Split Rock
Superior Hiking Trail to Hwy 61 (2.9 miles)
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 1.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 132 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 16, 2022 |
River Description
Land around both East Branch and West Branch is posted against trespass. Some boaters on the East Branch have encountered a gun toting land owner with an ATV who has been known to escort groups until they are beyond his property.
As a result, access is often via carrying/dragging up a good trail (starting about a quarter mile the other side of the river/bridge from the wayside/parking on Hwy.61). It is a long, sometimes strenuous hike, but once you see the river, you'll realize why most think it's worth it.
When doing this trail, put-in above a great sliding, twisting drop where the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) used to cross the river. That footbridge was washed out in a flood, but the bridge footings are still evident, and a sign directs hikers to a new footbridge a half mile upstream. (Spring of 2001, that was also swept off its footings. How many rebuilds until they figure a way that periodic flooding does not rip it out?)
The run has an amazing assortment of big sliding drops. All are runnable (at favorable levels) by boaters with confidence and skill. Most are surprisingly forgiving, in spite of their impressive size.
The final drop is probably of the most concern. A steep, broken slide leads to a wall of rock which diverts the river ninety-degrees left, through a somewhat narrow slot, to spill across shallow splines of rock and large boulder rubble before the calmer water below. The usual route slides down the right, into the 'elbow', then slides along the right-side rock wall (avoiding potential piton rocks to the left in the final chute), then rock-dodging through the pool below.
Downstream from here there is barely more than riffles, rips, and shoals, so fish (and people fishing) tend to congregate below this drop.
Click link for video showing access via one of the branches, and all of the major drops: https://youtu.be/_TAEnA6cUJA
River Features
Put In
As mentioned above, put-in is most often via carrying up the Superior Hiking Trail to a point where it crosses the river.
More rapids do exist upstrream of the bridge crossing (for those willing to bushwhack a bit to explore them) but none are as big and dramatic as those downstream of the bridge.
Take Out
Take-out is at a beach upon reaching Lake Superior, where it is a tradition among boaters to do a celebratory roll for continued good runs.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportOne of the signature drops on the Split Rock. Spring 2009
While this river has not suffered the same 'improvements' by the DNR as some other local streams (dynamiting the beautiful slides to transform them into stepped fish ladders), it still manages to inflict it's share of damage on boats. It is not entirely uncommon for someone (out of a group of paddlers) to end up with a major gash and leak in their boat (a split boat from the Split Rock). (North Shore paddling can be hazardous to your pocketbook!)
This run is too much fun! Big slides like these abound.
Dave and Dag show two possible routes on Ski Jump.