Canoeing on the Black, Presque Isle, and Montreal Rivers

Extreme whitewater paddlers travel to Gogebic County to canoe or kayak the last miles of the Presque Isle River. It's considered perhaps the Midwest's most challenging whitewater river, rated for only the most experienced and safety-minded whitewater paddlers. For a vivid idea of the Presque Isle's challenges for pretty experienced canoeists, see "Canoeing Michigan's Wildest River," a chapter in Jerry Dennis's most engaging fishing autobiography, A Place on the Water: An Angler's Reflections on Home.
In his recently revised and updated Canoeing Michigan Rivers, Jerry details and maps trips on four rivers from Ironwood to near the Lake Gogebic area. Water levels on these short rivers dwindle to a trickle in summer, depending on rainfall, so May is the best paddling month, Dennis writes.
There are no canoe liveries on rivers in this part of Michigan, and it's not necessarily easy to get information about water levels at any given time. Two possible info sources about water levels are the Trek & Trail outdoors store (906-932-5858) and Black Bear Sports (906-932-5253),both in Ironwood. Their proprietors are also fishing guides. You could also try the kayak rental and guide service now at the pro shop of Whitecap Mountain Resort. Call (800) 933-7669 or (715) 561-2227. Whitecap is just north of Upson, Wisconsin, 13 miles west of Ironwood. 2005 rental rates: $40/day, including life jackets. Lessons are available at the resort. Car-top carriers are not for rent, so you would need a truck to transport the kayaks. Though rented kayaks can be taken on whitewater rivers, paddlers should not attempt rivers beyond their paddling ability. We recommend following Jerry Dennis's precautions.
Here are the river trips detailed in Canoeing Michigan Rivers.

• The lower Montreal River from U.S. 2 to County Road 505 (the road by Little Girl's Point). Skill level: II-III. "The final 3.5-mile section above Lake Superior is an unforgettable, nearly continuous run of Class I-III rapids through a deep gorge in remote, seldom-visited country," Jerry says. One segment an estimated 3 _ to 5 _ hours. The second 2-3 hours. The section below Saxon Falls is most likely to be runnable in late summer. Very difficult portage at Saxon Falls.
  
• The Black River from well south of Ramsay to just north of Chippewa Falls and Copper Peak. Skill level II-III. The lower Black, writes Jerry, is "renowned as one of Michigan's finest whitewater rivers" and a National Wild and Scenic River. . . subject to extreme flow fluctuations." Some whitewater portions are suitable for paddlers with only basic paddling skills. There's a peaceful portion from Blackjack Ski Resort's covered bridge to the Narrows Roadside Park, suitable for most paddlers, but you have to know where to take out to avoid being swept down a rapids.
  
• The Presque Isle River from M-28 bridge to South Boundary Road (17.5 miles). Skill level: III-IV. Several difficult portages. See above.
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