A surprise to find whitewater when least expected

[gringo jim]

The local rivers levels are running higher than normal. Just out of sheer curiosity, we recently checked out two places that would never work under normal conditions.

Much to our surprise it worked out way better than thought!

Then a bonus, found 3 small but nice standing waves!

One place is a busy neighborhood park, that drew plenty of attention. Some skateboard kids totally got it right away, others thought we were like aliens or something.

Anyway, amazing two days of whitewater fun at least expected locations.

[Badfish]

right on Jim.  Stoked you are finding fun places to paddle.  There is a new whitewater course in Petoskey you might want to check out.  I am not sure where that is relative to you, but just a heads up in case you hadn't hear.  It is the Bear River.  Hope you keep finding fun!

[gringo jim]

Thanks for the info. Read a news article about how some cities in Michigan are re engineering natural river flow and create whitewater parks to attract yakkers (sup'ers). Ann Arbor, Flint and Grand Rapids.

Hmmm, now have to make it to Petoskey.

[XLR8]

The Bear River offers a nice stretch of water that I feel is Class III during high levels.  Check the area below Sherman.

Also, Mount Pleasant has a nice little stretch in the area formerly known as "the dams,"  just above Island Park (and situated nicely near MountainTown Brewery).

Mt. P also has a nice chute on Drew Rd, way upstream near Coldwater Rd.  It's just the one chute but it's worth paddling a half mile upstream to get to.  Real fun.

 

[gringo jim]

Good just got better!

We revisited the rapids in the park the other day, levels are still higher than normal. Decided go up river a bit, a part didn't run yet. Had to walk this nature trail about 1/4 mile to the river. Much to our surprise (again) another really nice rapid run we didn't know about.

Walking through the wooded trail was an adventure in it's self. That was really neat.

XLR8, thanks for the info. Have the spots mapped out and will check them out in the next few weeks when I have vacation time off. BTW, do you know of anything about a series of rapids north of Ann Arbor, on the Huron River? That's another one on my list.