Slate, Michigan, US

A) Upper: near Arvon quarry to Quartzite Falls (2.5 miles)

Quartzite Falls

Quartzite Falls
Photo of Mike Evanston by Tom O'Keefe taken 04/07/97

Gauge Information

River Description

This run coupled with the lower Slate is considered by some boaters to be some of the U.P.'s finest spring boating. It has excellent back-woods scenery, a real small creek feel, and a bunch of great drops.

On this upper run, the river is quite a small stream, mostly meandering through the woods. Random bedrock intrusions create an assortment of drops, most of which are boat-scoutable at reasonable water levels. The main exception is a falls, which comes immediately downstream of a bridge. Scouting is recommended from the right bank. A very irregular ledge drops the boater onto a low-angle slide (grungy at lower water levels) feeding into a hole as the water hits a good pool at the end of the slide. With enough water to make the slide not-grungy, the hole can get somewhat meaty.

Take-out after running this drop and carry back to bridge just upstream, or (if owner's permission is obtained in advance) proceed downstream to take-out at "Heartbreak Hotel" (a cabin just downstream, and immediately adjacent to both the river and Arvon Road).

Driving Directions: From downtown L'Anse, MI, head northeast on Skanee Road 11 miles to Arvon Road. Turn right (south) and proceed 4 miles to a significant clearing where the road veers off to the right. This is the 'usual' put-in. Snow or mud are likely to preclude travel on the logging road the additional mile beyond the quarry to the upper put-in. However, if the road is passible, there is some additional gradient upsteam which could add to the length and enjoyment of this otherwise fairly short segment.

This reach can be combined with the lower run, but the couple miles between is flatwater punctuated by plenty of deadfall. It's a tough call whether its more hassle to 'double-shuttle' or suffer the flatwater and snags. The lower run is completely different in character, and a serious notch up in difficulty and potential consequence. 'Hardcore' boaters may wish to completely skip the upper to concentrate on the lower run. It should be noted that it also contains a flat stretch with an even worse problem of deadfall.