of posted private property around this drop. The home-owner (at river right) has generally been quite willing to grant permission to groups who ask before scouting, while reportedly getting varyingly irate at those who trespass without first getting consent.