Rat
A) Bear Creek to Valley Lake Road/FR2141 (7 mi.) ***Likely access concerns***
| Difficulty | II |
| Length | 6.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 12 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | January 27, 2025 |
River Description
This is an upper reach of a tributary of the Peshtigo. USGS lists a one-time sampling site near Blackwell and lists drainage at that site as 47 square miles, which should be sufficient to create runnable flows at least a good handful of days a year. There are a good number of rapids marked on topo maps. Gradient is not high, so it's likely to entail a fair amount of flatwater paddling. Satellite view appears to show adequate size and (generally, best I can tell) a fairly open (unobstructed) stream. Alternate access points may be necessary, making longer (or possibly shorter) trips.
On some maps, this appears to be marked as entirely (or at least mostly) within Potowotomi Indian Reservation, which may affect legality of access.
So . . . anyone ever explore this reach? Add a comment or report of your findings! If it was not worth it save someone the brutality of the exploration, or (if it was) let folks know about a worthwhile 'discovery'!
River Features
CTH.H: Possible alternate access
If the listed access is not feasible (due to road not being accessible , parking being unavailable, or river access being awkward), it may be necessary to start much further upstream.
Access appears good at CTH.H, but this nearly doubles the length of the trip, adding virtually no rapids.
Put In: 70.2 square miles
Our suggested put-in is from a double-track road off of Rat River Road.
If this is accessible, you will put-in on Bear Creek (7.62 Sq.Mi. at this point), and paddle about 1/3rd of a mile to the Rat River. Drainage at this confluence is 70.2 square miles.
If this double-track is not accessible, it may be possible to access Bear Creek from Bear Creek Road (45.50643 -88.52356), however parking looks tenuous, it more than doubles the length of Bear Creek that you paddle, and (more importantly) that ~1/3rd mile stretch appears highly likely to have multiple snags which are likely portages. You'd have to have a look and make that call.
Take Out: Valley Lake Road / FR2141
You may take out at Valley Lake Road bridge, but it appears there is a bit of rapids around the corner.
To take advantage of that, park 1/3rd mile north of the bridge, where the 'Jeep Trail' junctions with Valley Lake Road.
On the water (after the bridge), as soon as the rock-garden rapids ends, before the river takes a sharp right-bend, get out river-left and head due-west to the road.
If this jeep trail is passable (with your vehicles), this is the shortest shuttle route to our listed put-in: ~4.6 miles, ~11 minutes.
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