Peshtigo, |
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| Usual Difficulty | II-III+ (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 5.3 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 36 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 84 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PESHTIGO RIVER NEAR WABENO, WI | ||||
| usgs-04067958 | 250 - 1020 cfs | III-IV | 05h32m | 214 cfs (rc= -0.2 ) |
This stretch has been billed as "the midwest's longest continuous whitewater," a bit of
advertising hyperbole which may be true only with the additional qualifier of being runnable most
of the summer, and thereby served by commercial rafting enterprises.
A 2.3 mile mostly flat-but-flowing access paddle (with a few 'warm-up' rapids), and a 1.0 mile
flat paddle-out, give you access to 2.0 miles of good gradient and rapids.
The major drops are named (with lack of imagination) "1st drop", "2nd drop", "3rd drop", "Five
Foot Falls", "Horserace", and "S-curve".
Additionally of 'note' is a sweet little ender spot (well, stalls and squirts in modern
playboats) on river-right between 2nd drop and 3rd drop.
The take-out is a W.P.S.Landing which is a half-mile south of CTH.C.
For additional description, see Upper
Midwest PaddleGuide
For additional photos, see Midwest River Inventory
A USGS gauge and paddler's gauge both exist at the Hwy.C bridge. A reading of 4.0' on the USGS gauge equates to 0" on the paddler's gauge on Hwy.C bridge. All readings beyond that are direct linear correlation, with conversion from tenths being required.
I.E., (USGS - 4.0') * 12 = Paddler's Gauge.
E.G., If USGS reads 5.15': subtract 4', getting 1.15'. Now multiply by 12 to get 13.8" (or round up to 14") as the Hwy.C bridge gauge reading.
Min(230 cfs, 0") and Max(1130 cfs, 20") are estimates for 'best' runnability.
While the reach can be paddled at levels below 230cfs (4.0' on USGS gauge, or 'zero' on the paddlers gauge) it will be increasingly scrapey. (We are aware of runs down to -4" or so.)
At levels above the 'suggested maximum', the drops on this run will get big and continuous. Experienced boaters will certainly enjoy runs above the listed "maximum", but caution is urged. In truth, the river is runnable at all historic high levels.
Gauge Data (using data from 1998-06-01 through 2008-08-24):
| Drainage area at gauge | 447 sq.mi. |
| Elevation at gauge | 980 feet |
| Minimum mean daily flow for record period | 102 cfs (Aug.18, 2007) |
| Maximum mean daily flow for record period | 2340 cfs (Apr.17+18, 2002) |
| 10% of time flow exceeds | 614 cfs |
| 90% of time flow exceeds | 162 cfs |
| 10/90 Ratio | 3.79 |
| Ave.runnable days/year | 192 (53%) |
The 10/90 of 3.79 confirms that this river has what would be considered relatively uniform flow (which is why it is runnable most of the year, and will sustain the rafting businesses in the area).
Approximate stage/gauge correlations (subject to periodic adjustment):
4.00 = 0" = 257 cfs
4.25 = 3" = 347 cfs
4.50 = 6" = 460 cfs
4.75 = 9" = 581 cfs
5.00 = 12" = 714 cfs
5.25 = 15" = 861 cfs
5.50 = 18" =1020 cfs
5.75 = 21" =1180 cfs
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PESHTIGO RIVER NEAR WABENO, WI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| usgs-04067958 | 250 - 1020 cfs | III-IV | 05h32m | 214 cfs (rc= -0.2 ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peshtigo Roaring Rapids [wi] |
Horserace Rapids on the beautiful Peshtigo
|
n/a | bob heckler | |
| Peshtigo [WI] |
Five Foot Falls
|
12" | Jesse Becker | |
| 4y47d14h30m | Peshtigo [WI] |
1st drop hole
|
12" | Jesse Becker |
| 6y183d14h30m | pestigo river [wi] |
surfing on the peshtigo
|
n/a | steve snyder |
| 6y231d14h30m | Peshtigo [WI] |
Horserace
|
15" (at Kosir's) | Mark Mastalski |
| 6y231d14h30m | Peshtigo [WI] |
Surfing at 2nd Drop
|
15" @ Kosir's | Mark Mastalski |
| 7y192d14h30m | Peshtigo [WI] |
WI, Peshtigo, First Drop on the Roaring Rapids.
|
n/a | Mark Mastalski |
| > 10 years | Peshtigo [WI] |
2nd Drop Stubby's
|
850 cfs/~13" | Rob Smage |
| > 10 years | Peshtigo [WI] |
WI, Peshtigo, Second Drop
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
| > 10 years | Peshtigo [WI] |
WI, Peshtigo, Third Drop
|
n/a | Thomas O'Keefe |
No Comments
Add a Comment| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Put-in |  | |
| 2.3 | First Drop | III+ |   |
| 2.4 | Second Drop | III | |
| 2.4 | Third Drop | III | |
| 2.8 | Five Foot Falls | III | |
| 3.4 | Horserace Rapids | III+ | |
| 3.8 | S-Curve | III | |
| 5.3 | Take-out |  |
Put-in is from the end of Farmdam Lane, and is actually on a tributary (Otter Creek) just before its confluence with the Peshtigo. (While driving to here, make sure to take the left fork and drive to the end of the lane. Do not stop or put in at the right fork when you may first see the river. This area is reserved for rafting outfitters.)
The mostly flat (with minor rock-garden rips) 2.3 mile access paddle brings you to a power line crossing overhead, which is your signal that "First Drop" is imminent. Beginner/Intermediate boaters will probably want to scout the drop, while more experienced boaters will be able to boat-scout and hit their line. At higher flows, a 'curler' in this drop flips rafters by the droves. Many folks carry up to re-run this drop, and (again, at moderate-to-high flows) people are known to 'body surf' the drop, getting 'stuffed' by the curler, to pop up well downstream. Do be aware that there are some large boulders in the outrun.
Some of the best surfs, spins, and blasting can be done on "Second Drop".
Back-to-back holes mark this drop. At low-to-moderate levels, they can provide some decent play. At higher levels, they can get VERY sticky, and those who fail to 'punch' them (or avoid them) will provide entertainment to others.
How anyone could measure this drop at five feet is beyond me. In any event, the traditional line is down a twisting chute, fairly well over to river left. Currents carom off a rock wall on shore, twisting back toward the main flow (center river) and tripping through a couple of holes. A straightforward line right down center river is possible, as the river mostly just slides down rock. Between those two lines the drop is more vertical, but it lands on fairly shallow rock.
The longest, most continuous rapids on the river -- Horserace Rapids. Many beginner/intermediate boaters will be well served to scout this drop (usually from river-right). A lead-in of easy waves progresses to a couple of significant holes. At moderate-to-high flows, eddies are surging, swirling, boiling affairs. A pair of offset holes precedes the final hurrah, "Jerry's Chute". Be aware that the outflow and eddy below Jerry's contains MUCH shallow rock. If you are upside-down or out of your boat, this can be BRUTAL!!! Roll fast, or tuck up (kiss your deck!) to avoid close encounters of the worst kind.
The final named drop is S-Curve. Flow is wraps hard to the left, across a submerged ledge, and through a good hole. Old-school boaters delighted in doing 'enders' here to their hearts content.
Downstream, there is another bit of boulder-bed rapids before the gradient peters out completely, leaving a totally flatwater paddle to the take-out.
After the gradient peters-out below S-Curve, you have to suffer a mile of flatwater (passing Hwy.C midway through) to get to the take-out. Private boaters in general should not take out at Hwy.C unless they are camped at Kosirs Resort.
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Peshtigo E) Roaring Rapids: Otter Ck to W.P.S. Landing (5.3 miles) (mobile)
