Good flow. Gauge (631 sq.mi. drainage) is just upstream of put-in, thus very accurately reflects flow in this reach. Flow regulated by dam with scheduled releases.
River Description
While put-in is possible at Little Bull Dam, Wisconsin Electric Recreation Area #22 (as
formerly listed in the heading for this reach), doing so requires putting in on (and ferrying
across) a diversion canal, then portaging the berm between it and the natural river channel.
Additionally, using this put-in makes a rather long shuttle. While some maps show a Little
Bull Rapids in this area, it is inundated by the impoundment. The 1.5 miles downstream of
the dam is quietwater, broken only by a few riffles.
The recommended put-in (which eliminates much of the quietwater paddle and considerably
shortens the shuttle) is located off of a dirt 'double-track' on the West side of the road
(airport side) just before the paved road turns to gravel. Follow this road past a grassy area
where the airport runway comes into view on the left. Just after this point, WE Energies has
constructed a primitive campground at the recommended (short) put-in for this reach. In addition
to the campsite, there is a vault toilet and parking area. MI DNR will be mowing the path to the
river. There have been signs with a tent icon installed indicating the location and also
assisting boaters in locating the put-in.
The 1/2 mile of flatwater is very pretty, and enjoyable. The heavily wooded shores and the lack
of any development makes the river seem very wild and remote. Not far past a large island on
river right, the river makes a bend to the right and the rapids begin.
The rapids are in close proximity to one another and, at high flows, will merge together into one
long rapid with big waves. The first drop is a fairly straightforward class II boulderbed drop on
a turn to the left. At 250 cfs a rock splits the main flow. You can either slide up onto the rock
and slide down its left side, or you can go right of it. To the right is the smoother (more
usual) run. This is followed shortly by a similar drop that ends in a fast flume turning back to
the right. The river here is flanked by big granite boulders river-left and a small cliff with
overhanging pines river-right. A moving-water pool of about 100 yards precedes the next
drops.
The next three are in such close proximity that they are effectively all one drop at all but the
lowest flows. A short boulderbed pitch leads into a hard turn to the right followed by more
boulder bed. There is a large eddy on the left and then the river drops off a low broken ledge
followed by a short pool with eddies on both left and right before falling over the final pitch
-- class II at lower flows moving into class III territory when higher. There is a fun playhole
at the base of the 2nd pitch. The eddy on river left provides easy access to it. The only
downside is that if you have a weak roll you may get swept over the final 5' drop upside down.
There is continuous light boulder bed for perhaps 200 yards from here into Horserace proper,
which is located around the next bend.
Horserace Rapids is a boulder bed drop that is somewhat technical, with a final narrow chute
right-of-center at the bottom -- class II+ at lower flows and class III when higher. There are
actually two options at the bottom. The best route is through the center between two rocks. The
approach to the center chute is complicated as the approach is from river left, cutting river
right and then back left so that you can fit between the two center rocks. An easier route (and
safer for beginners) is to stay left and go left of the center two rocks. It is possible to
unintentionally rock spin here, off the left most of the center two rocks, as I have seen happen
to several beginning boaters, but the possibility of a pin is greatly reduced in running this
side. Perhaps another 80 yards of minor boulderbed exists before one reaches the backwaters of
Paint Pond, another impoundment. Carry out between the large rocks on river right, and hike a
good pathway and stairs up to the parking area.
Recommended 'Companion' Runs
River
Approximate
Distance
Click for Driving Directions
(will open a new browser window . . . close it to return here.)
There is now a USGS gauge on this stream, not far upstream of the listed put-in.
The majority of the upstream flow in this river is diverted to the Michigamme River via a canal at Little Bull Dam. The capacity of the diversion canal is fairly high so major snowmelt or extended rain is needed to affect levels in this reach beyond the release levels as given below.
The licensing agreement for the hydropower project provides for flows as follows (as long as inflow from upstream allows):
April 1 - May 15: 350 cfs
May 16 - June 15: 300 cfs
June 16 - June 30: 275 cfs
July 1 - November: 250 cfs
December - March: 175 cfs
Flows of 250 will provide a reasonable minimum, while higher flows will be more desirable.
Gauge (631 sq.mi. drainage) is just upstream of put-in, thus very accurately reflects flow in this reach. Flow regulated by dam with scheduled releases.
Range
Water Level
Difficulty
Comment
0 - 200
cfs
extremely Low-barely Low
I-II
Too low.
200 - 350
cfs
barely runnable-med runnable
II(III)
Good flow.
350 - 600
cfs
med runnable-a bit pushy runnable
II-III+
High flow.
600 -2000
cfs
a bit pushy runnable-high runnable
II-III+(IV)
Very high flow.
2000 -9999
cfs
barely High-extremely High
III-IV
Extremely high flow.
Report - Reports of Paint MI DNR campground to Horserace Rapids (1.5 miles) and related gauges
Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.
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An addendum to Nate's comment: Both Ben Bursack and I came to the same conclusion, that running
from river left toward river right and through the center gap in the rocky teeth is the best and
most attainable line. Running the left gap was near impossible for both of us. However, a word of
caution as there is a current here that wants to push you towards the left gap, but the force
pushing you through the center gap dictates that the center is the way to go. Due to this sideways
swirl action, though, it is easy that if one did not 'gas' it they could still pin very easily. The
best bet is to be aggressive in telling your boat you want to go through the center.<br>
<br>
Even so, I did this and the sideways current still knocked my stern up on the left tooth, which I
slid off of and into the pool instead of off the pourover proper.
I was looking at the pin rocks the other day and came to this conclusion. As long as you run
Horserace from River Left you should not have to worry about getting pinned. I would suggest the
best line, and smoothest, is to go river left of the pin rocks, but if you run between the pin
rocks going from river left to river right there should be no chance of you to get pinned. I think
the only pin angle is from right to left.
A fellow boater experienced a terrible pin at the bottom of Horserace between the two boulders
called the Dragon's Teeth on May 8, 2005. Avoid the river right rock which is undercut and try to
stay left as much as possible.
Even at the minimum flows (250cfs) there are a few good 'squirt spots' on this run (places with
sufficient depth and good current to assist in going vertical). One of them is right at the
take-out, river-left, as the last currents are swallowed up in the backwaters of the reservoir. A
few shallow rocks may occasionally catch the ends of your boat, but (given the relative lack of
good deep-water spots on lower-volume rivers) novices will quickly get as much vertical action here
as you could wish for anywhere in the Upper Midwest.
Good flow. Gauge (631 sq.mi. drainage) is just upstream of put-in, thus very accurately reflects flow in this reach. Flow regulated by dam with scheduled releases. 
User Comments
[url=http://wuyvxukxlamx.com/]wuyvxukxlamx[/url],
[link=http://digorsrlgbaw.com/]digorsrlgbaw[/link], http://iggnirsbjgdo.com/ FYI The link above
does not make any sense, please revise if this is an important message. Edit
from river left toward river right and through the center gap in the rocky teeth is the best and
most attainable line. Running the left gap was near impossible for both of us. However, a word of
caution as there is a current here that wants to push you towards the left gap, but the force
pushing you through the center gap dictates that the center is the way to go. Due to this sideways
swirl action, though, it is easy that if one did not 'gas' it they could still pin very easily. The
best bet is to be aggressive in telling your boat you want to go through the center.<br>
<br>
Even so, I did this and the sideways current still knocked my stern up on the left tooth, which I
slid off of and into the pool instead of off the pourover proper.
Horserace from River Left you should not have to worry about getting pinned. I would suggest the
best line, and smoothest, is to go river left of the pin rocks, but if you run between the pin
rocks going from river left to river right there should be no chance of you to get pinned. I think
the only pin angle is from right to left.
called the Dragon's Teeth on May 8, 2005. Avoid the river right rock which is undercut and try to
stay left as much as possible.
sufficient depth and good current to assist in going vertical). One of them is right at the
take-out, river-left, as the last currents are swallowed up in the backwaters of the reservoir. A
few shallow rocks may occasionally catch the ends of your boat, but (given the relative lack of
good deep-water spots on lower-volume rivers) novices will quickly get as much vertical action here
as you could wish for anywhere in the Upper Midwest.