PESHTIGO RIVER, upper section (Marinette Co., WI, at Cavour)

LENGTH 25 mi., CLASS II-III, GRADIENT: 14' per mile

SEASON: Can be good in early or late spring.

PUT-IN: Hwy. 8 bridge upstream of Cavour. Other possibilities are available where several local roads cross the river including Burnt Bridge on Michigan Creek Rd. and the FR2136 Bridge.

TAKEOUT: Goodman County Park. Call 715-732-7530 for CCC cabin reservations.

GAGE: Staff gage on the upstream, river left side of the Hwy. C bridge across the Peshtigo. Kosir's Rafting, a few hundred feet east from the bridge, usually keeps track of the level 715-757-3431. There is also a new USGS gage near Wabeno installed in June 1998. 0" on the paddler's gauge corresponds to 235 cfs.

FUN FACT: Michigan Rapids and Taylor Rapids provide a challenge for kayakers, but this section is not boated as frequently as the lower section because it has fewer drops and becomes really grungy with no water. There is some good camping in the Nicolet National Forest. There are some undeveloped sites near the bridges and in other spots along the road. If you want a developed campsite with access to drinking water and a restroom try the sites in the County Parks.

SHUTTLE: From the Hwy. 8 bridge north of Cavour, drive 2.7 miles east on Hwy. 8 and turn south onto Browns Rd. (FR2132). Follow this road 3.5 miles south until it ends at Peshtigo River Rd. (FR2131). Take the left fork on Peshtigo River Rd. which heads to the southeast and parallels the river. Stay on the road for 6.9 miles until you reach Michigan Creek Rd. (FR2134) which heads south for 0.5 miles to Burnt Bridge across the Peshtigo River. This bridge serves as an alternative put-in. There is an undeveloped camp site and a trail along the river here. Continue 3.3 miles south from Burnt Bridge to FR 2136. Turn east onto FR 2136 (it becomes Benson Lake Rd. when you cross the Marinette County line) and follow it for 9.4 miles until you reach Goodman County Park Rd., which turns off to the south. Follow this road 0.3 miles to the park entrance which will be to your right. There is camping and a nice picnic area at this park. Before reaching the Goodman County Park, FR 2136 crosses the river at a bridge can also serve as a put-in for a shorter run.

The put-in at Burnt Bridge gives you the most significant rapids on this section of river although there is a fair amount of flatwater. It is about 11 miles from this bridge downstream to Goodman County Park. Michigan Rapids is near the put-in and Taylor Rapids is at the takeout.