Carp (Marquette), Michigan, US

A) 'Upper': Carp Lake dam to CR553 (Marquette Mtn.) (2.5 miles)

Drop 1 Upper Carp: Marquette, MI

Drop 1 Upper Carp: Marquette, MI
Photo of Evan St. Peter taken 10/15/02

River Description

Putting in below a dam, where the entire flow of the river is diverted through a pipe and spews forth to drop 50' (+/-) into the channel below, is definitely a unique setting. Action starts quickly with a blind zig-zag with mixed boulder-bed, wrapping waves, and a couple bedrock intrusions. The channel narrows and splits, and snags and bushwhacking will likely be encountered. The pace quickly builds to reach a nasty sequence of falls.

There is no obvious indicator that one is approaching the first falls, just continous whitewater winding through the woods, so be on your toes. Some may choose to run, but (due to the gradient and the wood it has always contained in the most inopportune locations) most will likely portage about a half mile of river. (River left may be best for good view of the falls. While 'first timers' may wish to stay close to the river to view the action they are bypassing, the easiest portage is to climb well up the hill to a path leading to a dirt(sand) road. Proceed downstream to another small path which leads back to the river below the falls. You miss the views, but you skip some nasty bushwhacking and repeated up-and-down hill climbs.)

For those who choose to stay on (or close to) the river, there are several very runnable falls (for advanced paddlers). The first set of falls begins with about a 10ft slide. Run down the center because the upper portion of the drop is choked with wood on the far right and left. About 50 yards downsteam starts a series of ledges that culminates in a 7-8ft ledge that is pure bliss to run. The ledge can be run nearly anywhere, but right-of-center offers the most height and fun.

Be very careful right after this ledge because less than 20 yards downstream, and around a small bend, is a 25ft class V+ drop. I have only speculated about lines on this drop. There is only a small pool seperating it from the next 20ft stair step drop. I have put-in below the upper drop to run either side of this drop. The right side is a true stair step that ends up being a very clean line despite how it looks. The far left side is a twisting right hook that leads to the bottom step. I totally submerged a Dagger Freefall on the bottom step on this line -- SWEET. This step is horseshoe shaped and will create a sticky hole at higher flows.

Below here the gradient starts to mellow a little. About an 1/8 of a mile downstream one will encounter another ledge. This should be run left of center, down a twisted double-step, and should be scouted. There is a large sharp rock jutting out of the water just right of center that could be very dangerous. About a 1/4 mile farther you will see Morgan Creek falls on the left. Take out and run this drop because it is just a fun slide into a shallow pool.

NOTE: It doesn't take much rain to get this stretch of river pumping and can likely provide year around creeking. One can easily carry into the falls and take out at Morgan Creek for a short but very fun run.

Be always on the watch for strainers. This river seldom gets a chance to 'flush' wood out, since the dam and 'pipe' configuration at the put-in virtually eliminate normal peaking flows and flooding. The section of braided channel immediately upstream of Cty 553 (and Marquette Mountain Ski Area) is the worst; There is no good passage through here. Take-out river right as soon as the channels split and you see the ski area. Carry 100 yards to the parking lot.

Many boaters will wish to continue the run to the lake. See Lower Carp for that reach. From the end of the 'falls' section of the upper run (the likely portage), to the end of the gradient on the lower run, there is almost three miles of river at 133FPM, with no 'big drops', just continuous (interrupted only by the aforementioned braided snag-filled portage at CR553) intimate technical boating!

The falls are very attractive when not seen from a boating perspective. To view them, turn west on the dirt road about 0.2 miles north of the Cty 553 bridge over the Carp and drive 1.5 miles to a small pull-off where the penstock for the abandoned hydro project is visible. Cross the creek and walk uphill (SE) along the penstock for about a third of a mile and then cut left through the woods. The falls should be audible from this point. The double drop is the largest of the sequence but there are two smaller ones upstream a short distance.