Amity Creek, Minnesota, US

Skyline Pkwy to Lester River (2.4 miles)

Usual Difficulty	IV-V (for normal flows)
Length	2.4 Miles
Avg. Gradient	130 fpm
Max Gradient	150 fpm

River Description

Access for this reach is by driving up "Seven Bridges Road," the beginning of the "Skyline Parkway." (This scenic drive around the hills overlooking Duluth, MN is highly recommended for boaters and non-boaters alike.) Put-in is above seventh bridge (actually, there is an eighth bridge one might use as put-in).

The first drop is a long, convoluted flume with great scenic rock outcroppings. Action greatly subsides for a ways below this. Numerous smaller ledges and drops ensue. A few will merit scouting, if nothing else than to reassure where you want to hit a boof or punch a hole.

The other large drop comes as you reach the upper limits of Lester Park. When you see a gazebo on the right and a footbridge spanning the river, get out to scout. The river narrows and twists approaching the bridge, then jumps down a steep slide into a deep pool. Some lesser rapids follow.

Take out before the confluence with the Lester River, and carry across the park to the parking area. Downstream of the confluence, the combined flow drops into some gnarly holes, twists and falls over a ledge, then flows (almost guaranteed past numerous people fishing, anytime the river is likely to be run) to meet Lake Superior.