THE PINE

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This Pine River is the one that flows southeast into the Menominee River in Northern Wisconsin. There is another floatable Pine River in Wisconsin that flows through Poy Sippi into Lake Poygan much farther south. There is yet another navigable Pine River that flows into the lower Wisconsin west of Lone Rock. I hope to be reporting on these other two Pine Rivers eventually. Now that you're thouroughly confused........

Kris and I paddled this little river on a warm late summer day. We put in about seven miles upstream of Chipmonk Rapids. The river here was shallow and rocky at the low summer flow. We didn't mind having to drag the canoe off of rocks a time or two. There are no real rapids on the upper part of this stretch, but plenty of rocky shallows. Trout and chubs most certainly abide in the cool riffles.

A few hours downstream, the river begins to meander through meadows and is not as rocky. You'll find some nice sandy bottoms perfect for a quick skinny dip. Since this river is so remote, and because it's so shallow, you won't find too many other paddlers.

The lower, slower section of this stretch of the Pine ends with Chipmonk Rapids, which consists of two pitches. At low water levels it's a challenge to get through without getting stuck on a rock. Medium water levels should make for a fun but easy time of it. The takeout is a bridge on a Forest Service road. Across the road, you will find a small campground with six sites. If you would rather camp by a lake with a nice swimming beach, there is another campground with 26 sites at Lost lake, just a mile away.