PIKE RIVER (Marinette Co., WI, 25 mi. northwest of Marinette, WI)

LENGTH 3 mi., CLASS II(III), GRADIENT: 18' per mile

SEASON: Almost always good for a summer run although it can get a little low.

PUT-IN: Co. Hwy. K bridge. Take Hwy. 141 less than a mile south from Amberg and turn east onto Co. Hwy. K. Take this road 3.5 miles to the river. The put-in is on river left just upstream of the bridge. There is a small public parking area.

TAKEOUT: Barker Rd. Bridge. The takeout is just downstream on river left after the last set of rapids where the road comes close to the river.

GAGE: This section is nearly always runnable although you may scrape some rocks when the water gets low. You can make a visual check of the river at the takeout. Look at the rapids downstream of the bridge near the takeout.

FUN FACT: A good beginner run except for Yellow Bridge Rapids.

SHUTTLE: From the put-in, drive 1 mile east on Co. Hwy. K and then turn south on Pike River Rd. Follow this road 2.5 miles south to the takeout which is a small parking area.

This river has been the standard beginner run for several generations of Hoofers. The river starts out with some good warmup rapids and a few nice pools for rolling practice. The first major rapid is Horshoe Falls which is generally worth scouting for beginners. You can recognize it by the distinct horizon line at the end of a calm pool. The river pours over a U-shaped ledge creating a rather sticky hole. It is a good spot for playboating but beware at higher water levels.

The most challenging rapid comes at the end of the run just after you pass under the Barker Rd. Bridge which at one time was a yellow bridge. This marks the start of Yellow Bridge Rapid. You can take out for scouting on river left once you pass under the bridge. Make sure you stop in to ask permission to scout at the house that overlooks the rapid. Their driveway is on the south side of Barker Rd. just west of the bridge. We usually stop in when we are doing the shuttle. In the past these people have hassled boaters who don't ask permission to scout.

The drop is a series of two pitches. The first pitch can is usually run towards the center although there are a couple possible routes. The second pitch should be run towards river right. A side curler forms along the right side of the main tongue which has flipped many boaters. Hang on and execute a quick roll if you flip because you can get a little banged up on the swim through the rapids below. Beware of the grungy river bottom on river left of the second pitch. Some boaters have been seriously injured when they drifed off to the left. The run ends with the last sequence of rapids just below this drop.