Copper Creek, MI

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logging road to Presque Isle (4.0 miles)

Class II-IV
4 Miles
Avg Gradient 66 fpm
Max Gradient 98 fpm


River Description

Though this small creek was first run many years back, it has not seen many paddlers since owing to the "remote" put-in. This put-in is by way of an unmarked logging road about 3.2 miles south of the Porcupine Mountains State Park off Cty 519, just south of where 519 crosses the headwaters of Sand Island Creek. Depending on seasonal conditions, it is a drive or walk of 1.1 miles east on this road to the creek.

Soon after putting on, there is a short sequence of small ledges but other than this, the creek is mostly a float through a pretty valley for the first two and a quarter miles. It is possible to avoid this by carrying through the woods for about a mile to start further down but why walk when you can ride? Following a bend to the left, one encounters the first of the three named falls that drew paddlers here in the first place. The three falls as encountered are; Ogima Falls, Ogimakwe Falls, and Abinodji Falls. All three are varied pitch bedrock slides that rate from class III to IV at most flows. These are followed by a little over a mile of continuous class II-II+ water consisting of boulder bed interspersed with small ledges which runs down to the confluence with the Presque Isle

Copper Creek runs into the Presque Isle below the canyon but one still has a run of part of the fast, wavey "Conglomerate Staircase" section and the four ledge sequence around Lepisto Falls. If Copper Creek is running, this will likely be at a higher flow for the Presque but, with a little caution, this can be great fun. An intimate creek run for openers followed by a big water play run offers the best of both worlds. Now if it would only happen more often when it's warm! Take-out is at South Boundary Rd bridge in Porcupine Mountains State Park.

For additional description, see
Upper Midwest PaddleGuide


StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2004-04-25 22:28:53

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Gauge Description:

Visual at put-in. Since run entails paddle-out on the Presque Isle, see gauging requirements for that reach. In general, this is a small creek which will require peak spring melt and/or rains.

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User Comments

2005-11-16 11:28:00 (1061 days ago)
Rob SmageDetails
From Brock Royer:<br /> <br /> &quot;I ran this solo this year and found that if you hike in the logging trail -- I am not sure how to explain which one it is other than it the only one I know that has a stop sign, and 50 feet in there are places to park with a gate across the road. Go around the fence and hike this road, keeping to the right as it forks until you come to the creek. Put in there and viola ... you have saved yourself tons of time!<br /> <br /> It is somewhat continuous with few eddies, but even when the Presque is at VERY high water you could probably stand up in the middle of [this creek] at just about any point. Definitely fun if you are not up for hitting the [Presque Isle] gorge at high water. The rest of the Presque [which you will do as the run-out for this creek] is a blast at this level!&quot;
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