Presque Isle River, Michigan

Lake Superior Chippewa historical mural

1,910 miles

March 31 – I’m in the Ottawa National Forest, having recently crossed the Montreal River, at a crossing for a French-named river), and I’m wondering why I’m surrounded by names from eastern Canada.  Did the early explorers & namers have so little knowledge of this area and so little imagination that they just repeated names from the east?  I rather like the French term “presque isle” or “presqu’île”.  Literally, it means “almost island”, so it is used to mean “peninsula”.

This area was historically part of the territory of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa, which had twelve bands in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

old railroad bridge over the Presque Isle River

This river has many small & interesting waterfalls, cascades, & rapids, but not here.  Here, where Michigan Highway 28 crosses the river, is the blankest part of any regional map.  Elsewhere, waterfalls and campsites and hiking trails and visitor centers and scenic overlooks dot the cartography.  Here the river slowly winds its way to other, more precipitous drops.  Parallel to the highway is an old railroad.

potholes & whitewater on the lower Presque Isle River

Portions of this river are considered to be the most challenging whitewater in Michigan, if not in the Midwest. This river is listed as one of the ten North American rivers that "defines the outer edge of contemporary whitewater paddling."

image:  Google Street Views

whitewater image & info:  http://www.michiganpaddlesports.com/html/presque_isle_river.html