Wolf
G) Five Islands to Keshena Falls (9.5 miles) ** ACCESS ISSUES **
| Difficulty | I-III+ |
| Length | 9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 7 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 26, 2022 |
River Description
IMPORTANT!
This reach lies entirely within Menominee tribal lands. It is NOT LEGAL to paddle or walk to the drops described here for all non-Menominees. Driving smaller roads, such as most or all 'BIA' (Bureau of Indian Affairs) roads may also be not permitted. If in doubt in Menominee County, stick to paved roads. Arrest and conviction on trespassing charges in Menominee county may result in fine, imprisonment, and confiscation of materials used in the act of trespass up to and including vehicles! This reach is included for the sake of completeness and as warning against exploring this stretch. It is crucially important to note that there are areas which tribal history holds sacred, and your mere presence would be akin to defiling a church altar. Please respect tribal history and sensitivities!
While the section of the Wolf that may be paddled by the general public in Menominee County ends at Big Smoky Falls, the whitewater does not. The river retains the 'lake/drop' character it has on Section 4 but the distance between drops increases significantly in the lower portion of this reach. The river between Big Smoky Falls and Five Islands contains quietwater. The information contained below has been obtained through interpretation of available data and conversation with Menominee tribal members.
From Five Islands, visible roadside off Hwy 55, there is quietwater for a half mile until Turtle Rapids. Turtle Rapids seems to be a low grade boulderbed rapid. At 1.1 miles is White Rapids, a drop that occurs at a constriction and bend in the river. There is quietwater until Big Eddy Falls at 3.0 miles.
Light boulderbed should signal the entrance to Big Eddy Falls. The river constricts, then drops into a sizable hole. This is f
...River Features
Put In
Big Eddy Falls
After about 1.5 miles of flatwater, a couple of little ledge/wave/holes are the signal that you are approaching Big Eddy Falls. A very impressive amphitheater-like scene awaits, and a long portage (if needed). An initial sliding drop leads to a middle pool, then a (likely bigger, nastier) drop into the bottom pool. (There may be a river-left route on this lower drop which could be more friendly than the main chute.)
The name refers to the huge pool with 'big eddies' on both sides circulating back to the drop.
A tribal council member's house sits below the pool, having a full view of the falls out a big picture window. This house is at the end of Trampe Road (AKA BIA 82).
Keshena Falls
Visible from road bridge and roadside parking, this is a rather complex drop, with water spreading across a wide falls with (potentially) a few options of route.
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportI paddled this section in about 1975 with my father, David Kuckuk of Shawano. This is all from memory. It has gorgeous scenery, better than the upper sections. Turtle rapids is about 100 yds of nice wavy II with a sweeping s-turn. White rapids is a ledge or very short, steep boulder drop, also a good quality II or II+ rapids kind of like First Drop on the Roaring Rapids. Big Eddy is in a very impressive amphitheater-like scene. Long portage for us open canoeists. The name refers to the huge pool with 'big eddies' on both sides circulating back to the drop.
I don't remember anything other than riffles elsewhere on the run, and we took out at the bridge that starts Keshena Falls.