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| RIVER: | Pike River, N.Branch, Old Mine section |
| LOCATION: | Marinette County, near Amberg. |
| PUT-IN: | French Road (Town Corner Lake Road) |
| TAKE-OUT: | Dave's Falls Park |
| ALT.TAKE-OUT: | Veterans Park -or- Old roadway and bridge at confluence of N.&S.Branches |
| SHUTTLE: | From Dave's Falls County Park, turn left (N) on U.S.141 3.5 mi. to French Road
(It is marked as Town Corner Lake Road), left (W) 0.2 mi to the river. ALT. TAKE-outs on CTH.V and Dow Dam Road are found respectively going south or north out of "down town" Amberg. |
| DIST: | 8.0 (6.5) (5.5) miles |
| TIME: | 3.5 (3.0) (2.5) hours |
| CLASS: | I-III |
| CHARACTER: | Flat water and technical rapids (pool/drop). |
| GAUGE: | U.S.G.S. gauge (after confluence with S.Branch); min=?, opt=?, high=?
Probably needs the gauge at Hwy.141 bridge to be 16" or better to be entertaining. |
| SEASON: | Generally runnable in spring and early summer or rainy periods. |
| ANALYSIS: | (Note: data for combined flow of N.Branch and S.Branch)
Min.=70 cfs; 90%=100 cfs; 10%=370 cfs; Max.=2130 cfs; 10/90=3.7 > 300 cfs = 54 days/yr, 41/41yrs > 600 cfs = 11 days/yr, 37/41yrs > 900 cfs = 2 days/yr, 21/41yrs > 1,200 cfs = 1 day/yr, 8/41yrs |
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Note: This is not contiguous with the previous sections. The intervening stretch is mostly flat with many snags and unmemorable scenery.
After a mile of flat flowing water you'll encounter Chipmunk Rapids. An interesting side hike may be taken at the 'skree piles', where an old quarry pit and spectacular cliffs exists just off the left bank. The rim of the quarry is covered with blueberry bushes, a treat if you should be so fortunate to be able to catch this run with enough water when they are ripe (around the Fourth of July). Caution should be used in all of the rapids after this point, since there are huge timbers with large (~6") spikes in many places. Generally they form islands, or are in otherwise unrunnable channels, but be forewarned -- stay away from timbers! Also, as with other sections of northern rivers, any time you're off the river be VERY watchful for poison ivy. It is everywhere! If continuing beyond the confluence (the take-out for a shorter trip), the river becomes wider with the increased flow from the other branch, and additional easy boulder bed rapids will be encountered until you reach Dave's Falls. Take out just beyond the railroad bridge as the river turns sharply right and you hear the first of the falls. Scouting may be done from the island or the shores. There is a 5-6' falls with a potentially sticky hole, and a large recovery pool. Just beyond, a foot-bridge crosses the river. Take out river right before Dave's Falls. See Big South Falls, South Branch Pike River for additional description and photos of these falls. |