Temperance, Minnesota, US

B) FR166 to Temperance River State Park (8.5 miles) (Lower)

River Description

Fairly continuous class II (+/-) water until a right hand bend, and a small island and horizon line. A relatively short ledge (maybe 5'?) in a narrow, walled in canyon creates a real uniform backroller, not unlike a low-head dam reversal. While it may be runnable at LOW water levels, you are advised to scout. Be real confident and sure of your ability to catch an eddy and get out quickly, or take out early. If not runable, you will have to rope boats and carefully climb down the steep wall to put into the river below.

A couple hundred yards more class 2 (+/-) lead to the end of the short canyon, where again there is another atypical drop (class III-III+ at good waterlevels). A narrow tongue skirting a couple wave/holes banks just left of center and curves back to the right through a sweet wave/hole for its finish. The remainder of the run is more continuous class 2, but now with a couple bigger waves thrown in, and actually a spot or two pushing into almost class III, and allowing some sweet surfs in a few places.

Most boaters will take-out at trailhead parking about 1 mile up from the mouth to avoid the 'out-of-character' (much tougher) drops and strenuous carry-out in the park. The rating in parenthesis refers to this additional section including Fred's Falls (class V) and 1/4 mile of class III-IV beyond. This will necessitate a carry out to Hwy.61 in the state park.

The gorge in the park is extraordinarily scenic (from shore). The river is twisted, squeezed, and tormented as it churns through a contorted, polished volcanic rock gorge. This makes a great, though mildly strenuous (I.E., not 'handicapped accessible') hike for boaters and non-boaters alike to enjoy. At flows which make the rest of the river runnable, this gorge looks deadly. We do have information which suggests that (at low summer flows) a team of expert boaters have roped into the gorge and have run most of it's drops.