Whenever the words "High Water Alert" appear at the top of our home page they are referring to the Peshtigo River water levels, however when the Peshtigo is running at higher levels the Menominee usually is as well. The high water alert does not necessarily mean that the river is at flood levels or the rapid conditions are severe, it simply means that the water is at optimum levels. We place the high water alert at the top of our home page whenever the Peshtigo River level is at bank-full stage or higher. To better understand what the water levels mean just look at the river gauge chart listed in The Peshtigo River section below, as you will see, the high water alert level is just the beginning of some awesome water and great fun!

Return to top of Page

We run these raft trips on the "Roaring Rapids" section of the Peshtigo River. This 4 1/2 mile section of the river has seven major rapids and is rain fed, meaning there are no man made dams or natural obstructions which hold back or control the flow of the water. Therefore Mother Nature is completely in charge of the water levels and as a result they are constantly changing.

There is no real way for anyone to accurately predict what the water level will be on any given day throughout the year, typically the water is at it highest in the Spring months (April-May) then the levels gradually decreases as the summer runs on. The river levels can rise as much as 4 inches for every 1-inch of rain that falls into the water shed and cam fall up to an inch per day when there is no rain. That is until the river reaches -3 on the gauge. Then the river only loses 1/10th -1/20th of an inch per day. There are many other factors which effect the water levels such as snowfall, accumulated snow and ice on the ground, ice levels in the river, frost depth and the ground water table levels.

We have seen high and low water at all times of the year and there is no time when the river will consistently be at a certain level. So we are always prepared to run a variety of different sized rafts to help ensure the best possible run at any level.

Below is a chart that is designed to give you an idea of the size of raft we are most likely to run with at different water levels. There are other factors besides water levels that we also take into consideration when determining the size of raft and number of people in each raft, they include the size, condition and experience levels of the rafters as well as the weather and water conditions and temperatures.

For those of you who do not know, a Funyak is a 1-person self-bailing raft. These are a thrill in higher water and great for lower water levels. Funyaks are perfect for even first timers and beginners, in fact they are easier to learn how to paddle than a raft. You'll get a double-bladed kayak paddle and full instruction before the trip. Because you are alone in the raft you have more control, you don't have to try to coordinate your paddling skills with others in the raft. Being alone also means there is less weight in the raft, which makes it easier to move around or off obstacles if you should encounter some. Just keep in mind that even though you are alone in the raft you are never alone on the river, we always have staff on hand with every trip happy to assist you.

Return to top of Page

These escorted trips* start at our main headquarters which is located on the shores of the Peshtigo River. This is where everyone will check-in and receive their helmet, life jacket and Paddle as well as any optional rental equipment they may need, such as wet suits, spray jackets or gloves (wet suits and Booties are included with Spring trips). Once everyone is prepared, the group will board a bus and travel just a few minutes upstream to the put-in where their rafts will be waiting. Once off the bus there will be a full orientation where everyone will receive instructions for proper use of the equipment, tips to help navigate the river and what to look for and what to do if anyone should go for an unexpected swim.

The Peshtigo is actually one of the finest rivers in the country for the first timers, beginners and those with little or no rafting experience. The rapids maintain a class III average all year long (with an occasional class IV in high water) which makes it perfect for entry-level rafters while still exciting enough for seasoned rafters.

The trip will start off with a scenic 1-1/2 miles of class I-II rapids. Bordered mostly by trees and wildlife, the sights of this section really shouldn't be missed by those with a little experience, as for those who have never rafted before this is a great entry-level section. The water is fast enough to be respected but simple enough to allow everyone the chance to get comfortable with their equipment and the river before the major rapids begin.

(First Drop in Spring)

The next 2 1/2 miles is where the fun really begins. This section of the river contains the seven major rapids. The Rapids are named 1st Drop (class II-III), 2nd Drop (class II-III), 3rd drop (class III), Joey's Hole (class III), Five-foot (class III), Horse Race (class III-IV) and S-Curve (class II-III).

Everyone will want to be alert and aggressive throughout this section because there are no breaks. Between the major rapids are more class I-II rapids with fast currents and little time to rest .

The next section of the river is about 1/2-mile of fun class I-II rapids. This section tends to be enjoyed by all because all of the big stuff is behind and everyone is much more comfortable with the raft and the river. Some race to finish, some let the water do most of the work while they enjoy the ride and others try to hone their paddling skills as they weave back and forth tying to catch every wave in this section.

(First Drop in Summer)

The last 1/2-mile section of the river is the time to relax. The river starts to widen and the current slows down as the Caldron Falls Reservoir begins. This is where most will kick back reflect and admire the scenery that most seem to miss upstream. Others will jump in and float the rest of the way back while some will share their personal experience of the trip with friends on the trip.

The trip ends right where it began at Kosirs main headquarters. Here Kosir's has a private take-out only steps away from where everyone checked-in. Finishing the trip in a familiar location is especially nice for larger groups and families in multiple rafts which might not stay together once on the river. And don't worry about being lost or left behind, the last person to finish each one of our trips is a Kosirs staff member making sure everyone has made it back to shore without question. Everyone will finish the trip within walking distance from the shower house, cabin, campsite, vehicle and the restaurant. The length of the trips will vary with water and weather conditions but average about 2 hours in Spring and 3 hours in Summer.

* Kosir Staff members escort all Peshtigo river trips. In higher water conditions guides may be in the raft with your group.

Return to top of Page

The Peshtigo River bridge gauge located on the NE corner of the bridge has become the standard means of measure for the "Roaring Rapids" section of the Peshtigo River. These numbers simply represent a "stick in the water" so to speak. Many summer rafters have never seen the river running in positive numbers and many Spring rafters have never seen the river in negative numbers. Many people looking at the gauge numbers for the first time are often confused by the significant changes which can occur from day to day and week to week or by the "negative" numbers which are often seen in the summer months. The gauge number themselves have changed throughout the years, each time the bridge had been replaced so has the gauge. The original gauge was started many years ago by placing 1-inch marks up and down from the bottom of the first drain tile outlet on the bridge. Drain tile are a series of discharge pipes that are designed to relieve the excess pressure against the retaining walls of a bridge by draining the water which seeps into the ground. Each time the bridge had been replaced so was the drain tile, and the drain tile was usually not in the same place so the gauge readings shifted a little. Fortunately the bridges aren't changed that often so the gauge readings stay consistent for quite some time. One other thing to note, the drain tiles are designed to drain the excess ground water into the river. These tiles are usually situated above the normal average flow level of the river. With the drain tile representing a zero on the gauge it is easy to see how or why we can run in the negative numbers. Think of negative numbers as the norm and positive numbers as a bonus!

Here is a picture of the actual bridge gauge with the water level at zero, note the drain tile at the bottom of the numbers. The numbers that you see on the gauge are foot markers, so if the water were at the #2 on the gauge the river level would be a +24.

The USGS has since placed a gauge of there own at this location which measures the river in csf (cubic feet per second) as well as height in feet (they also use a different benchmark which makes the translation between the two difficult). Their gauge is approximately 4 feet higher than the bridge gauge and although the USGS gauge has been in place for many years and can be accessed in real time via the internet, everyone still refers to the old bridge gauge as the standard for river conditions. We update our readings every morning during rafting season.

Return to top of Page

The Menominee River is a large volume dam controlled river, with the dam located just above the raft put-in. The amount of water released by the dam is determined by the amount of water that the dam requires to produce power and the amount of rainfall in the area. The Menominee typically will run at lower levels at night and then will see a large volume release late morning through the evening. The nice thing about the Menominee River is that we are able to run the large 6-12 person rafts at any level. Although lower water levels do involve a little more work and paddling in the calm section of the river the "Piers Gorge" section where the five major rapids are located is always runable. The Menominee trips cover a 4 1/2-mile section of the river which begins in Niagara Wisconsin and Ends in Norway Michigan.

Return to top of Page

These trips begin in Niagara Wisconsin at our Menominee River outpost located on US HWY 8 about 1 1/2 miles East off of Hwy 141. Here you will check-in and receive your helmet and life jacket or any optional equipment you may need, such as a wet suit or spray jacket. Once everyone is geared up and ready there will be a brief orientation and then a short bus ride to the put-in. Located just below the Little Quinnesec Dam, the put-in overlooks one of the largest flows in the Midwest which is shadowed under the massive 200 foot high cliffs on the Michigan side of the river. This impressive view continues for the first 1 1/2 miles of the trip where the river runs wide and slow, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the scenery and get comfortable with the raft and equipment.

The next 1 mile of the trip starts off with Sand Portage Falls. A pleasant Class II-III rapid which was named by the early Indians that lived in the area many years ago. Here the river starts to narrow a bit and the flow rate increases. The river is still tame enough to take in the scenery but be prepared to start paddling.

At the end of this section is a small sand take out where everyone on the trip will get out and re-group. Once all the rafts are ashore everyone will be escorted up a trail along side the river. This path will take everyone to a cliff overlooking Misicot Falls and most of Piers Gorge where everyone will get a chance to see the rapids before they raft through them. Once everyone has had a chance to take in the awesome view there is a final orientation. Everyone is then divided into groups and introduced to their guide who will give everyone their final instruction and personally escort them in their raft for this section of the river.

In this class IV section of the river the rapids are so close together that it seems more like one long continuous rapid. The adventure starts with a 10-foot drop over Misicot Falls, you'll then follow the wave train to Volkswagen rock and then through the Island rapids and straight into the Twin Sisters. Just downstream from the second sister the river widens up and slows down a bit.

The groups will then pull their rafts onto shore and catch their breath. Then everyone will follow their guide on a trail back upstream for a chance to see the next raft go through the rapids. From there your guide will again lead you back on a trail upstream where everyone will get to raft this section a second time!*

This feature to see the rapids before running them as well as running them twice make this the perfect trip for those who have little or no experience or are a little unsure about rafting big water. Seeing the rapids before running them puts many people at ease and running the same section twice means that one of Kosir's staff is always on shore if anyone should choose not to raft this section or only wishes to do it once. We offer the second run on most of our trips to allow everyone the chance to raft with their eyes open! *

Once everyone has rafted through Piers George the entire group is escorted about 1/2 mile down the river to the take-out. Here the same bus that dropped everyone off will be waiting to take everyone back to the outpost, which is only a couple of miles away. The length of the trips will vary with water and weather conditions but average about 4 hours.

* Very high water levels may prohibit us from allowing rafters to view the rapids and re-run the gorge a second time.

Return to top of Page

Return to top of Page