A STATE WA TER TRAIL GUIDE T O THE UPP ER ST. L OUIS RIVER (I ncludes the Whitef a ce River) Parkville Biwabik Superior National Forest Pineville Colby Mountain Iron Franklin River Lake Belgrade Cave Embarrass River Big Lake Lake 110 Colwin Lake Belgrade 110 Aurora Swamp 73 DM & I R.R. River West Virginia Partridge Lake Creek NORTHSHORE Kinney Virginia 135 110 DULUTH, MISSABE & Cranberry Pike McKinley Lake 100 Hoyt Lakes Black Stone 200 Elcor Lake Cedar Island Lake Mashkenode White IRON RANGE Lake Lake Lake Seven LakeBeaver Buhl Partridge Whitewater 135 Forge R.R. Skibo 169 Rainy Lake Lake 110 Mud Junction 160 165 Lake Carry-in Access Midway Gilbert ST. LOUIS Skibo Round West Manganika Salt Lake 4 Lake 25 Lake Hush 185 Laird Cr. Two Rivers Largo RIVER Trailer Access DM & I R.R. Pettit Doherty Reservior Deep Lake Esquagama Skibo Mill Lake Eveleth 37 Leaf Lake 195 73 Majestic MINING Great Scott Lake 170 Lake Hush Cr. Campground W.M.A. Genoa Silver Neff 180 Leonidas Sparta Horseshoe Lake 100 Lake Hwy 110 190 Pine De Forest Lake Long Lake 110 Watercraft Campsite Snowden Bass North Twin Lake Sherwood Ely Lake 155 Lake Hjalmer Lake Scott Wolf 175 Lake Dam 37 River Co Rd 346 Hibbing 7 South Twin Lake Superior National Forest Mud CO. DM & I R.R. Elbow 53 Lost River Mile East Lake Lake Lake Creek Creek River 452 Spruce St. Mary’s Creek Ramshaw Lake Frying Pan Whiteface Ely 150 169 Rapids Lake CO. LOUIS ST. Iron 346 LAKE CO. R.R. Shiver Breda 25 Junction Palo Br. Store McQuade Kirk Hay Cr. 108 Two Designated Public Land Lake West Embarrass N. Long Cr. 145 100 Lake Route Description of the Upper St. Louis River Pleasant 95 95 Creek 37 37 Cherry Lake 140 W.M.A. = Wildlife Management Area Creek

Creek Harvey Lake 7 Forbes Townline Rd Cedar 4 NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river 122.5-121.2 Class I rapids. Two Rivers Dam Co Rd 315 Lake Loon when facing downstream. Keenan Moon Lake 121.0 Powerline crosses. Lake Coe Hen 25 Half Moon Sayer Lake 121.0(R) Watercraft campsite. NORTH Forbes Peary Lake 135 Lake 16 Elbow 16 16 16 RIVER MILE 120.8(R) Confluence of West Two Rivers. 130 Water (reflects most likely canoe route, paddling distances may vary) Powerlines Mud Hen Hen 125 53 Creek 116.3 County Road 312 bridge. Riley DULUTH, WINNIPEG & PACIFIC R.R. 16 Lake Rivers Makinen 200 Seven Beaver Lake. Carry-in access south of 113.0(R) Carry-in access, County Road 27 bridge. Forbes Little Tony Hen Little Mud USFS Campgrounds BURLINGTON NORTHERN RIVER Hen Lake 5 Access Lake Mud Branch lake on Round Lake. Access accessible only by 110.1(L) Watercraft campsite. Clover Powerline I Lake South 107.1(L) Watercraft campsite. Water ATV. Twin Lake Water Section 14 198.7 Railroad trestle. 106.5 Railroad trestle. 120 Lake Markham 25 Lake 115 193.6(R) Confluence of Stone Creek. 105.2 County Road 436 bridge. Onega 108 4 Linwood 7 Lake 188.5(R) Skibo Landing trailer access. 99.0 (L) Confluence of Stony Creek, long series of class I & SANTA FE R.R. Bluebill Lake Elliot Little Markham Lake Hen Lake 188.5(R) Confluence of Laird Creek. rapids. East Zim 27 Zim Round Hiekkila Access Lake Long Markham 183.9(L) County Road 110 bridge, carry-in access. 99.0 (L) Watercraft campsite. Perch Lake Creek Lake 108 Lake 27 Fig Lake Whiteface 98.9 Class I rapids and small island. Central Lakes S Access 181.9(R) Confluence of Hush Creek. Little 110 Stone Lake Reservior Swan Murphy River Hay 181.4(R) Hush carry-in access. 98.4 County Road 230 bridge. Lake Lake West Swan 175.2(L) County Road 346 trailer access. 98.0 (R) Confluence of East Swan River. 83 Part of East Stone Lake Cloquet West Lake Augusta 65 172.2 County Road 346 bridge. 94.2 (L) Carry-in access, County Road 52 bridge. Stone Bobcat Swan Fens Valley ST. LOUIS State Lake Morcom 164.6(R) Confluence of Partridge River. 93.8 (R) Confluence of Sand Creek. Forest Lake 164.2 County Road 100 bridge. 90.8 (L) Watercraft campsite. Casco Paleface 90.0 County Road 156 bridge. River 105 59 151.9 State Highway 4 bridge. River Creek 4 7 148.1 County Road 108 bridge. 89.2 Powerline crosses. Tower Creek 144.5(R) County Road 95 carry-in access, bridge. 87.1 County Road 133 bridge. 60 5 83 Comstock Gimlet Cr. Creek 141.1(R) Confluence of Embarrass River. 81.3 Powerline crosses. Fermoy Berg Lake Dent W.M.A. Dinham Lake Bear Lake 80.7 County Road 29 bridge. Lake River 136.0 County Road 957 bridge. 100 Zim Wilson Lake 28 W.M.A. Lake Coolidge 79.4 (L) Confluence of Whiteface River. 134.4(L) Confluence of Mud Hen Creek. I 28 Lower B URLING T ON NO R THERN Schubert Comstock 132.9 US Highway 53 bridge. 78.5 (R) Carry-in access. Stony Creek Lake Lake Sax 55 129.5 Railroad trestle. 78.0 (L) Watercraft campsite. W.M.A. Cameron 83 Lake Palo Cr 128.7 Powerline crosses. 75.8 Powerline crosses. Sand 59 DU L TUH, MISSABE & Creek Bug Creek Powerline 50 128.6 Powerline crosses. 72.9 (R) Trailer access .5 mile up on Floodwood River. Whiteface 95 r. 127.9(R) Carry-in access, Forbes Dam. Portage on right. River level gauge. Whiteface Branch ’s C Joki Cr. 40 45 D W & P R.R. West Toivola 35 126.9 Powerline crosses. 72.8 County Road 8 bridge, City of Floodwood. Station Toivola 52 52 Cotton Cloquet Valley State Forest 125.9(L) Carry-in access, County Road 7 bridge. 72.5 (R) Confluence of Floodwood River.

Deadman Long I Lake Creek 125.8 Railroad trestle. 5 25 Kelsey Strand Rush 53 Lake Creek Lake 124.1(R) Confluence of Elbow River. Dumblane 30 & SAN TA FE R.R. Powerline Kauppi Bug Boudler 123.4 County Road 788 borders the river, no bridge. 7 Lake Schisler I R ON RANGE R.R. Williams Creek Lake Jenkins Lake

Shaw 90 20 Little Whiteface Elmer River W.M.A. Route Description of the Whiteface River (not a designated water trail) River Payne Lieuna Powerline Whiteface Lake 5 Esswhtar Trail

Little NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of 38.2 Highway 53 bridge, City of Cotton. Lake Stewart River West Little River 4 the river when facing downstream. 36.5(R) Confluence of Paleface River. Thompson Little River Skunk 44 Lake Branch Meadowlands 15 34.5 County Road 52 bridge. Briar Lake Stewart Creek Boudler Knife 133 133 133 * Whiteface has no recreational manangement, 31.5(R) Confluence of Deadman’s Creek. Lake River Barrs Creek River Joula Creek users should be aware that area is primitive State 12 29 Whiteface 30.5 Powerline crosses. Lake with no formal facilities. River 29.5(L) Confluence of Jenkins Creek. Reservior 10 7 Knife State 27.5 County Road 7 bridge. 85 Powerline Cloquet 47 Forest RIVER MILE Island Two Whiteface 27.5 Railroad trestle. Sucker Creek Lake Captain 44 River 11 Otter Birch Shore Harbors 26.5 Railroad trestle. Jacobson Big Creek 66.0 Enter Whiteface Reservior, there is River 26.2 Class I rapids. Island Lake Reservior

RIVER Maple Leaf a trailer access and a campsite at the Lake 26.0(R) Confluence of Joki Creek. 4 44 Stanley 9 61 5 Creek 5 Baden north end of the reservior. 23.0 County Road 29 bridge. Jacobs 47 Lake 66.0 Trailer access. 15.5(L) Confluence of Little Whiteface 29 Knife Powerline Aerie 66.0 Dam. Short portage left around Schultz 40 Lake Prosit River. Lake Spider dam. Horseshoe Maney 13.0 County Road 133 bridge. Co Rd 29 80 Lake Cr Muskrat 64.9 Highway 4 bridge. Whiteface Crooked 9.5 Powerline crosses. 44 Little 42 River Lake 59.9(L) Confluence of Gimlet Creek. 73 Little 47 8.2 County Road 5 bridge. Sunshine North Creek Cameron Knife 53.5(L) Confluence of Palo Creek. Lake Lake 40 River 6.2 (L) Confluence of Otter Creek. Lester 61 50.5 County Road 52 bridge. Eagle River 4 (L) Confluence of Spider Creek. French CO. LOUIS ST. Sucker LAKE CO. 48.8 Railroad trestle. 4 Lake Powerline ST. LOUIS 0 Whiteface enters the St. Louis River 43 Lake Superior 47.1(L) Confluence of Bug Creek. at River Mile 78.5. River Knife River 75 5 Creek 40.5 County Road 52 bridge. 48 43 River 61 Floodwood Fish Lake 38.8 Powerline crosses. Reservior 2 Floodwood River Level Gauge 8 Arlberg 0 1 2 3 4 5 Miles 8 8 Canosia Culver 53 33 W.M.A. 0 1 2 3 4 5 Kilometers STATE WATER TRAIL MAP A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE UPPER ST. LOUIS RIVER (Includes the Whiteface River) Upper St. Louis River

“...in that moment when you ease the canoe from the bank into the current, you sense that you are a part of something very old and precious. It is a moment that should be guarded jealously and handed down with care.” John C. Sawhill Forward from The River Reader

mndnr.gov/watertrails FORBES ACCESS/DAM ON COUNTY ROAD 16; HOLLY SANDBO The Upper St. Louis and Whiteface through beautiful stands of aspen, birch, maple, sun-warmed banks or bars, elevated above water, Planning a Safe River Trip • Camp only in designated campsites, which are Rivers red and white pine, spruce and fir. and relatively free of vegetation. Please be A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe available on a first-come, first-served basis. International cautious and limit use around possible turtle Falls CANADA (Seven Beaver Lake to Floodwood) journey, you should be prepared by acquainting • Bring drinking water. It is only available at a Whiteface River nesting areas. Damage could occur if nesting yourself with your route. Choose a distance that is limited number of rest areas. Drinking river Rainy The Whiteface River, a major tributary of the areas are disturbed. comfortable for you. Water levels can speed up water is not recommended, but if you do it 71 Lake St. Louis River, is about 60 miles long, and is or slow down your trip. Get information about Little Fork River must be treated. 53 narrow (rarely exceeding 50 feet wide). The Enjoy! water levels from the regional DNR office, DNR • Respect private property. Stop only at Vermilion Lake Grand banks are mostly undeveloped with fir, spruce, It will be website, or DNR Information Center. Protect the Marais aspen, birch, river maple, and pine forests, though delightful for you designated sites; much of the shoreland is 1 Ely water and shorelands and leave nothing behind 1 there are a few farms. to use all of your you except footprints. Remember that much of private property. senses during your the shorelands are privately owned. • Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or 61 Due to the river’s remoteness, paddlers may journey. The Mississippi bury human waste away from the river. 169 see gray (timber) wolves, black bear, moose, spring peepers will Trip Planning St. Louis River Two Lake Superior Grand Whiteface R Harbors beaver, turtles, otters, white-tailed deer, great blue never pause in their 2 53 • Travel with a companion or group. Plan your Rapids Cloquet River

River River herons, and osprey, as well as songbirds. shrill calling as you trip with a map before you depart and advise slip by them. someone of your plans, including planned ANDERSON Duluth W Fishing Listen for the departure and arrival times. I LEN Fishing can be good with northern pike, evening calls of Aitkin S • Most people paddle two to three river miles 23 C walleye, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and owls or the screech 61 per hour. Mille O sunfish found in these rivers. Because the river SANDBO HOLLY NEAR COTTON; HWY 53 BRIDGE, of nesting raptors. Lacs 35 N History Lake S The streams and rivers of northern Minnesota system has such a good fish population, it is Listen closely in • Bring a first-aid kit that includes waterproof I N are the result of glacial activity thousands of necessary to know the health hazards of eating June and July to matches. years ago. Because northern Minnesota rivers fish. the teacher, teacher, teacher of the ovenbird or the • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources flow through bog areas, the water is often deep forest trill of a veery. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. overhanging and dead trees in the water. coffee-colored. This comes from the tannic acid Mercury contamination is a problem in the • You must pack out all trash. in the bog plants. entire watershed. Keep the smaller fish for Rating Whitewater eating. Release the larger, older fish which have Rivers and rapids are rated according to the • Leave only footprints; take only photographs! WEST OF HWY 52 BRIDGE, WHITEFACE RIVER; HOLLY SANDBO This information is available in alternative Since the receding of the glaciers more than a higher concentration of contamination. Eat International Scale of River Difficulty. Ratings format upon request. 10,000 years ago, humans have lived in and used smaller portions when you do eat bigger fish. are estimates based on observations at low or Boating Information Sustainable Ecosystems the natural resources of the St. Louis watershed. moderate water levels or on secondhand reports. • Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy and Artifacts of the Paleo-Indians have been collected People, especially women of childbearing age The following three classes are found on the flotation device that state law requires to be attractive natural environment. Sustainable outdoor Minnesota State Parks and Trails and extensively studied. Pieces of stone, pottery, and children should strictly adhere to these Upper St. Louis and Whiteface rivers. on board the craft. recreation enables people to enjoy the outdoors without negative impacts on the environment. Regional Unit: and even some copper tools have been preserved. guidelines. Complete information is available • Bring an extra paddle. 1201 East Highway 2 Grand Rapids, MN 55744 from the Minnesota Department of health, CLASS I. Easy rapids with small waves and few (218) 999-7923 The St. Louis River was an important link 1-800-627-3529. obstructions. • Not all portions of this water trail are suitable Communities working together can improve water between Lake Superior and trading posts on the CLASS II. Rapids with waves up to three feet for motor use. resources by promoting environmentally sensitive Online water trail information and maps can be land-use practices along rivers and throughout Mississippi River and Vermilion Lake. The rivers high. Some maneuvering is required. • Register your NEAR TOIVOLA ACCESS; HOLLY SANDBO found at mndnr.gov/watertrails were also important to the fur trade and logging CLASS III. Difficult rapids with high, irregular watercraft. watersheds. Natural shoreline buffers improve water industries. waves capable of swamping an open canoe. All watercraft quality by filtering out pollutants and sediments. Narrow chutes may require extensive more than 9 Today, the river is increasingly important as a maneuvering. Usually considered the limit for an feet in length, Healthy and diverse native shoreline plant DNR Information Center place of remote beauty, a sanctuary for many experienced paddler in an open canoe. including communities are attractive and provide important The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free Y SANDBO habitat for birds and wildlife. publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions species of wildlife, and a source of recreation. nonmotorized pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota. *The following classes are not found on these canoes and

CCESS; HOLL

A rivers, but are here for your reference. 500 Lafayette Road St. Louis River kayaks, must St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 The St. Louis River watershed is one of the be registered 651-296-6157 Metro Area largest in Minnesota and is the largest that feeds CLASS IV. Long, turbulent rapids with high, in Minnesota Natural 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free Shorelands Lake Superior. The river’s uppermost section NEAR FORBES irregular waves, constricted passages, and blind or your state 40% evaporation mndnr.gov flows through remote, forested areas, bluffs, and drops. Decked canoes and kayaks only; open of residence. 10% runoff

wooded hills. The middle section is characterized Turtles canoes should be portaged. 50% infiltration by the flat bed of the now dry glacial Lake The Whiteface and St. Louis are home to four CLASS V. Long, violent rapids with complex Rest Areas Altered Shorelands Upham, woods, and wetlands. For the most part, species of turtles. The painted turtle is the most routes and steep drops or waterfalls. Hazard to 30% evaporation the river is wild and forested. There are a few common. More rare are the snapping, Blanding’s life in the event of a mishap. Runnable only by and Camping 55% runoff This publication was produced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in cooperation 15% infiltration with: Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, St. Louis River Board Special thanks to: Len farms, homes, and small towns. and wood turtles. Due to their rarity, the most experts in decked boats. Sites Anderson, Katharine Johnson, Lynelle Hanson important thing to remember about turtles and all CLASS VI. Cannot be attempted without great Organizations working to protect the river system: • Public rest -St. Louis River Citizens Action Commitee (218) 733-9520 Like the Whiteface, the upper St. Louis wildlife is to leave them alone. risk to life. areas are -St. Louis Riverwatch (218) 879-0789 supports unique wildlife and fish, and offers available along the route to rest, picnic and All photos: Holly Sandbo wonderful opportunities to canoe and kayak Crucial to the long-term survival of turtles is a explore. © 2016 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources safe nesting place. These species require sandy,