Baltimore River Kayaking Guide

The Baltimore River is a 33.6-mile wilderness river in Ontonagon County, in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula. It rises in Haight Township and flows north through the Ottawa National Forest to join the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River, which carries its water onward to Lake Superior.

The Baltimore's claim to fame is O Kun de Kun Falls, where the river drops about 15 feet over a sandstone ledge in one of the UP's few true plunging waterfalls. The falls are a shore attraction reached by trail — not a paddling feature — and they divide the river into separate reaches no through-paddler can connect.

There is no documented paddling route, outfitter, or public kayak launch on the Baltimore River. It is an angler's and hiker's river: remote, forested, and known for the falls. Any paddle here would be exploratory, and the falls demand that every trip be planned above or below them, never through them.

Paddling the Baltimore River

Headwaters to O Kun de Kun Falls

The Baltimore rises in Haight Township and winds north through Ottawa National Forest country — a remote, lightly traveled river. No put-in, mileage, or difficulty rating is published for this reach. Expect a small wilderness river with beaver activity and deadfall, and take out well upstream of the falls: the river gives no warning you can count on.

O Kun de Kun Falls

The falls drop roughly 15 feet over a sandstone ledge, with an additional smaller drop upstream. This is a mandatory stop for any boat — scout it from the trail, not from the water. The North Country Trail reaches the falls on a roughly 2.7-mile loop from the trailhead parking lot off US-45 north of Bruce Crossing, making it an easy side trip for hikers.

Below the falls to the Middle Branch Ontonagon

Below O Kun de Kun, the Baltimore continues north to its confluence with the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River. No paddling route is documented on this lower reach either. Water levels, strainers, and access are all unverified — treat it as exploratory water in remote country.

Hazards & Portages

O Kun de Kun Falls is the defining hazard: a 15-foot plunge that must be portaged with a wide margin, approached only from well-signed trail viewpoints, never from a boat upstream. Beyond the falls, this is remote country — expect logjams and beaver dams in the narrow channel, cold water, and little to no cell service. Verify flows before going; a small wilderness river can swing from runnable to a scratchy portage-fest with the season.

Access & Parking

No DNR or public boat launch is documented on the Baltimore River. The nearest signed trailhead is the North Country Trail parking lot off US-45 north of Bruce Crossing, which serves the falls trail rather than a launch. Forest roads cross the upper river in places, but these are not maintained paddling accesses — confirm land status and carry-in feasibility before committing.

Map

Approximate reference point for the Baltimore River near O Kun de Kun Falls — exact falls location is approximate.