This river is the US/Canadian border. The put-in is on tribal land (of the Grand Portage band Ojibway) and may be disputed. (Recommend putting in 150 yards downstream of former bridge, to reduce possible conflicts with property owner.) Portage (for all mortal boaters) at Pigeon Falls. Take out is near customs station. Jason Stingl provides (2005-07-01):There is a waterfall on the Pigeon that is accessable from the Canadian side. I think it is called Middle Falls. It is about 15 feet or so and kind of a horse shoe shaped drop. There is a hole upstream of the drop about 200 yards that might be fun in a playboat if you weren't too worried about the drop below (there is a rock-bar downsteam of the hole so it would be pretty safe). Not sure what level it comes in at. I think I ran it around 1500 cfs. Probably a class IV.
Satellite view shows the river narrows considerably here creating a brief intense rapids.
This falls is listed at 20'. Satellite view appears to show three separate pitches or features. The upper has the river squeezed through a center-slot. The middle is a much-lesser ledge which (reportedly, at some flows) forms a playable wave. The final pitch appears it may be labeled as 'Little Falls'. Jason Stingl provides (2005-07-01): There is a waterfall on the Pigeon that is accessible from the Canadian side. I think it is called Middle Falls. It is about 15 feet or so and kind of a horse shoe shaped drop. There is a hole upstream of the drop about 200 yards that might be fun in a playboat if you weren't too worried about the drop below (there is a rock-bar downstream of the hole so it would be pretty safe). Not sure what level it comes in at. I think I ran it around 1500 cfs. Probably a class IV. Further info and pictures may be found at Go Waterfalling.
Satellite view appears to show low-grade boulder-bed beginning at a sharp left-bend, leading to a narrowing (likely to be fairly good stuff!), and some trailing boulderbed.
This is listed as the highest falls in Minnesota, with a height (varyingly stated) from 120-150'. Satellite view appears to show a large falls, followed (perhaps) by a short sequence of smaller falls or rapids. Further info and pictures may be found at Go Waterfalling.
Min/Max mostly set as indicator for more northern of 'North Shore' runs. Jason Stingl provides (2005-07-01): There is a very good correlation to the rivers on the north shore near Grand Marais and the gauge on the Pigeon. When the Pigeon river is over 1000 that *might* indicate (at least some of) the North Shore is running. If the Pigeon is at 1500 cfs or more the North Shore *is* running. Gauge/flow analysis: Drainage area at gauge: 609 sq.mi. Minimum mean daily flow during gauge period: 1 cfs (1977.01.15) 90% of time flow exceeds: 82 cfs 10% of time flow exceeds: 1,280 cfs Maximum mean daily flow during gauge period: 10,700 cfs (1934.05.05) 10/90 ratio: 15.6 ('flashy-ness': under 3 is fairly steady, over 10 is quite 'flashy')
Permits are not required for this reach.
48.0015983581543,-89.5867004394531
48.0103988647461,-89.5867004394531
NA
We have no additional detail on this route. Use the map below to calculate how to arrive to the main town from your zipcode.
Upload Something!
If someone gets hurt on a river, or you read about a whitewater-related injury, please report it to American Whitewater. Don't worry about multiple submissions from other witnesses, as our safety editors will turn multiple witness reports into a single unified accident report.
Log into the American Whitewater website and you can contribute to river descriptions, flow and access tips, and maps associated with runs you've done. You can even add new runs to the inventory!
