Potato
C) Hwy.169 to Potato River Rd (6.5 miles)
| Difficulty | II-IV(V) |
| Length | 6.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 49 fpm |
| Gauge | Potato@hwy.169 |
| Flow Rate as of 19 minutes | 48 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 7, 2020 |
River Description
While sections of the Potato River Falls sequence are runnable, most landings are very shallow. (Average and Maximum gradient figures are skewed by the falls sequence, at least the final drop of which virtually all paddlers will not be paddling.)
A bit more than a mile downstream of the falls, as you cross into Ashland County, you are in the Bad River Indian Reservation. Permission from the Bad River Tribe must be obtained before paddling if you wish to continue your trip into the Reservation. (We are uncertain how likely they are to grant such permission.) For this reason, it is likely most paddlers will end their trip by carrying back to the Potato River Falls parking area (from wherever short of the county line they decide to end their trip.
From YouTube, here's a video showing a great aerial view of Potato River Falls: https://youtu.be/Lvyxz7-\_JCM
River Features
Put In
Final Drop of Potato River Falls
Most (all?) sane boaters will want to get ashore before the final drop, which is a very steep slide to an almost uniformly shallow landing area.
Parking for Potato River Falls
Falls Road leads to a parking area from which you can walk paths to view the various parts of the Potato River Falls sequence.
***Entering Bad River Indian Reservation lands***
Somewhere here-abouts you cross the county line and you are in Bad River Indian Reservation lands. Permission (to launch or land, and to be on the water) is required (and reportedly almost certain to be denied).
Take Out
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