LITTLE CARP (Gogebic Co., MI, in Porcupine Mountain State Park)

LENGTH: 8 mi., CLASS II-III (IV), GRADIENT:

SEASON: A week or two in early spring.

PUT-IN: South Boundary Rd. in Porcupine Mountain State Park near Beaver Creek.

TAKEOUT: Presque Isle Parking Area in Porcupine Mountain State Park.

GAGE: No level of water would make this run suitable.

FUN FACT: The worst run in the UP.

FIRST DESCENT: Fred Young and a group of Hoofers in the mid 70's

SHUTTLE: Take South Boundary Rd. and head west from the put-in to the Presque Isle Parking area in Porcupine Mountain State Park. You will need to purchase a parking sticker. If you do not want to paddle on Lake Superior you can always arrange a motor boat shuttle. Legend has it that Fred Young used a motor boat shuttle on the first descent trip.

This run has potential but we would still rate it as the absolute worst kayaking run we have ever been on. Some of the drops are nice, but the strainers only get worse as you get further from the put-in. At one point we probably hiked along the river for over a mile without finding more than a 50 yard stretch free of strainers. So if you don't mind hiking with your boat for miles through the forest with the knowledge that only a few drops may be clean, you just might get into this run, but otherwise stay far away. And did we mention that after you get to the mouth of the river you still have a 4 mile paddle on Lake Superior to the closest road at the mouth of the Presque Isle.