Silver, Michigan, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III-IV+(V) (varies with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 4.2 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 62 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 136 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SILVER RIVER NEAR L'ANSE, MI | ||||
| usgs-04043150 | 180 - 650 cfs | II(III) | 64d14h31m | 79 cfs (rc= -0.6 ) |
Almost certainly too low for enjoyable whitewater experience. Gauge (64.7 sq.mi. drainage) is downstream of the take-out, but should be very accurate for flows in this lower reach. |
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From the putin (which will be somewhat boney at most runnable levels), one shortly comes to the
first drop. A narrowing in the river harbors a deceptively tricky/sticky pair of holes. At higher
levels, the eddies here will surge and boil and draw you back into the hole, so paddle hard to
make sure you punch through. While safely in the eddy below, enjoy a small sidestream cascading
in on the right.
Immediately below prepare to scout (river-left recommended, right is ok) as the river takes a
sharp bend to the right. It drops down a confused rock jumble with a few offset holes, then falls
into a channel where it is immediately directed ninety degrees to the left. A few small waves and
holes lead to a small pooling up before a congested ledge. The usual route is to ferry into a
tight-right hanging eddy, then set an aggressive angle to center river as you drop off into a
scary looking hole backed up by rock on river right. While the move is simple, it never fails to
get my heart pumping.
A few easier ledges and holes lead to the next big drop, a triple which is usually scouted (river
right). While a right side sneak on the first drop is sometimes used, there are piton rocks to be
aware of. The first drop (left side) is a round-house slide with a couple of holes, the second
drop is a sharp, short ledge (great boof), then one slides back across to run the final sloping
ledge fairly well to the left.
Not far downstream, the next triple drop is found. Scout from the left. Traditional route on the
first drop is well to the right, however there is a rock at the base of the drop for a serious
power-piton. A bump-and-thump alternative may be found down the center or left. Second drop is
usually run tight to the left wall, with a sweet launch partway through. The final drop is a
short sliding ledge into a usually fairly forgiving wave/hole. Do not miss the view back
upstream, as you consider the impressive gradient you have just come down!
Quickly the gradient peters out and you have a (much too) long stretch of flatwater. One
'false-alarm' riffle punctuates the peaceful float, then take out river right when you hear the
next drop. The river accelerates down through offset waves, is squeezed to the left past a bridge
trestle and jumps through a couple waves into a brief pool. Flowing out of this pool, one
encounters a wide jumbled rocky slide. The best line is usually to thread between a couple
'guard-rocks' well to the right, and keeping a straight boat angle to avoid being tripped up by
jutting rock on the slide. A series of diagonal waves and holes follows as the action
subsides.
Another (thankfully briefer) bit of flatwater brings you to the finale, Silver Falls. The upper
part of this is a sweet little gorge as the river narrows significantly and accelerates through a
series of holes (generally not sticky) before breaking out across shallower bedrock into a short
pool. The river hooks sharply to the left. Take out fairly immediately here, before coming to the
main part of Silver Falls. This drop has been run, but is very nasty looking at most water
levels. Most will be content to just look at it before carrying up to the parking lot.
Driving Directions to the Put-in:
From Hwy 41 on the south side of L'Anse, a short distance south from the Hilltop Restaurant, turn
east on Dynamite Hill Rd. This will twist and turn somewhat, but stay on the main road for about
4 miles. There will be an obvious "Y" in the road. Bearing to the left will put you on
Arvon Rd (same Arvon Rd as used to access the Slate River but opposite end) and bring you to the
take-out bridge after 1/2 mile.
Driving Directions to the Take-out:
As you head north into L'Anse, Hwy 41 will veer to the left but you will continue straight on
Broad Street. Proceed to the main intersection in downtown L'Anse and turn right on Main St. As
you leave town, this will become Skanee Rd. After about 7 miles, look on the right for a small
road with sign for Silver River Falls. Turn to the right here and drive about a half mile to the
park which is the take-out. This road may be impassable early season as it is not maintained. If
this is the case, continue about a mile on Skanee Rd until you come to the bridge over the Silver
for an alternate take-out. Using the Skanee Rd take-out adds about 1 1/2 miles of moving water,
with no significant drops (past Lower Silver Falls).
Shuttle: Distance 13.2 miles, Approximate Time (each way): 27 minutes
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.
The article describes the following:
Michigan's
Upper Presque
Isle,
Lower Presque
Isle,
Lower Black,
Upper Silver,
Lower Silver,
(this reach)
Falls, and
Rock,
and Wisconsin's
Lower
Brunsweiler,
Montreal, W.Fk.,
and
Montreal Canyon.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SILVER RIVER NEAR L'ANSE, MI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| usgs-04043150 | 180 - 650 cfs | II(III) | 64d14h31m | 79 cfs (rc= -0.6 ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Almost certainly too low for enjoyable whitewater experience. |
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|
Gauge (64.7 sq.mi. drainage) is downstream of the take-out, but should be very accurate for flows in this lower reach. |
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver River (Lower) [MI] |
Second (Straight) Triple
|
7.6' | Rob Smage | |
| 9y278d03h45m | Silver [MI] |
Lower Silver
|
220 cfs/7.6' | Rob Smage |
| > 10 years | Silver [MI] |
Mini Canyon
|
good | Rob Smage |
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Mini-Dells | III |  |
| 0.2 | First Falls | IV |  |
| 0.5 | Twisted Triple | IV | |
| 0.6 | Straight Triple | IV | |
| 3.5 | Railroad Trestle | IV | |
| 4.0 | Silver Falls | III+ | |
After a few minor 'warm-up' rapids you come to a rocky outcropping and narrowing of the river as it drops into a short dells containing two pourouver holes. Boaters I've been with seldom bother to scout this area, but regularly (at good flows) have at least some boaters get tricked-up by the holes and boiling pools below them.
The first 'significant' drop occurs as the river bends right, drops across a good ledge, then is diverted sharply left. After a short 'alley', a rocky pool precedes the next ledge. A rock splits the flow (at most flows). A sweet move is to catch the eddy river-left above this rock/ledge, ferry across to a 'hanging eddy' on river-right, then peel-out to drive out toward the rock to drop over the ledge into a wild wrapping hole, charging toward center-stream.
This is a great triple ledge combination. The first ledge can be run as a 'boof' move fairly tight river-right (however, there is a piton rock in there somewhere). Otherwise, the more 'classic' line is down the left, then sweeping around a bend to the right, through various waves and holes. A short let-up in action allows you to set-up for the second ledge. The left half has numerous rocks confusing the path, so it is less-often chosen. The right half pours over a ledge into a sometimes wicked looking hole. Outflow is channeled to the left before spilling to the right down the third ledge. A sweet line here is to stay as far left as possible (almost to the left wall) to then bank right down a sweet slide into the pool below.
This sequence starts with a steep sliding drop. Historically, this was usually run fairly tight right. However, piton possibilities exist over there, and (with shorter boats and evolution of technique) the more usual route now is well to river-left. The second drop is less steep and the third drop is really a low-angle slide into a bit of a hole (which can get sticky at higher flows).
Make certain to turn and look back upstream when you finish this drop to look at the gradient you have just run. It is a wonderfully impressive sight.
The river approaches a long-defunct railroad trestle. Take out (river-right) to scout this drop. A jumbled drop twists to the left, past the vertical support walls of the long gone bridge, drops through a hole into a short pool. The main current pushes straight through the pool toward the brink of the second pitch of this drop. (Boaters usually opt to catch an eddy in this pool before picking their line down the next section.) This second pitch is quite wide, therefore generally quite shallow and grungy. A series of ill-placed rock lies right in the main current at the lip of the drop, leaving fairly narrow gaps to thread before spilling down the frothing slide. Watch out for the 'trip rocks' which will try to spill you if you get sideways down this slide. As the waters (from across the width of the slide) collect, the river flows through additional series of waves and holes.
The river narrows significantly through a fine dells, through numerous waves and holes, with few eddies (though I've heard of some boaters at some levels, 'working' the drop, catching a few eddies). At the end of the first pitch, the river widens a bit and spills across some shallow bedrock before cranking tightly to the left. Most boaters will take out immediately after this tight bend to carry up the hill to the parking area. Downstream lies the "Silver Bullet", which has been run a good number of times, but is not recommended at most levels for most boaters.
reach
state
reachlink
B) 'Lower Silver': Arvon Rd to Silver Falls Park (4.2 miles), Silver Michigan, US (mobile)
User Comments
a portage. Always check this river for wood as it is a narrow creek that could collect wood at
certain rapids. Edit
lower Silver (river bends gentle right, ledge drops, then bend back left in more rapids, then log)
I saw the log on 4/1/2006