Presque Isle, Michigan, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III-V (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 8.2 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 51 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 105 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK RIVER NEAR BESSEMER, MI | ||||
| usgs-04031000 | 1.85 - 3.50 ft | III-V | 00h55m | ~ 1.29 ft (rc= -0.3 ) |
Aug '04 Update/Access
The listed put in for this reach, Steiger's bridge, is privately owned, as are the roads leading
up to it. In Spring '04, paddlers were informed that, due to liability concerns on the part of
the owner, the road would be closed to public usage. Access to Steiger's bridge may be gated and
unavailable. Alternate options are:
"full" Presque run, doing the Upper Presque at Underwood Tower
Road and continuing down to paddle this reach. Total length of the combined reaches is 15.7
miles,
Doing the Copper
Creek to the Presque, which unfortunately comes in below 'the canyon' (Nakomis and Triple
Drop),
or hiking in (a LONG hike).
This is a classic run, once considered "cutting edge" whitewater. Triple Drop, Nakomis,
Lepisto, and Iagoo Falls are the major drops. There is much great play water after the gorge,
particularly at higher water levels (above 7.5', when Triple Drop and Nakomis will likely be
portaged).
Early runs of this, most groups took out at the South Boundary Road Bridge, however, the final
mile to the lake contains some interesting, big, runnable (for experts) drops, and increasingly
is now done as a 'first choice' run. (See Bottom Presque for
description and photos.) Those not choosing to run this reach will want to at least enjoy the
views from overlooks and footbridge in the park.
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.
In addition to this reach, the article also describes the following:
Michigan's
Upper
Presque Isle,
Middle
Black,
Lower
Black,
Upper
Silver,
Lower
Silver,
Falls,
and
Rock,
and Wisconsin's
Lower
Brunsweiler,
Montreal,
W.Fk., and
Montreal
Canyon.
6.5' - lowNote that runs at higher levels than these are made, likely with a portage from above Triple Drop to below Nokomis (about a half mile).
6.75' to 7.25' - medium
above 7.5' - high
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK RIVER NEAR BESSEMER, MI | ||||||||||||
| usgs-04031000 | 1.85 - 3.50 ft | III-V | 00h55m | ~ 1.29 ft (rc= -0.3 ) | ||||||||
|
Reference gauge (Black River) should provide reasonable correlation for this river. Actual flows must be confirmed by on-site inspection. |
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presque Isle [MI] |
Triple Drop (Second Drop)
|
8.1' | Brock Royer | |
| 7y187d07h54m | Presque Isle [MI] |
Open boating the Presque Isle (MI)
|
< 6.0' (low) | Mark Mastalski |
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | begin increased gradient | N/A | |
| 2.0 | Nakomis Falls | III+ |   |
| 2.3 | Triple Drop | IV | |
| 3.4 | Confluence with Copper Creek | N/A | |
| 4.0 | Lepisto Falls | III+ | |
| 4.2 | Falls | III+ | |
Nokomis on the Presque Isle (MI)The main drop of Nakomis has a decent eddy above it. Strong, confident paddlers may boat all the approach and catch the eddy (to stage and run the main drop, or to portage it). Less skilled or confident paddlers may start their portage further up.
Triple Drop (Second Drop)This is the second 'crux' rapids in 'the canyon'. At some flows, many less confident or skilled paddlers will be well served to portage this sequence. At high flows, even well-experienced kayakers take to the shore.
Lepisto Falls is not that much of a drop, but can be nearly as troublesome for boaters as some of the larger falls. The river spills over a hump of bedrock which has been scoured and sculpted into some weird folds. At most 'normal' flows, there will be an exposed area of bedrock midstream where you can beach the boats to scout the drop. The river is fairly wide here, so it can be difficult to be certain of your line: Too close toward the exposed area and you may piton into a scoured back-cut in the bedrock (as a string of boaters, each following the prior one's line, did back in the days of long boats, resulting in a number of badly sprained ankles). Too far from the exposed area and you head into a wave/hole in front of an exposed rock midway down. Run between the two, and you're good. However, at the base of the sliding drop, a potentially quite 'keepy' hole (depending upon the flow) awaits.
For those not wishing to deal with the potential consequences of the route(s) just described, there is at least one good sneak. Head way to river-right, where the flow (if I recall correctly, from many, many years back) drops down a more jumbled rapids.
Dropping into the frothMy recollection is that this is rather similar (in general appearance) to Lepisto, but without the folded back-cut bedrock. The flow spills across a river-wide transverse hump of rock. Again (if I recall correctly from so many years back that I last ran this), depending on flow and precisely where you 'attack' this, you may encounter a fairly significant wave/hole.
I believe the above photo shows this drop.
reach
state
reachlink
C) Steigers Bridge to South Boundary Road (8.2 miles), Presque Isle Michigan, US (mobile)
User Comments
<br>
One: I have heard rumors of epic hikeouts and found out after I hiked in that a great trail hits
Copper Creek and brings you back to civilization. So, if for some reason you do have to get off the
river make your way to Copper Creek confluence (the creek enters the Presque about 1/2-3/4 mile
downstream of Nokomis and 1/2 mile upstream of LePisto) and walk the bank until you reach a path
and go right. It will save you hours vs. trying to use a compass and just hiking one direction out
through the woods.<br>
<br>
Two: The south boundary road bridge gauge at 7.0 (October 2005) is a medium to high level. The
Black was at 3.5 (780cfs) and didn't really drop during our time on the water. I remember a run in
2003 at 7.6 that seemed like about the same level<br>
<br>
Three: You do not need to start your portage for Nokomis at triple drop. If you decide you are not
up for running triple drop then more than likely you are going to walk Nokomis as well. However
boat the distance between the two rapids instead of walking it! In fact there is quite a nice rapid
along with a 1/4 mile of river between triple drop and Nokomis. There is a GIANT 20 boat eddy on
river left above Nokomis. This will save tons of time and energy and give you an additional fun
rapid!<br>
<br>
I hope this info helps!<br>
Have fun!<br>
<br>
~Peace~<br>
Brock