Pigeon Creek, Wisconsin, US

Bonniwell Road to Highland Road (1.2 - 2.4 miles)

Slip and Slide

Slip and Slide
Photo by Rob Smage taken 04/26/11 @ 0.00 ft

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
MENOMONEE RIVER AT MENOMONEE FALLS, WI
usgs-04087030	210 - 900 cfs	I	24d11h31m	~ 37 cfs (rc= -0.8 )
	Almost certainly too low. (~0-70 cfs) Reference gauge (Menomonee in Menomonee Falls) has 34.7 sq.mi. drainage, whereas Pigeon is ~12 sq.mi., so flow may be ~1/3 that of gauge.

River Description

Quick Facts:

Location: A mile north of Thiensville, 3.3 miles south of Cedarburg.
Shuttle Length: 2.2 miles. (See details in "Directions" Tab.)
Character: Tiny creek, deadfalls and snags, shallow braided channels, impassible culverts (and some passable ones), electric fences, bedrock slides. 

Put-in is approximately 792' elevation.
Take-out is approximately 669' elevation.
Thus total elevation change is approximately 123'.

General Overview
I will be first to confess this one lies most solidly in the vein of 'micro creeks', novelty runs, and 'stupid boater tricks'. That is to say, this is likey to test the limits on how small a creek (and how many hassles with deadfall, portages and fences) you are willing to try to run. A couple spots can offer some decent 'play' (surfs and spins -- not enough depth to go vertical or aerial), and there are no major exciting/hairy/scary drops. It has a few interesting bedrock slides and a one 'tree-root pour-over'. While the gradient pushes near (or above) some other area runs (Sauk Creek, Menomonee Falls, Cedar Creek), it is just such a smaller stream, and it manages to disperse the gradient without creating anything overly interesting. That said, I find a fondness for the peculiarity and contrary nature of trying to catch something a bit different than most boaters will ever subject themselves to, so have run it about once a year. The few other boaters whom I've shared this run with have seemed not completely disgusted with the experience! However, I suspect there are many who may do it once just to see it, but will not subject themselves to it a second time (and I totally understand such a choice). 

Technically, I must confess the first 3/4ths of the run is not really on Pigeon Creek proper, but on an essentially unnamed (as far as I've been able to determine so far) tributary! Maps show also show an unnamed 'East Branch' (from the corner of Bonniwell Road at Wauwatosa Road) but it is not advised due to no good parking/access, the fact that this is a smaller branch and is prone (in summer) to be almost totally obscured by grass and weeds, and it contains a footbridge (just before the confluence) which is totally impassable at virtually any flow. (Of course, that is just one portage, versus a minimum of two, and far more likely 3, 4, 5 or more on the 'recommended' (listed) route. So, the non-existence of any available parking is the overriding concern negating that option.) The 'West Branch' (the put-in as listed here) is decently sized. Expect some deadfall. You may be able to get over/under/around some of it (you get a bit creative), but sometimes you just have to get out and portage. In this early stretch, there are no notable rapids, but there are a few good riffles and swifts. 

There are two impoundments where property owners have dammed the creek. Both dams (just a couple feet in height) are runnable, the first having a decent 'tongue' (and no 'play' when I've seen it), the second being a bit more of a uniform pour-over (which could create a problematic reversal at good flows, and can provide some play at moderate flows). Coming into the first pond (first dam), there is first a driveway with low culverts. This may be possible to paddle through at low water, not likely at high water. Shortly downstream, a low footbridge lies across the creek. At best flows, this will not allow passage, and must be portaged. Downstream of the first dam, there are two driveways with totally impassable low culverts, mandating portages at all but the lowest of flows and getting out before them may be a bit tricky! A bit futher down this area, another footbridge spans the creek, however this one has always allowed passage (though a tight squeeze under when the creek is high).

All this might lead one to conclude there is precious little reason to use the upper access (as listed) on this branch, which is mostly true, save for the fact that parking (with owners permission) is available right near the creek (in a secondary, gravel drive), and not at someone's home in their (main) driveway. I have never investigated the possibility of accessing the river from any property along Hawthorne Road. Doing so would certainly eliminate a lot of hassle, but (1) there are no shoulders on the road, so streetside parking is NOT remotely possible (and Mequon has signs posted quite prominently saying it is illegal to park along the road -- you are very likely to be ticketed, and possibly towed), therefore (2) it would be necessary to drive up someone's driveway, hope someone was home, ask for permission to leave a car in their driveway (while you ran the river), and ask permission to carry across their yard to the creek.

 Just before Hawthorne Road you'll encounter the second pond and dam. The dam lies immediately beyond the downstream side of a driveway bridge. At high water, you'll have to duck to make it under the bridge, then immediately be ready to hit the drop. The dam slopes/slides into a short pool, and (at some flows) may allow some play, though it may get a bit retentive at high flows. Just downstream the gradient picks up a bit, leading down to the Hawthorne Road culverts. This area has been prone to snags and sweepers (overhead hanging branches), which complicate the approach to the culverts. Current is pretty swift heading toward them (and through them!), so be very careful here! You need to make sure there are no snags on/in the culverts, and line up very carefully to drop through the culverts!

 The lower part of the run (from Hawthorne Road) starts with some boulderbed rips through heavily wooded area (which has a couple of large lots and expensive homes). Rounding the first sweeping left-hand bend, you'll see a small bit of dells (short rocky outcrop on either shore) and what appears may be remnants of a long defunct dam. A large tree (to river-right) and some smaller ones accumulate a pile of strainers. Passage is usually possible off to the left. However, just downstream lies a wide-open cow-pasture area, and you'll encounter a smooth-strand fence across the creek. Generally I've found best passage is to the right (dropping over the root ball, then either in the creek ducking under the fence, or portaging). Be aware (whether trying to boat under or portage) that the fence may be electrified! However, if it's in the water, or if a branch lays against it, it may be 'shorted out'. (I do not mean to 'recommend' it, but if you are inclined to test it, extend your paddle underneath it, then lift the paddle to touch the wire. Regardless the composition of your paddle, it is likely to be more than wet enough to conduct the electricity to your hand. You'll likely get a quie significant tingle, but generally not so much as to cause any real harm.)

Swiftwater and low banks through the pasture lead to the bridge at Wauwatosa Road (CTH.N/Hwy.181), where there is another triple-smooth-strand fence (the other end of this first pasture), again, possibly electrified at times. I've been able to lift a wire enough (when it was not electrified) to lay back and squeeze under, but when I heard it crackling with electricity (or performed the paddle-touch test and got the jolt/tingle), I opted to carefully get out, thread myself and my boat through the fence without touching it, and portage the highway. Another pasture lies beyond the road. At the end of this pasture, look for the third (final, possibly electrified) fence as the creek enters a woodland with massive deadfall, which (in conjunction with the low banks) has caused the creek to split into a multitude of braided obstructed channels -- good luck finding a reasonable route through here! (My best luck had been to go absolutely as far right as possible before going under/through the fence. However, more recently that channel was greatly wooded up. The far-left channel starts out well, but encounters a few major snags as well. Good luck here!

Immediately after the channels rejoin, there's a clearing in the woods (a driveway off to river-left), and you'll find a few easy, fun bedrock slides which may actually offer some repeat play (at good flows). A short ways downstream, the creek passes a driveway bridge (plenty of clearance to paddle through), and enters another heavily wooded area (again with low riverbanks). Unfortunately, there's some new deadfall blocking the whole creek. As you portage those (recommended on river-left), you'll reach a clearing for high tension power lines. Immediately downstream, the creek encounters the final sweet sloping bedrock rapids. While it is not all that long or difficult, scouting is virtually mandatory here due to the liklihood of snags or strainers midway down this drop. The creek zigs and zags, so you can't see top-to-bottom, and there are no eddies, so you need to know that it is clear before you proceed!

After the zig-zag, as the creek bends to the right, a short (1') ledge/wave is encountered. For years, the next section of creekbed was piled (deep and long) with snags accumulated over years and years, and the creek braided out to flood a significant amount of shoreland area. However, as of spring, 2011, it appears someone has done some major chainsawing/clearing, and you can stay in the creek channel (for now). As soon as you exit the woods you encounter the railroad tracks, another power-line right-of-way, and a bike path. At best boatable flows, the railroad bridge will not allow passage under. There MAY be enough water in side ditches of the railroad to paddle south (out of the main flow), but current may be swift trying to take you under the RR bridge -- be prepared to scramble!  It is likely you will have to carry out toward Highland Road, using the paved bike path. 

Note: if/when done at all, this run is likely to be paired with Cedar Creek (only about 3.5 miles away), or with the run at Menomonee Falls (about 10 miles away) or other area runs.