Menominee River
About
From the Menominee Nation's ancestral waters, 116 miles of river form the boundary between Wisconsin's Marinette County and Michigan's Dickinson County before joining Green Bay. The Menominee carries substantial flow — 2,400 CFS average with an optimal range of 500–3,500 — supporting everything from Class I smallmouth bass water in the upper reaches to the two-mile Piers Gorge section that delivers the Midwest's most technical whitewater at Class III–V. Below the gorge, the lower Menominee settles into Class I–II water managed as ADNR Class A sturgeon habitat, with walleye runs that complement the lake sturgeon restoration efforts. The 2020 rehabilitation milestone marked significant progress in bringing back native sturgeon populations. Kosir's Rapid Rafts guides commercial trips through Piers Gorge, where granite walls compress the river into standing waves and hydraulics that demand precise boat handling. USGS gauge 04067500 tracks flows that can push well above the upper optimal range during spring melt and storm events.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.