Baltimore
Hwy.45 to M Br Ontonagon to Hwy.45 (5.9 + 3.3 miles)
| Difficulty | III-IV+ |
| Length | 8.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 46 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | December 31, 2017 |
River Description
Quick Facts:
Location: midway between Rockland and Bruce Crossing, 18 miles SSW of Ontonagon, MI.
Shuttle Length: 4.3 miles. (See details in 'Directions' Tab.)
Character: A couple short falls, bedrock slides, and undercuts.
Put-in is approximately 959' elevation.
Confluence is approximately 713' elevation.
Thus total elevation change (Baltimore only) is approximately 246'.
Take-out is approximately 661' elevation.
Thus total elevation change (full run) is approximately 298' (for overall gradient of 32 FPM).
The first 2.5 miles of this reach are a quietwater access paddle with very little gradient. Things start picking up as one approaches ' Creamy Peanut Butter Falls', a very runnable vertical drop of about 10'. A short distance downstream, Okundekun Falls, about 20' vertical which, while possibly runnable, should be considered a portage (river left) since it mostly lands hard on rock. The fun part of the Baltimore begins below Okundekun Falls with very interesting geology creating a great mix of slides and boulder drops (see rapids details below). Unlike most other challenging runs in the U.P., the river bottom is smooth sandstone. (This is the midwest version of slick-rock. In fact, the canyon section downstream makes for some great mountain biking in the summer.) The paddle out on the M.Br.Ontonagon adds 3.9 miles of low gradient paddling (~13 FPM) to this run, and consists of moving water interspersed with a few light rockbed rapids.
Before you change out of your paddling gear, be sure to have a look at Sandstone Creek about 1/2 mile south of the take out, roadside along HWY 45. If you find it boatable, it will be a great 'capper' to your day!
River Features
Take Out
Put In
Creamy Peanut Butter Falls
You'd have to ask one of the old-guard 'Hoofers' (UW-Madison outing club) about the origin of the name. (My bet is the answer might involve the color of these muddy waters bearing striking resemblance to that substance.)
This is a short, sweet ledge/falls.
O Kun De Kun Falls
Possibly runnable, but mostly lands hard on shallow rock. Recommended portage.
Cyclops
There are a number of class II and III rapids on the way to ' Cyclops'. The river splits around a rocky island and gradient increases. As you head near the end of the main island, the river drops about 12' in a short, steep slide on each side of the island. Good gradient (class II) continues downstream.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportGeorge Kaider
This is a really cool run that is an all-day experience in a very remote wide open canyon. The riverbed is very different creating unique rapids, strange side-curling waves, and low head dam type of ledges. It is worth your time and will be a memorable day. We had to walk two stretches due to high water lines that made it very tough whitewater. I think we wimped out on the first section we walked, but the canyon proper section turned into true class V+ after making a dogleg right turn. There were also some death logs crossing the river in here too, so its just the whitewater that is worrisome.
This dangerous log stuck on the undercut boulder is on the outside of the bend in the beginning of the canyon. Most of the water is pushing into it. Be sure to get out and scout this before you run the canyon. The third footbridge on the run is at the beginning of the canyon (but it and the second one look so dilapidated either one could be removed any time) and is the place to stop and scout from the river right shore.
Creamy Peanut Butter Falls is definitely sweet to run. I think this should be called the 'Yoohoo River' in reference to it's similar color to the chocolate drink.
Okundekun Falls is beautiful. Here Helge is confirming what we already knew...portage this one!
Cyclops splits around an island, allowing you to choose either side.
Let us pray is immediately after Okundekun Falls. This series of ledges can get plenty meaty at higher levels.
Tom having fun on Let Us Pray
The canyon section consists of a steep drop leading into extremely fast moving water cruising between undercut boulders often harboring trees. Following this is a VERY long stretch of continuous class IV water. The sandstone is some of the most unique bedrock you'll ever see for a river.
Below 'Mass has ended'
First attempt at high water. Group
came back the next week to
complete the first descent.