STURGEON RIVER, GORGE SECTION

(Baraga, Co., MI, 9 mi. south of L'Anse)

LENGTH: 3.5 miles, CLASS: III, GRADIENT:

SEASON: A few weeks during spring. Conditions suitable for a late spring run sometimes exist.

PUT-IN: Just downstream of Sturgeon Falls on Sturgeon Gorge Rd. on the river right bank.

TAKEOUT: Forest road bridge just upstream of Pricket Lake.

GAGE: USGS gage on the Sturgeon River near Sidnaw.

FUN FACT: Bigwater in the U.P.

FIRST DESCENT:

SHUTTLE: First you will need to find the put-in. At the eastern edge of Sidnaw there is a road heading north called Pequet Lake Rd. Take this road north about 2 miles until you reach a Y in the road. Take the right fork onto Sturgeon Gorge Rd. which you will stay on for about 10 miles. The put-in is near the Baraga-Houghton Co. border below Sturgeon Falls. There are some rapids above the falls and an alternative put-in about a mile upstream, but there is extreme risk of misjudging the take-out above the falls or missing the must-make eddy. Use the forest road along the river right side of the river to run the shuttle.

DESCRIPTION:

Sturgeon Falls is a 25 foot waterfall and although it is possible to portage it's an unrunnable drop with a small must-make eddy. Most put in downstream because there is not much whitewater upstream. American Whitewater reported a death on this waterfall on 17 June 1997 when a recreational kayaker was unintentionally swept over the falls.

The best rapids are close to the base of the falls where the character of the river is large boulderbed rapids. These taper off as you continue downstream.