Black River Kayaking Guide

The Black River of Gogebic County is one of the most famous paddling and waterfall river systems in Michigan's Upper Peninsula — a federally designated National Wild and Scenic River in the Ottawa National Forest that drops toward Lake Superior at Black River Harbor, about 15 miles north of Bessemer.

Its lower stretch is known as Waterfall Alley: Conglomerate Falls (farthest upstream), then Potawatomi, Gorge, Sandstone, and Rainbow Falls spread over about two miles, with the river dropping more than 200 feet through a steep gorge. The upper river offers quiet wilderness floating — slow to moderate current through tight forest corridors — while the gorge section is expert whitewater, not a continuous kayak run. The Forest Service itself notes that spring snowmelt and ice breakup bring high flows and 'daredevil kayakers' to the falls.

Access follows the Black River National Scenic Byway (County Road 513), with trailhead parking for each waterfall, plus Black River Harbor's campground, day-use area, boat launch, and sand beach. Sea kayakers and paddleboarders launch at the harbor to work the Lake Superior shoreline; expert whitewater kayakers run the gorge only in narrow spring windows. Ironwood's Whitecap Kayak is the local outfitter for guided trips.

Paddling the Black River

Upper Black River — Wilderness Float

The reaches north of the falls corridor, accessible at forest road crossings north of Wakefield, offer remote, lightly paddled floating: slow to moderate current, tight forest corridors, and occasional deadfall and strainers. These sections are condition-dependent Class I–II — best scouted in person, since put-ins are informal pull-offs and bridges. The feel is deep wilderness.

Waterfall Alley — Expert Whitewater Only

From Conglomerate Falls downstream through Potawatomi, Gorge, Sandstone, and Rainbow Falls to the harbor, the river is a steep gorge system with mandatory portages around each drop. At high spring flows it is a nationally known expert whitewater run — and a known dangerous one. This section is not continuously navigable; treat every falls as a hard barrier unless you are an expert whitewater paddler who has scouted it at the current flow.

Black River Harbor — Lake Superior Launch

The harbor at the river's mouth has a boat launch and sand beach where sea kayakers and paddleboarders put onto Lake Superior. Paddling upstream from the harbor, you can get close to Rainbow Falls, crossing under the historic suspension bridge. This is big-lake paddling: cold water, wind, and wave exposure apply.

Hazards & Portages

This river's danger is real and documented: a whitewater kayaker died on the Black River in April 2016. Five major waterfalls in two miles mean mandatory portages; strainers and deadfall complicate the upper river; and spring high water that makes the gorge runnable is exactly what makes it lethal. Below the falls, Lake Superior brings its own cold-water and weather hazards. Paddle well within your limits — and never without a PFD.

Access & Parking

The Black River National Scenic Byway (County Road 513) serves trailhead parking for Conglomerate, Potawatomi, Gorge, Sandstone, and Rainbow Falls — these are hiking trailheads, not paddling put-ins. Black River Harbor has a campground, day-use area, boat launch, and beach. Upper-river access is via forest roads north of Wakefield; confirm road conditions and land status before using informal put-ins. Contact the Bessemer Ranger District (906-932-1330) for current information.

Map

Black River Harbor, at the Black River's mouth on Lake Superior.