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The action on Section IV begins with Sullivan Falls. A few minor riffles and waves precede the main drop. A small side channel branches to the right (containing a lesser drop). The river-left side of Sullivan (pictured above left) has a sloping, broken lip. The river-right stays higher and drops off more sharply. While it all drops somewhat shallow, it is generally not a problem. A sweet pocket-wave just downstream allows great surfs and spins at most water-levels. Be watchful for oncoming rafts flopping over the falls and interrupting your ride. Problems have arisen in the past due to a perception that kayakers were intimidating rafters here, and somehow chasing away business from a refreshment stand on shore at this location.
Next up is Ducknest. Upper Ducknest is a curving slide with a few large, offset holes. At high water there is a bit of a 'sneak' by staying further left, but at low-to-moderate levels the boatable flow is generally well to river-right. Fairly tight to the right wall, a playable hole exists at the base of this drop. A brief pool precedes Lower Ducknest. The river curves to the right through a series of waves and holes before necking-down between some large rock and pushing up Dave's Wave (pictured from river-right in photo above right). The pool below becomes a shallow boulder-garden fairly quickly, making a quick roll mandatory here for anyone who flips (running or playing this drop). This area will be brutal to anyone upside-down or out of their boat. |
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A brief flatwater paddle precedes a right-hand bend in the river, where most rafters (and many kayaker's as well) beach on river left for a break where another major refreshment stop exists. The river drops through a couple glassy upper waves before a more significant lege/wave, Tea Kettle. Many older (long, pointy nosed) boats were 'remodeled' here as boaters went for 'enders' (as shown above left) and had the bow of the boat slammed hard against the bedrock.
After a brief bit of slackwater, the flow is funnelled by splines of rock extending diagonally from shore. The usual line is pretty much down the middle to avoid 'falling off' the odd diagonal ledge on river-left, or mashing into shallow boulders and bedrock at the end of the drop on river-right. (A view from well downstream appears above right.) |
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Another view of the bottom of Tea Kettle is seen above left. (Some people also refer to this as Upper Dells.)
Not far downstream, one reaches Wolf River Dells. The entrance drop (shown above right) consists of two ledges which can cause less-aggressive paddlers some problems. A 'sneak' is available well to river-right. |
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Another view of the entrance drop, looking down into the heart of the Dells, appears above left.
In the 'throat' of the Dells (barely discernable center-left of left frame, and just off foreground right of right frame) lies a sweet wave, which can be difficult to catch for a surf. Vertical walls of rock funnel water downstream through a couple additional waves (which better boaters may also be able to make some play of), before the walls open up into a large pool below. Mid-to-late summer boaters are likely to be 'greeted' here by swarms of biting flies. |
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The 'grand finale' to the run is Big Smokey Falls. A large island splits the flow. Those who do not wish to run the falls may go to the left, making certain to get out before the footbridge. This channel terminates in a large falls filled with huge boulders (and usually large timbers). Recently, a rafter died attempting to run this falls, and it took much time and heroic efforts to extract the body.
The right channel swings to the right to drop over a small sloping ledge at the head of the island. As it swings back to the left, the bedrock begins to slope away, leading through a couple of pocket waves which (anywhere else) would provide sweet surf opportunities. Few bother to pause, as the flow accelerates, sweeping into two large diagonal waves, and jumping off a final 'kicker' into the final pool (shown above). Paddle across the pool (below the base of the deadly left-channel falls) to take out at a gravel boat ramp at river left. |