Canoeing the Pine River, Wisconsin

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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.