Kakabika Falls (Thayer Rd) to FS Rd 178 (Park-n-Huck to 9.7 miles)

The Chippewa name for a waterfall is 'ka-ka-bi-ka,' thus this is yet another example of Anglo-redundancy (much like the many 'Bull Falls', where 'bull' is an Anglicised version of a French word for rapids or falls). While the overall run is class I-II, the opening drops of this reach (the Kakabika Falls sequence) rate the parenthetical class IV. As a result, many advanced boaters will prefer to do this as a 'park-and-huck', carrying back up to their vehicles after running just the opening sequence (Kakabika Falls), while less experienced boaters may either carry down past Kakabika (enjoying the view) or use an alternate put-in (as described below). From the put-in (road), the river soon enters an increasingly steep series of ledges, dropping almost 50' in the next quarter mile into a mini canyon (~200 FPM equivalent for this quarter-mile!). As it makes a hook turn to the right, it flumes down into a complicated mini-gorge culminating in a near vertical drop of about 8', with a wicked spline of rock in the landing zone to punish boaters who may be just slightly off their line. Eddies are tiny and rare through this sequence, and wood may be present in the confined course. (This may push into class V range at higher flows.) Many who float the full/longer reach simply put-in below. The river is primarily moving water for the next several miles, followed by a long stretch of rockbed rapids culminating in Wolverine Falls (though see \*'side note' below). An alternate put-in (avoiding Kakabika and the the low-gradient section) may be found from a logging road which is about 4.1 miles from Kakabika Falls by road, turn to the left and drive (if possible, else carry) a quarter-mile to the river. This abbreviated section has a length of 4.9 miles and gradient figures of 37'/mile average, 62'/mile max. Satellite image resolution is fantastic for the bulk of this reach. (Unfortunately, that does not include the put-in and the class IV mini-gorge section, and does not extend downstream of the indicated take-out.) On the 'Map' tab, click 'Satellite', double-click or click then tap '+' repeatedly zoom in to maximum resolution (without losing image), and do a 'virtual walk' of the run. (\*Side note: I'm fairly convinced that 'Woverine Falls' is marked incorrectly on the topo maps. We once walked trails a good ways upstream of the take-out and saw nothing more than riffles and rips. On the other hand, looking at aerial views, there does appear to be some rapids or falls a short distance downstream of the take-out. I have not been back up there to check that in person.) *Jake's notes: I think Wolverine Falls is here: 46.38427, -89.38339. A notable feature is visible on current satellite imagery at that location. There are a couple of pictures available here: https://www.northwoodalliance.org/wild-scenic-rivers* Shuttle Length (full run): 9 miles.