Silver,

B) 'Lower Silver': Arvon Rd to Silver Falls Park (4.2 miles)

Usual Difficulty	III-IV+(V) (may vary with level)
Length	4.2 Miles
Avg. Gradient	62 fpm
Max Gradient	136 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
SILVER RIVER NEAR L'ANSE, MI
usgs-04043150	180 - 650 cfs	III-IV+(V)	03h22m	45 cfs (rc= -0.3 )

River Description

From the putin (which will be somewhat boney at most runnable levels), one shortly comes to the first drop. A narrowing in the river harbors a deceptively tricky/sticky pair of holes. At higher levels, the eddies here will surge and boil and draw you back into the hole, so paddle hard to make sure you punch through. While safely in the eddy below, enjoy a small sidestream cascading in on the right.

Immediately below prepare to scout (river-left recommended, right is ok) as the river takes a sharp bend to the right. It drops down a confused rock jumble with a few offset holes, then falls into a channel where it is immediately directed ninety degrees to the left. A few small waves and holes lead to a small pooling up before a congested ledge. The usual route is to ferry into a tight-right hanging eddy, then set an aggressive angle to center river as you drop off into a scary looking hole backed up by rock on river right. While the move is simple, it never fails to get my heart pumping.

A few easier ledges and holes lead to the next big drop, a triple which is usually scouted (river right). While a right side sneak on the first drop is sometimes used, there are piton rocks to be aware of. The first drop (left side) is a round-house slide with a couple of holes, the second drop is a sharp, short ledge (great boof), then one slides back across to run the final sloping ledge fairly well to the left.

Not far downstream, the next triple drop is found. Scout from the left. Traditional route on the first drop is well to the right, however there is a rock at the base of the drop for a serious power-piton. A bump-and-thump alternative may be found down the center or left. Second drop is usually run tight to the left wall, with a sweet launch partway through. The final drop is a short sliding ledge into a usually fairly forgiving wave/hole. Do not miss the view back upstream, as you consider the impressive gradient you have just come down!

Quickly the gradient peters out and you have a (much too) long stretch of flatwater. One 'false-alarm' riffle punctuates the peaceful float, then take out river right when you hear the next drop. The river accelerates down through offset waves, is squeezed to the left past a bridge trestle and jumps through a couple waves into a brief pool. Flowing out of this pool, one encounters a wide jumbled rocky slide. The best line is usually to thread between a couple 'guard-rocks' well to the right, and keeping a straight boat angle to avoid being tripped up by jutting rock on the slide. A series of diagonal waves and holes follows as the action subsides.

Another (thankfully briefer) bit of flatwater brings you to the finale, Silver Falls. The upper part of this is a sweet little gorge as the river narrows significantly and accelerates through a series of holes (generally not sticky) before breaking out across shallower bedrock into a short pool. The river hooks sharply to the left. Take out fairly immediately here, before coming to the main part of Silver Falls. This drop has been run, but is very nasty looking at most water levels. Most will be content to just look at it before carrying up to the parking lot.

Driving Directions to the Put-in:
From Hwy 41 on the south side of L'Anse, a short distance south from the Hilltop Restaurant, turn east on Dynamite Hill Rd. This will twist and turn somewhat, but stay on the main road for about 4 miles. There will be an obvious "Y" in the road. Bearing to the left will put you on Arvon Rd (same Arvon Rd as used to access the Slate River but opposite end) and bring you to the take-out bridge after 1/2 mile.

Driving Directions to the Take-out:
As you head north into L'Anse, Hwy 41 will veer to the left but you wish to continue straight on Broad Street. Proceed to the main intersection in downtown L'Anse and turn right on Main St. As you leave town, this will become Skanee Rd. After about 7 miles, look on the right for a small road with sign for Silver River Falls. Turn to the right here and drive about a half mile to the park which is the take-out. This road may be impassable early season as it is not maintained. If this is the case, continue about a mile on Skanee Rd until you come to the bridge over the Silver for an alternate take-out. Using the Skanee Rd take-out adds about 1 1/2 miles of moving water, with no significant drops (past Lower Silver Falls).

Shuttle: Distance 13.2 miles, Approximate Time (each way): 27 minutes

View Larger Map

For additional description, see Upper Midwest PaddleGuide

For additional photos, see Midwest River Inventory

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Click here for a large pdf article (872k) from the AW Journal, way back in 1981! (You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader for pdf format items.)

In addition to this reach, the article also describes the following:
Michigan's
Upper Presque Isle,
Lower Presque Isle,
Middle Black,
Lower Black,
Upper Silver,
Falls, and
Rock,
and Wisconsin's
Lower Brunsweiler,
Montreal, W.Fk., and
Montreal Canyon.

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