French
Cty 33 to Ryan Rd (2.2 miles)
| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 1.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 155 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 5, 2009 |
River Description
(Our thanks to Jesse Kodadek for this information.)
We ran this stretch twice the weekend of April 13/14 2002. In approximately two miles, there are at least two slides around twenty feet; many, many ledges from 3-6 feet; a 10 foot slide that piles into the wall on the left 2/3 of the creek; a 150 yard section of very continuous tough class IV with potential pitons (3 in 3 different places in our group) and some sticky holes; and a final steep boulder jumble just above the take-out bridge.
A sweet run...scouting recommended when horizon lines appear, our first run took about 1.5 hours, but we did our second run in 18 minutes, after running the Amity that morning.
Be very wary of wood around corners.
I have heard of landowner disputes if you take out on the river left at the bridge..I am not sure of the legalities of MN highway easements, so take out on the right bank just below the bridge to minimize potential conflict.
River Features
Put In
Initial Sequence
Action starts real soon from the put-in, with a couple rocky drops. A brief respite is followed up with a couple more good drops not a quarter-mile further down.
Rock-dikes
There appears to be two rock-dikes back-to-back, with a third just a bit downstream, and maybe a fourth and fifth just down from that (still within the first half-mile of river).
Zig-zag
After a brief slackening of action, the river first takes a broad zig-zag (right, then back left), then a very quick zig-zag, encountering a couple brief drops as it does so. Additional brief drops continue to be scattered randomly downstream.
Nice Sequence
After passing a number of houses, the river takes a left bend, and encounters a particularly nice (if brief) sequence of drops.
Old North Shore Road/50
Expect a quick fun drop as the river heads toward/under Old North Shore Road.
Rapids
Some fine action as you pass between backyards before Hwy.61.
French River Fish Hatchery Dam
Take Out
USGS sampling site
A USGS sampling site at this location lists drainage area of 18 square miles. (This is just less than the Stewart at 20 sq.mi. and just more than the Amity at 16 sq.mi.)