A STATE WA TER TRAIL GUIDE T O THE LIT TLE FORK RIVER

Rainy Route Description of the Lake Little Fork River RANIER Jackfish Bay Tilson Bay JAMESON ISLAND 11 109 VIEW NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when facing downstream. River INTERNATIONAL 11 FALLS Cranberry Bay RIVER MILE 53 332 142.5 County Road 24 bridge. Town of Cook. Upstream, the river meanders CANADA Gold Portage W.M.A. Cranberry through marsh. 105 24 Falls Intl West Rat Airport 142.4 Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway trestle. River level gauge. River Cr. Peatland Black Bay 142.2 River Street bridge. 91 332 S.N.A. Voyageurs National Park 141.5 U.S. Highway 53 bridge. Kuttes Locator Rainy Lake Lake 139.4 County Road 500 bridge. 2 137.4 County Road 914 bridge. 71 90 136.4 Class I rapids. 11 PELLAND 135.8 (L) Confluence with Rice River. 11 53 Shoepack NAKODA Root 134.4 Twite Rapids, Class II. The river drops about eight feet in 300 yards. Lake 26 Scattered boulders create two-foot waves in high water. Scout from the right. No developed portage. Rat East Rat River 5 97 Peatland S.N.A. 133.5 Power line crosses river. ERICSBURG 132.0 Durant Rapids, a Class II stretch that bends right and then left. In Kabetogama high water, two-foot waves fill this bouldery 100-yard-long pitch. 71 No developed portage. Confluence with Flint Creek river right. 131.1 County Road 481 bridge. Kabetogama East Lake 10 Rat State Forest 130.1 (L) Confluence with Alango Creek. 122 79 129.0 County Road 500 bridge. Branch 123 LITTLE 126.8 (L) State Highway 73 bridge carry-in access, upstream side of the bridge. 53 KABETOGAMA Daley Bay 125.5 Class I Rapids. 22 Kabetogama Rat 15 State Forest Irwin Bay 124.7 (R) Ax-Handle Hound watercraft campsite. 29 124.6 Class I boulder-bed rapids. Hanover Lofgren Park 122 Airport fee charged Root 217 124.6 State Highway 1 bridge. RAY 53 1 20 river level Root 123.8 Hannine Falls, a jagged, sloping 15-foot drop. Class VI. Though gauge 217 conceivably runnable at low water levels by an expert in a decked LITTLEFORK Moose boat, this falls is filled with big holes in high water. No developed 8 River Beaver Lake 71 25 River portage. The waterfall is followed by 150 yards of Class II rapids. FORK 121.2 Class I boulder-bed rapids. Elm St. Koochiching 29 65 County Road 356 bridge. 77 Brook Ash River 120.9 118.6 Class II rapids. This boulder-filled 150-yard-long pitch splits around Flat II Kabetogama an island and throws two foot waves in high water. High clay banks Rock 76 8 Rapids 30 35 on river right. 118.5 (R) Confluence with Beaver Creek. Devereaux Blackhawk 118.0 County Road 495 bridge. 116.6 Class I rapids. Little Fork 115.1 Class II rapids. A big, flat outcrop on the right pinches the river, ST. LOUIS CO. LOUIS ST. 72 River W.M.A. CO. KOOCHICHING 40 forming two-foot waves in high water. The 100-yard-long rapids tails RIVER State off into scattered boulders. No developed portage. River 113.6 Confluence with the Sturgeon River. The upper reaches of the Sturgeon Field 45 Pearl Kinmount is punctuated with a few Class II-III rapids. Its lower reaches, though Lake Cr. Cross Ester less difficult, are blocked by downed trees. 50 53 Ash 112.5-112.7 Class I rapids at County Road 114 bridge. 8 Brook 105.5 (R) Class II rapids with three-foot waves and side curlers in high water. In low water, the 150-yard-long rapids is bouldery and ledgy. Portage

River 440 yards, river right. 103.5 (R) Class II rapids, a four-foot sloping ledge with a well formed backroller. State The drop is buried completely in high water. Samuelson Park, a county 55 facility, has a picnic table, carry-in access, priminitive toilet and tent sites. 65 103.3 County Road 75 bridge.

8 Forest Lake 101.7 (R) Confluence with Willow River. 31 100.2 State Highway 65 bridge. Dentaybow Ash 60 96.5 (L) Confluence Valley River. Nett 94.9 (R) Here Dey Come campsite. 31 92.4-93.5 Nett Rapids, Class I. Lake 74.1-74.7(R) Seller’s Rapids, a quarter-mile of Class II boulder bed. Portage right 748 yards. The rapids wash out and become easier in high water. 66-67.6 Deadman's Rapids. Considerably less difficult than its name implies, 65 Nett River this Class II-III stretch washes out in high water. Portage right sides at River Deadman’s RapidsII quarter mile (550 yards). Deadman’s Portage Lost 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 Lake Swan Lake 44.8 (R) Field carry-in access. Access is possible, but difficult. 36.5-39.3 (R) II Seller’s Rapids 793 Little Fork W.M.A. Portage Nett Lake 748 yds. 75 37.1 (L) Devereaux carry-in access. Forest 33.7 (L) Confluence with Cross River. 23 29.8 Flat Rock Rapids, easy Class II. No developed portage. 21.5 (R) Elm St. trailer access. Koochiching Nett Lake 21.2 State Highway 217 bridge. Myrtle 80 Peatland S.N.A. Big Island S.N.A. Indian 20.8 (R) Lofgren Park city campground with trailer access, privies and picnic shelter. Fee charged for camping. River level gauge. City of Littlefork. 85 Pelican Lake Lake 19.3 (R) Confluence Beaver Brook. 18.4 Former Burlington Northern railroad trestle location. 15.9 U.S. Highway 71 bridge. LITTLE Peatlands 0.0 Confluence with Rainy River. Kuttes trailer access available one mile east on the Rainy River. Gardner Saunders Bay 90 Reservation S.N.A. Orr Municipal Rice Brook Landing Strip Lake River Nett RapidsI Here Dey Come Superior Elbow Lake Myrtle Campsite 65 State Lake Elbow 95 74 Hoodoo Susan 100 SILVERDALE Lake Lake Hoodoo FORK Willow GREANEY GHEEN 24 Creek Samuelson Park River 74 74

RAUCH National 53 II 75 105 Norwegian Bay Head of the Lakes Bay Forest River 75 Portage II 440 yds. 24 Vermilion RIVER BRAMBLE 110 WAKEMUP Lake BIG Franklin Lake Valley Creek CRAIGVILLE KOOCHICHING CO. 73 Forest I ITASCA CO. 114 II 356 Beaver Ax-Handle Creek Flint 115 I Hound Cr. 5 495 Campsite 24 5 FORK 547 II I Flint 53 Sturgeon LINDEN river level Hannine FallsVI GROVE Busties CELINA 1 1 gauge Lake 120 MEADOW 125 BROOK Twite 115 RIVER Durant 140 145 I Rapids Rapids Popple II 135 500 Lake II I COOK 150 1 Five Island Owens 155 Deer Lake W.M.A. 1 Hwy 73 130 79 Lake Bridge Alango Rice 65 5 Municipal 533 Battle Airport Lake TOGO River Cr. River 38 1 53 LEANDER 87 42 1 Thistledew Sturgeon River State Forest Lake BEAR 22 22 RIVER Bear 5 1 River 22 SHERMAN’S River 22 Carry-in Access Public Land CORNER

Cr. 73 Trailer Access Tribal Trust Land 65 Creek Gilmore 53 Watercraft Campsite S.N.A. Scientific and Natural Area IDINGTON Rice STATION ST. LOUIS CO. LOUIS ST. Bear CO. ITASCA Campground W.M.A. Wildlife Management Area 5 Outfitter River Cr. Dark McCarthy Johnson Beach Murray River Mile NORTH Miles Peloquin State Superior River National Forest 0 1 2 3 4 5 Cr. W.M.A. Sturgeon Park Side Rapids Lake Kilometers Lake Lake 0 1 2 3 4 5 Lake Fourteen Bear Leander Lake STATE WATER TRAIL MAP A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE LITTLE FORK RIVER Little Fork River

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.

The Little Fork River A succession of Woodland Culture Indians • Choose a distance anticipated and avoided. Start your trip with the • Bring drinking occupied the region during the 2,500 years before that is comfortable proper safety equipment. Coast Guard approved water. It is only International 11 Falls Rainy its settlement by whites. The Laurel gave way to for you, most people personal floatation devices (PFD) should be worn available at a the Blackduck, who may have been the direct paddle two to three at all times. limited number

Little predecessors of the Dakota. The Dakota, or Sioux, river miles per hour. of rest areas. 71 53 inhabited the region until the Ojibway laid claim to Hypothermia, a rapid loss of body heat, has Drinking river Vermilion 72 65 what would become northern . • Wear a U. S. Coast killed many people who have swamped or tipped. water is not Fork Guard approved Swimming soon becomes impossible in freezing recommended, Fork Ely Magnificent stands of white and red pine near personal flotation water. Wear a PFD and stay close to shore if there but if you do it 1 1 1 the Little Fork’s headwaters were logged in the late device that state law is a possibility that your craft will swamp. Don't must be treated. 71 Big 73 19th and early 20th centuries. A log drive down the requires be on board overload your canoe. Snag-ridden waters often are Lake 53 Nett Lake and Little Fork rivers to the Rainy in the boat for each trickier to negotiate than whitewater. Underwater • Respect Winnibigoshish 6 135 65 169 1937 was the last major drive in the region. person. obstacles can easily tip a canoe. Watch carefully. private property. 38 Hibbing 2 Stop only at 169 73 HANNINE FALLS Louis Wildlife • Bring a first aid kit UX ACCESS designated sites; Leech Grand Rapids COUNTY 495 ROAD Rating Whitewater Lake 6 2 that includes much of the St.

Timber wolves, bobcat, lynx, beaver, otter, bald waterproof matches. DEVEREA shoreland is Cloquet The Little Fork River is bounded by low banks, Rivers and rapids are rated according to the nearly level land, and a dense forest of pine, spruce, eagle, and osprey are occasionally sighted. Big game private property. 169 Duluth International Scale of River Difficulty. Ratings are 65 2 53 73 fir, aspen, and birch. Farms and farm houses flank includes moose, black bear, and white-tailed deer. • Bring an extra paddle in your canoe. Mississippi estimates based on observations at low or moderate 210 LAKE the upper river, which is crossed by several bridges. Ruffed grouse and several species of ducks are water levels or on secondhand reports. • Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or 210 SUPERIOR But the stretch from the State Highway 65 bridge common. • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as bury human waste away from the river. 27 at river mile 97.7, to where the road again crosses overhanging and dead trees in the river. CLASS I. Easy rapids with small waves and few the stream at river mile 57, is wild and nearly obstructions. inaccessible. Farther downstream, development • You must pack out all trash. Sustainable Ecosystems again is more evident, particularly near the town of Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources CLASS II. Rapids with waves up to three feet high. is an Equal Opportunity Employer” Littlefork. • Leave only footprints; take only photographs! Some maneuvering is required. and attractive natural environment. Sustainable outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks Water levels can speed or slow you down. You CLASS III. Difficult rapids with high, irregular outdoors without negative impacts on the This information is available in alternative underlie the watershed. Outcrops are infrequent. can get information about water levels from the environment. format upon request. waves capable of swamping an open canoe. The lower river glides over flat land that once was area DNR Trails and Waterways office, or check Narrow chutes may require extensive the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz the DNR website, or the DNR Information maneuvering. Usually considered the limit for an Communities working together can improve Center. Remember that much of the shorelands experienced paddler in an open canoe. Red clay and other suspended solids cloud the are privately owned. Respect and protect the water resources by promoting environmentally sensitive land use practices along rivers and Minnesota State Parks and Trails water, especially during heavy rains. Even in low water and shorelands. CLASS IV. Long, turbulent rapids with high,

Area Office COUNTY 114 ROAD throughout watersheds. water, the river carries a dark tint. Although good irregular waves, constricted passages, and 650 Highway 169 for swimming, the water must be disinfected and Boating Information blind drops. Decked canoes and kayaks only; open Tower, MN 55790 filtered before it can be drunk. canoes should be Natural shoreline buffers improve water quality 218-753-2580 ext.250 Fishing • Register your portaged. Stream flow generally peaks in late April and watercraft. All by filtering out pollutants and sediments. Healthy and diverse native shoreline plant communities are Online water trail information and maps can falls during the summer, when rapids may be Walleye, northern pike and muskie, smallmouth watercraft more CLASS V. Long, violent impassible. Heavy summer or autumn rains can bass and rock bass are found. Sturgeon are also than 9 feet in length, attractive and provide important shoreline habitat be found at mndnr.gov/watertrails rapids with complex for birds and wildlife raise the river to runnable levels. The U.S. found throughout the river, but are not legal game. including nonmotorized routes and steep drops or Geological Survey maintains a gauge on the river at canoes and kayaks, waterfalls. Hazard to life mile 21.6 on the river right. A reading of 1.7 feet or Planning A Safe River Trip must be registered in in the event of a mishap. DNR Information Center above is the level for optimal flow. Minnesota or your Runnable only by experts A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe state of residence. The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free in decked boats. Natural journey, you should be prepared by doing the Shorelands publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions The Little 40% evaporation pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota. Fork drops following: • Not all portions of CLASS VI. Cannot be 10% runoff 225 feet from this water trail are COUNTY 356 ROAD attempted without great 500 Lafayette Road 50% infiltration St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 Cook to its • Get acquainted with your route. Plan your trip suitable for motor use. risk to life. 651-296-6157 Metro Area mouth, an with a map before you depart and advise Altered Shorelands 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free average of 1.6 someone of your plans including planned Canoeing on Large Rivers 30% evaporation Rest Areas and Camping Sites 55% runoff mndnr.gov feet per mile. departure and arrival times. 15% infiltration The upper The wide variety of waters can provide an

NEAR LITTLEFORK • Public rest areas are available along the route stretch from • Travel with a companion or group. equally wide variety of hazards to canoeists. to rest, picnic and explore. Cook to the Although the Little Fork is often very placid, the Cover Photo: Samuelson Park first State Highway 65 bridge falls 2.7 feet per current can be quick and powerful when the river is • Camp only in designated campsites, which are All Photos: MN DNR mile. near or at flood stage. But most dangers can be available on a first-come, first-served basis. © 2016 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources