Little Fork River Water Trail
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A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE LITTLE FORK RIVER RainyRainy Route Description of the LakeLake Little Fork River River NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when facing downstream. CANADA 332 RIVER MILE 142.5 County Road 24 bridge. Town of Cook. Upstream, the river meanders 105 24 FFallsallss IntIntll WestWest RatR t through marsh. AAirportirpop rt RiverRiver PeatlandPeatland 142.4 Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway trestle. River level gauge. 91 332 S.N.A.S 142.2 River Street bridge. Kuttes LocatorLocator Rainy 141.5 U.S. Highway 53 bridge. LakeLake s LakeL akeNNationalN 139.4 County Road 500 bridge. 2 ationa 71 137.4 County Road 914 bridge. 90 l 11 136.4 Class I rapids. Pelland 53 ark 11 ot 135.8 (L) Confluence with Rice River. Nakoda oot SShoepackhoepack R LLakeake 132.5-.6 Class II rapids. Flanked by outcrops, this 50-yard-long rapids bends 26 sharply left and throws two-foot waves in high water. No developed East RatRat RiverRiver portage. 5 97 PeatlandPeatland S.N.A.S.N.A. 134.4 Twite Rapids, Class II. The river drops about eight feet in 300 yards. Ericsburgc Scattered boulders create two-foot waves in high water. Scout from the right. No developed portage. 71 133.5 Power line crosses river. 132.0 Durant Rapids, a Class II stretch that bends right and then left. In Kabetogama East high water, two-foot waves fill this bouldery 100-yard-long pitch. 10 RatRat Statee Forest 122122 79 No developed portage. Confluence with Flint Creek river right. Branch 123123 131.1 County Road 481 bridge. LITTLE 53 Kabetogamaet g 130.1 (L) Confluence with Alango Creek. 22 R 129.0 County Road 500 bridge. at 15 2929 Irwin Bay 126.8 (L) State Highway 73 bridge carry in access, upstream side of the bridge. 122122 Hanover Lofgren Park 125.5 Class I Rapids. Airport fee charged 217217 Ray 53 124.7 (R) Ax-Handle Hound watercraft campsite. 1 20 river level 124.6 Class I boulder-bed rapids. gauge 217 124.6 State Highway 1 bridge. Littlefork Moose 8 123.8 Hannine Falls, a jagged, sloping 15-foot drop. Class VI. Though Beaver Lake 71 25 FORK RiverRiver conceivably runnable at low water levels by an expert in a decked Elm St. Koochichingg 2929 boat, this falls is filled with big holes in high water. No developed 65 77 Brook AshA RiverRiver portage. The waterfall is followed by 150 yards of Class II rapids. 121.2 Class I boulder-bed rapids. Flat II KabetKabetogamaabbe ogammmaa 120.9 County Road 356 bridge. Rock G C 76 8 N Rapids 30 35 N 118.6 Class II rapids. This boulder-filled 150-yard-long pitch splits around C C an island and throws two foot waves in high water. High clay banks BlacBlackhawk Devereaux on river right. khawkkha OUIS C O 118.5 (R) Confluence with Beaver Creek. L . OOCHICHIN Little Fork T 118.0 County Road 495 bridge. 72 River W.M.A. C KOOCHICHING K C LOUIS ST. S 116.6 Class I rapids. 40 RIVER 115.1 Class II rapids. A big, flat outcrop on the right pinches the river, StateSta forming two-foot waves in high water. The 100-yard-long rapids tails Field off into scattered boulders. No developed portage. 45 PearlPearl Kinmount LakeLake Cr.Cr. 113.6 Confluence with the Sturgeon River. The upper reaches of the Sturgeon Este Cross r 50 53 is punctuated with a few Class II-III rapids. Its lower reaches, though 8 AshA Brook less difficult, are blocked by downed trees. 112.5-.7 Class I rapids at County Road 114 bridge. 105.5 (R) Class II rapids with three-foot waves and side curlers in high water. River In low water, the 150-yard-long rapids is bouldery and ledgy. Portage 440 yards, river right. StatSStatee 103.5 (R) Class II rapids, a four-foot sloping ledge with a well formed backroller. 55 The drop is buried completely in high water. Samuelson Park, a county 65 facility, has a picnic table, carry in access, privy and tent sites. 8 ForestFores 103.3 County Road 75 bridge. 31 101.7 (R) Confluence with Willow River. Dentaybow 60 100.2 State Highway 65 bridge. Nett 96.5 (L) Confluence Valley River. 31 94.9 (R) Here Dey Come campsite. Koochiching 92.4-93.5 Nett Rapids, Class I. State Forest L ake 74.1-74.7(R) Seller’s Rapids, a quarter-mile of Class II boulder bed. Portage right 748 rods. The rapids wash out and become easier in high water. 65 Nett 66-67.6 Deadman's Rapids. Considerably less difficult than its name implies, River this Class II-III stretch washes out in high water. Portage right side a Deadman’s RapidsII ost Deadman’s Portage L quarter mile (550 yards). 550 yds. 58.9 State Highway 65 bridge. 53 57.9 (L) Dentaybow carry in access. 65 45.3 (R) Confluence with Ester Brook. 70 Lakeke SwanSwan Lake LakeLake 44.8 (R) Field carry in access. Access is possible, but difficult. II Seller’s Rapids Nett Lake 793 36.5-39.3 (R) Little Fork W.M.A. Portage 75 748 yds. 37.1 (L) Devereaux carry in access. Forest 33.7 (L) Confluence with Cross River. 2323 29.8 Flat Rock Rapids, easy Class II. No developed portage. 21.5 (R) Elm St. water access. Nett Lakee KoochichingKoochichingi 80 21.2 State Highway 217 bridge. Myrtle Peatlandtlandand S.N.A. S Big Island 20.8 (R) Lofgren Park city campground with water access, privies and picnic Indian shelter. Fee charged for camping. River level gauge. City of Littlefork. 85 19.3 (R) Confluence Beaver Brook. Lake 18.4 Former Burlington Northern railroad trestle location. 15.9 U.S. Highway 71 bridge. LITTLE 0 Confluence with Rainy River. Kuttes water access available one mile rs B Peatlands e ders B east on the Rainy River. Ga Saunders Bay Reservation rdn 90 S.N.A. er Orr Municipalnici Rice B LakeLake er r LandingLanding StripStrip ook RiveRiv Nett RapidsI Here Dey Come Superiorupu Myrtle Campsite 65 StateState Lake 95 74 Hoodoo 100 Silverdale LakeLake Hoodoo FORK Willow Greaney Gheen 24 Samuelson Park River 74 74 Rauch National 53 n Bay II 75 egia Norw 105 s Bay Head of the FForest River 75 Portage Lake II 440 yds. 24 Vermilion RIVER Wakemup Bramble Lake 110 eek r BIGBI FranklinFranklin alley LakeLake V C CraigvilleCraigvillll G 73 KOOCHICHINGOOCHICHING CCO.O Forest . I 114 ITASTASA CA CO.O. II 356 Beaver reek Flint Ax-Handle C r. 115 I Hound C 5 495 Campsite 24 5 I 53 FORKFORFFO 547 II Flint OORK Stu Linden river level r 1 Hannine FallsVI Grove gauge BustiesBu Celina geon 1 ake 120 Meadow 125 Brook 115 R Durant Twite 145 RIVERRIVE I Rapids 140 Rapids II 135 500 Cook II I 150 iveiv Island Owens 155 1 W.M.A. 1 Hwy 73 130 7979 LakeLake Bridge Alang Rice 65 Municipal 533 5 o TTogoogo Airport Riv Cr River 38 er . 53 Leander 87 42 1 ThistledewThistledew rgeonrgeon RiverRRiiver State Forest LakeLake 22 BearBe 5 22 RiverRiver 22 1 RiverRivR Sherman’s 22 Corner Carry-in Access Public Land RiverRiver er 73 C . r . O . C O Water Access Tribal Trust Land reek 65 S re C I GilmoGilmo A C C Watercraft Campsite S.N.A. Scientific and Natural Area OU Idingtongtoon L . StatStationion r AS A T BearBea T ST. LOUIS CO. LOUIS ST. Campground W.M.A. Wildlife Management Area CO. ITASCA I S 5 Outfitter RiverRi River Mile NORTH 051234 Miles PeloquinPeloquinlo Superioror RiverRiv Nationall Forestor er C W.M.A.W.M.A.. A r. Rapids SSideide 051234 Kilometers LLakeake LakeLake ourteenourteen BearBear LeanderLeandan err LakeLake © 2014 State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE LITTLE FORK RIVER ITTLE FORK L WATER STATE RIVER A TRAIL Guide The river holds a variety of secrets just waiting for you to explore. Bring your binoculars, a field guide or just your curiosity and enjoy the river’s magic. Minnesota State Parks and Trails mndnr.gov/watertrails The Little Fork River A succession of Woodland Culture Indians • Choose a distance Little Fork is often very placid, the current can be • Camp only in occupied the region during the 2,500 years before its tthat is comfortable for quick and powerful when the river is near or at flood designated International 11 Falls Rainy settlement by whites. The Laurel gave way to the yyou, most people stage. But most dangers can be anticipated and campsites, which Blackduck, who may have been the direct ppaddle two to three avoided. Start your trip with the proper safety are available on a Little predecessors of the Dakota. The Dakota, or Sioux, rriver miles per equipment. Coast Guard approved personal floatation first-come, 71 53 inhabited the region until the Ojibway laid claim to hhour. devices (PFD) should be worn at all times. first-served basis. Vermilion 72 65 Fork what would become northern Minnesota. • Wear a U. S. Coast • Bring drinking Fork GGuard approved Hypothermia, a rapid loss of body heat, has killed wwater. It is only Ely 1 Magnificent stands of white and red pine near the ppersonal flotation many people who have swamped or tipped. available at a 1 1 71 Big 73 Little Fork’s headwaters were logged in the late 19th ddevice that state law Swimming soon becomes impossible in freezing limited number of Lake 53 and early 20th centuries.