Wisconsin | Northeast Wisconsin
Menominee RiverMill Street Landing to Piers Gorge Road Landing
Short, committing border-river whitewater run through Piers Gorge from Niagara to the Michigan-side Piers Gorge Road landing, with Sand Portage Falls, Missicot Falls, 2 Sisters, Terminal Surfer, and powerful dam-release hydraulics. This is an expert-oriented Class IV route, not a recreational float.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Niagara Mill Street Landing and paddle the Menominee through Piers Gorge to the Piers Gorge Road Landing. The route starts broad and fast, then compresses into a Class IV gorge with Sand Portage Falls, Missicot Falls, 2 Sisters, Terminal Surfer, and several powerful play features.
Access map
Put-in
Niagara Mill Street LandingMill Street Landing has hand-carry access, parking, trailer turnaround, and a pit toilet according to Wisconsin Trail Guide.
Take-out
Piers Gorge Road LandingPiers Gorge Road Landing is about 200 yards below Terminal Surfer on river left, downstream of a narrow slough; identify it before committing to the lower gorge.
Road shuttle
Run a short cross-border shuttle from Mill Street Landing in Niagara to the Piers Gorge Road access off Highway 8 in Michigan. The river mile is short, but scout time, dam-release timing, and rescue planning can dominate the day.
Additional access notes
- The take-out is in Michigan within the Piers Gorge unit of the Menominee River State Recreation Area, while the put-in is in Niagara, Wisconsin.
More route and safety guidance
- Little Quinnesec Falls Dam releases can raise the river rapidly. Check the Niagara gauge and current release information shortly before launching.
- Missicot Falls, undercut Volkswagen Rock, the Sisters, and Terminal Surfer have powerful hydraulics and pinning consequences. Identify the river-left take-out immediately below Terminal Surfer before committing.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Menominee River at Niagara, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route-specific guide2.9 miles; Class IV
Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes Menominee River ME1 from Mill Street Landing in Niagara to Piers Gorge Road Landing, with 2.9 miles, 40 feet of drop, and Missicot Falls as the most difficult rapid.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 04065106 at Niagara
USGS identifies 04065106 as Menominee River at Niagara, WI, 0.7 mile downstream from Little Quinnesec Falls Dam with real-time discharge data.
- Lower runnable window600 to 1400 cfs
Wisconsin Trail Guide treats 600-800 cfs as low runnable and 800-1400 cfs as low to medium runnable, while warning that intermediate paddlers are pushed near the high end.
- Upper ceiling5000+ cfs not recommended
The guide describes 3000-5000 cfs as powerful high water for paddlers who know the run at lower levels and says above 5000 cfs is rare, unusually high flow where paddling is not recommended.
- Endpoint coordinates45.77032, -87.98863 to 45.75834, -87.93907
Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes NAD83 / WGS84 coordinates for Niagara Mill Street Landing and Piers Gorge Road Landing in the ME1 guide.
- Public recreation contextMenominee River State Recreation Area
Michigan DNR describes the comanaged recreation area as a Wisconsin/Michigan Menominee River corridor destination with whitewater rafting and kayaking, including the Piers Gorge Unit.
- HazardsMissicot Falls, Terminal Surfer, 2 Sisters, dam releases
Scout before committing. Wisconsin Trail Guide warns that water levels rise rapidly during dam releases and calls out powerful hydraulics, sticky holes, and Class III-IV features throughout the gorge.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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