In summer, 2012, the areas surrounding Piers Gorge, Quiver Falls, and Pemene Falls were incorporated into a State Recreation Area, cooperatively operated by Michigan DNR and Wisconsin DNR. As a result, parking and access for these three distinct areas now requires either a daily or annual State Park sticker.
This is a shorter and more intense section than Piers Gorge, and _may_ offer better play (depending upon your preferences).
If you run the full rapids here, this is easily one of the scarier rapids around. Some sweet, small surf waves lead into the main drop. Were it not for what lies just downstream, these would be excellent for beginner-to-intermediate tame play.
As the river narrows to about 12' wide, alongside the remnants of an old dam, you encounter _Clarice Hole,_ an extremely violent river-wide hole. Entering from upstream, the top of the backwash is a little above eyeball level. There is a small 'room of doom' to the right, which (if you flip and are swept into) will make your life miserable (though it generally flushes in the center). There are countless sharp pointy rocks that the current will slam you into if you do flip. At levels above 7.9 feet you can run this rapid without hitting rebar. However, I have not been able to confirm presence or absence of rebar risks at levels below 7.9 feet. The hole becomes less flushy (more keepy) the _lower_ flow goes! I have not visited this area higher than 8.3 feet (which is a good level to run it at), but I was told that it was very intimidating at 12 feet.
Fifty yards downstream is _Hannibal Hole_. This is a great hole to play in, especially since there is a huge eddy on river left that provides easy access.
Just 5 yards below Hannibal is _Lecter Wave_. This is one of the best waves in the Upper Peninsula/Wisconsin area. Again, a huge eddy on river left provides easy access.
The 4th 'feature' of this rapid is _Cannibal Rock_, a chunk of old dam on the river right side of Lecter Wave. This rock is just below the surface (at least, at low-to-moderate flows), and if you windowshade here, you will smack it hard. (I received a mild concussion the first time I hit it, and spent the next 12 hours vomiting. Plus it snapped my paddled in half!)
This run is a little off the main drag, but worth a side-trip to see. Even if you (as many people) decide not to run the whole sequence, Hannibal and Lecter will provide plenty of surfing entertainment.
"Dispersed camping" is allowed on the various islands in the pool downstream, or (on the mainland, Michigan side) head ~2 miles north for Sturgeon Bay Campground.
Recommended 'Companion' Runs:
Menominee at Piers Gorge (20 miles distant), Menominee at Quiver (24 miles distant), Sturgeon at Sturgeon Dam (28 miles), Paint at Horserace Rapids (50 miles).