Canoeing the Pine River,
Wisconsin
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Expert paddler Mike Svob
has been canoeing and kayaking the rivers of the Midwest for 30 years.
He paddled more than a thousand miles to complete these books. Below
are brief descriptions of the canoe trips that Mike goes into detail
with in his books with maps. The maps are very useful, showing rapids,
take in and take out points and other things of interest. |
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Pine 1-Hwy.55
to Hwy. 139-Forest and Florence County-15.5
miles. This is a small river in a
wild environment, mingling quiet stretchhes
with ocasional rapids. Riverside camping
is permitted on National Forest land.
Water levels are usually best in April,
May and early June. Put in downstream
left at the Hwy. 55 bridge. There
is room to park several cars on the
shoulder. The river is only 30 feet
wide here. For the first few miles
the moderate current flows through
a winding series of constrictions
with easy riffles and Class I rapids.
After you see the access from Lotto
Road on the rightthere are many riffles
and Class I-II rapids. Two of the
rapids have names. Downstream from
the mouth of Kingstone Creek and 10
miles from put in is a short but tricky
Class II rapids called Dam Rapids
because it is formed by the remnants
of an old logging dam. The right side
is the best to run this rapids.The
two brief pitches of the CCC Camp
Rapids, Class I-II occur 1 1/4 miles
after Dam Rapids.. The rest of this
stretch is mainly flatwater.. Take
out downstream left at the Hwy. 139
bridge.
Pine 2-Hwy.
139 to Goodman Grade-Florence County-17
miles. This part is winding, wooded,
and wild, with two difficult rapids.
Water levels are best in the spring..
Put in downstream left at Hwy. 139.
The first few miles provide beautiful
wilderness paddling.. At 7.4 miles
is the access for Chipmunk Rapids
Campground. At 11 miles shortly after
a creek enters at the right Snake
Tail Rapids begins. Get out on the
left to scout and perhaps portage
this drop. The first pitch, about
150 yards long is the most difficult,
a solid Class II series of ledges
with big boulders to avoid.. Two short
pitches follow. After this there are
a few miles of flatwater with riffles
and easy rapids. At 16 miles is Class
III Meyers Falls. There is a large
island at this point. Take out on
the right at least a few hundred yards
upstream from the falls to scout or
portage. Quietwater and small islands
follow the falls for the rest of the
way out.. Take out on river leftat
Goodman Grade, the remnant of an old
logging railroad.(easy to miss)
Pine 3-Goodman
Grade to Hwy. 101.-Florence County-8.8
miles. This is a stretch of Class
I-II rapids, followed by a quiet run
through woodlands and swamps. About
a mile downstream Bull Falls comes
immediately after a left hand turn.
You will hear it before you see it.
The first pitch of the falls is the
most difficult. You may want to portage
that part. A mile of continuous Class
I-II boulder gardens follows. At 3.8
miles Seven Mile Creek enters from
the left. The Bessie Babbet Lake Outlet
enters from the left at 5.1 miles.
The next section has many small islands.
Pick the main channel between the
islands and look out for deadfall.
Take out at the Hwy. 101 bridge upstream
right.