US-41 to the Sturgeon
Pool-drop whitewater
Rocky ledges, boulder gardens and tight chutes with short pools between. The harder moves come where the gradient steepens.
Upper Peninsula River Guide / Baraga County to the Sturgeon River
Tioga River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
A small Baraga County trout stream whose last two miles are serious whitewater. From the falls at Tioga Creek Roadside Park on US-41, the Tioga drops through rocky ledges and boulder gardens to the Sturgeon River. It's a short, intense run for experienced whitewater paddlers, and a beautiful roadside stop for everyone else.
RegionWestern Upper Peninsula
CountiesBaraga
WatershedSturgeon River, then Portage Lake and Lake Superior
Great Lake BasinLake Superior
River LengthAbout 16.8 miles
PaddleableUS-41 to the Sturgeon River, 2.2 miles of whitewater
Best SeasonSpring snowmelt
MouthSturgeon River, Baraga County
Before you launch: whitewater paddlers only
- Class II to IV: American Whitewater rates this run Class II to IV. Recreational and touring kayaks don't belong here.
- Falls and ledges: scout every drop on your first run and portage anything you're unsure of.
- Hard exit: the run ends on the Sturgeon River, and the Sturgeon below US-41 is Class IV to V. Know exactly how you'll get off the river before you put on.
- Cold water: spring melt is the best flow and the coldest water. Dress for immersion.
River History
The Tioga runs through the hardwood, hemlock and cedar country of Baraga County, near L'Anse and Keweenaw Bay. This was Ojibwe land long before the lumber and mining eras, and the L'Anse Indian Reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community lies nearby.
Logging crews worked these forests in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and US-41 later followed the old routes through the area. Today Tioga Creek Roadside Park, where the river tumbles over rocky falls next to the highway, is one of the most popular stops on US-41 in the western UP.
River Map
River Overview
The Tioga River is a 16.8-mile tributary of the Sturgeon River in Baraga County. Most of it is a small, rocky trout stream. Its last stretch, from the US-41 crossing at Tioga Creek Roadside Park to the Sturgeon River, is a 2.2-mile whitewater run listed by American Whitewater.
Upper river
Small, rocky trout stream through forest. Not a paddling run.
Tioga Creek Roadside Park, US-41
Put-in beside the falls and rapids at the highway.
Whitewater run
About 2.2 miles of pool-drop water: ledges, boulder gardens and tight chutes.
Sturgeon River
The Tioga ends at the Sturgeon. The Sturgeon below US-41 is Class IV to V.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
There's no USGS gage on the Tioga. The Sturgeon River near Alston is the closest live gage and the best guide to whether the area's rivers are running.
How to read it
When the Sturgeon near Alston is running well above its summer flow, usually during spring melt, the Tioga is likely runnable. When the Sturgeon is low, the Tioga is scrapy and rocky.
Look at the falls from the roadside park before you decide.
Paddling Character
Michigan Water Trails
The Tioga is not a designated Michigan Water Trail. Baraga County's whitewater runs, including the Sturgeon, Silver, Slate and Falls rivers, are listed by American Whitewater.
Check American Whitewater for current reach descriptions.
American WhitewaterDams & Portages
Baraga County
No dams
There are no dams on the run, but the natural falls and ledges at and below the roadside park are the main hazards. Scout and portage as needed.
Launches
Listed upstream to downstream. Confirm parking, fees and current conditions before you go.
US-41
Tioga Creek Roadside Park
Put-in beside the falls. A rest stop, not a boat launch, so park considerately and carry your boat to the water.
MapSturgeon River
Take-out on the Sturgeon
American Whitewater lists the take-out downstream on the Sturgeon. Check it on a topo map and plan your exit before you go.
MapCamping
Keweenaw Bay
Baraga State Park
State park campground on Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior, about 20 minutes away. A Recreation Passport is required.
State forest
State forest campgrounds
Rustic DNR campgrounds and state forest land are nearby.
Wildlife & Fishing
Wildlife
Deer, black bear, otter, ravens and bald eagles live in the forest around the Tioga. Brook trout use the river's cold pools.
Fishing
The Tioga is a small trout stream. Check the current Michigan fishing guide for rules.
Safety
Safety essentials
- Wear a PFD and helmet the whole time.
- Scout every drop on your first run.
- Paddle in a group with whitewater rescue skills and throw ropes.
- Know your exit from the Sturgeon before you put on.
Rules, passes and private land
- A Michigan Recreation Passport is needed at state parks and many state-run launches.
- Much of the riverbank is private. Stop only on public land or where you have permission.
- Leave No Trace: pack out all trash.
What to pack
- Spare paddle, bilge pump, throw bag and whistle
- Dry bag with warm layers
- Map or GPS track with your take-out marked
- Whitewater boat and spray skirt
- Helmet and throw rope
- Drysuit or wetsuit for cold water
Best Time & Access
Spring
Snowmelt brings the best flows and the coldest water.
Summer
Usually too low and rocky.
Fall
Runnable only after big rain.
Winter
Frozen. Not recommended.
From Grand Rapids, the Tioga is about seven and a half hours north. Take US-131 and I-75 north to the Mackinac Bridge, then US-2 west and US-41 north toward L'Anse.
Trip Planning
Park and play
Many paddlers carry back up to run the best drops more than once.
Combine
Pair the Tioga with other Baraga County whitewater, like the Sturgeon, Silver and Slate rivers.
Go in spring
Plan around snowmelt. Summer flows are usually too low.
Check before you go
Look at the Sturgeon gages and American Whitewater's reach notes.
River Difficulty
We use the American Whitewater difficulty scale. American Whitewater rates the Tioga from US-41 to the Sturgeon River as Class II to IV.
US-41 to the Sturgeon River
Technical pool-drop whitewater. Experienced whitewater paddlers only.
Quick Reference
| Length | About 16.8 miles |
|---|---|
| Whitewater run | US-41 to the Sturgeon River, 2.2 miles |
| Put-in | Tioga Creek Roadside Park, US-41 |
| Mouth | Sturgeon River |
| Nearest towns | L'Anse, Baraga |
| Gage | None. Use the Sturgeon near Alston (04041500) |
| Best season | Spring snowmelt |
| Difficulty | Class II-IV (American Whitewater) |