The Menominee River is formed approximately 10 miles northwest of Iron Mountain, Michigan, by the confluence of the Brule and Michigamme rivers and forms the border between Wisconsin and Michigan along its 116 mile long course. As the river flows southeast it picks up the Pine River and travels past Kingsford, Michigan and Niagara, Wisconsin. It then flows generally south, making broad meanders collecting the Sturgeon, Pemebonwon and Pike rivers. It enters Green Bay on Lake Michigan from the north between the "twin cities" of Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan.
Along its course the Menominee River has been converted into a series of large reservoirs. The waters contained in these reservoirs are some of the area's deepest and cleanest lakes. Many of the lands around those waters are managed for recreational use, which ensures conservation and restricts shoreline development. The lakes are pristine, with wild shores of forest lands instead of rows of cottages and docks.
The Menominee River is widely known as a "world class" smallmouth fishery. Since this river forms the boundary between Wisconsin and Michigan there are special fishing regulations in effect. A Wisconsin resident does not need a Michigan fishing license, even if they are fishing along the Michigan shoreline and vice versa.
The Menominee river also has numerous dams and flowages along its course. These dams slow the flow of the river and can make the river quite wide and relatively calm, and very suitable for boat traffic. Canoeists and kayakers should be prepared for waves from these boating anglers. Paddlers should also be aware of wind direction when planning a river float because with the wide river width it can be like fishing in a lake. High headwinds may make a river float into a struggle. Much of the river is tree lined and unspoiled. However the river also passes through some more developed cities along its course. There are also a few areas of whitewater rapids (Class III - IV) that are not suited for angling.
The Menominee River landscape is characterized by glaciated topography with sandy, well-drained soils as well as steep outcropping bedrock knolls. This area supports extensive oak and pine barrens and jack pine forests. Northern hardwood and red and white pine forests are interspersed throughout the landscape. Most of the area is forested, predominantly with aspen and paper birch. Jack pine stands remain on the outwash plains along with northern pin oak.
Besides its awesome smallmouth bass fishing, the Menominee River also offers muskie, walleye, northern pike, and largemouth bass fishing. While fishing it is common to see bald eagles, osprey, white tailed deer, bear, otter and other wild life.
The name of the river comes from an Ojibwe Algonquian term meaning "wild rice", or "in the place of wild rice." They used the same name for the river as for the historic Menominee tribe who lived in the area and used the plant as a staple. The Menominee Indians are the only Native American tribe living in Wisconsin today whose origin was in the present-day state.
The Chippewa also lived in the upper portion of the river basin and referred to the river as Me-ne-cane Sepe or "Many Little Islands River". In the Jesuit Relations, the French missionary priests referred to the river as Rivière de la Folle Avoine or "Wild Oats River", again a reference to the wild rice in the area.
The region through which the river flows was formerly a center of iron ore mining and logging industries.
No map of the complete Menominee River was located
USGS 04067500 MENOMINEE RIVER NEAR MC ALLISTER, WI
USGS 04066800 MENOMINEE RIVER AT KOSS, MI
USGS 04066030 MENOMINEE RIVER AT WHITE RAPIDS DAM NEAR BANAT, MI
USGS 04066003 MENOMINEE RIVER BELOW PEMENE CREEK NEAR PEMBINE,WI
USGS 04065106 MENOMINEE RIVER AT NIAGARA, WI
USGS 04063000 MENOMINEE RIVER NEAR FLORENCE, WI
Cycle Path - (Closed on Sundays)
2329 13th Street - Menominee, MI
906-863-9361
Northwoods Wilderness Outfitters
N-4088 Pine Mountain Road, Iron Mountain, MI 49801
906-774-9009
randy.northwoodsoutfitters@gmail.com
Wild Rivers Adventure Company
209 Central Ave, Florence, WI 54121
(715) 952-8027
Since no river maps could be located that identified river miles or show accurate topographic elevations it is impossible to provide accurate distances of river floats or river gradients. Trip lengths were measured on Google Maps using the measuring feature.
It is possible to put in at Lighthouse Ann Arbor Point Park Landing (L) where the Menominee River empties into Lake Michigan and paddle upstream about 2.5 miles to the Scott Flowage Dam. If you prefer to do this as a float, you can put in at the Stephenson Island Access (R) and float down to the Lighthouse Ann Arbor Point Park Landing (L). This is a 2.6 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 14 minutes.
A longer trip can be done by putting in at the river landing (R) on Hwy 180 located about 1.2 miles north of Rubys Corner (County Road G) and floating about 7.8~ miles down to the boat landing (R) which is just upstream of the Upper Scott Flowage Dam (4060). The bicycle shuttle is 7.8 miles long taking 37 minutes.
The next trip puts in at the Menominee River County Park Landing (R) and gives you about a 7.2~ mile long float down to the river landing (R) located 1.2 miles north of County Road G. This is a 6.7 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 33 minutes.
This next trip is a short 3.9~ mile long float putting in at the County Road JJ boat landing (R) and taking out at the Menominee River County Park Landing (R). The bicycle shuttle is 5.1 miles long taking 25 minutes.
The above two trips could also be combined for a longer ~11 mile float by putting in at the County Road JJ boat landing (R) and taking out at the river landing (R) located 1.2 miles north of County Road G. This is a 11.2 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 55 minutes.
This trip puts in at the Hiatt Road Landing (R) and takes out at the Grand Rapids Flowage Dam Landing (R). This is a 8.4~ mile long trip with a bicycle shuttle of 10 miles taking 48 minutes.
This float puts in at the River Road Landing (R) which is located directly east of the town of Wausaukee and takes out 9.7~ miles later at the Hiatt Road Landing (R). The bicycle shuttle is 13.7 miles long and takes 65 minutes
This trip starts at the landing (R) which is located at the confluence of the Pike River and ends 12.2~ miles later at the Bear Point County Park Landing (R). The bicycle shuttle is 13.5 miles long and takes 46 minutes.
The next trip is 16.2~ miles long and utilizes some boat landings on the Michigan shore of the river. The put in spot is the boat landing (L) near the Michigan S-4 Road (Wisconsin JJ) bridge. The take out is a landing (L) on Road Z1 directly west (8 miles as the crow flies) of the put in spot. The bicycle shuttle is 9.2 miles taking 44 minutes.
This trip also utilizes some landings on the Michigan shoreline of the river. The starting spot is the access which is located at the tailwaters of the White Rapids Dam which forms the Rosebush Lake. The take out spot, 8.8~ miles downstream, is the landing (L) on Road Z1. The bicycle shuttle is 9.4 miles long taking 44 minutes.
Continuing using landings on the Michigan side of the river we put in at the landing (L) on State Road which is 3/4 of a mile north of Michigan Road G18. The float downstream is about 8 miles long and ends at the Chalk Hill Recreational Area 3. The bicycle shuttle is 4.9 miles long and takes 25 minutes.
This float also uses Michigan landings, putting in at a landing (L) off of North State Hwy 577, a 1/2 mile north of the river railroad bridge, and just west of the town of Faithhorn, MI. The 8.6~ mile long float takes out just north of the Pemene Falls on the State Road (verify access). Approximately 3.5 miles from the put in spot you will encounter the Pemebonwon Island Rapids (Class unknown..) near the Kremlin Quarry facility. The bicycle shuttle is 6.9 miles long taking 38 minutes.
This next float, also utilizing Michigan access landings, puts in at a landing (L) right below the dam on Homestead Road/Power Dam Road. The 6.4~ mile long float takes out at at a landing (L) off of North State Hwy 577, a 1/2 mile north of the river railroad bridge, and just west of the town of Faithhorn, MI. The bicycle shuttle is 7.4 miles long and takes 42 minutes.
This 4~ mile long trip puts in at a Wisconsin landing (R) located at the US Hwy 8 bridge and actually takes out just upstream of the Sturgeon River at the River Road Landing (R) directly south of Vulcan, MI. This is a 5.4 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 30 minutes.
Upstream of the US Hwy 8 bridge to the City of Iron Mountain, Michigan the river has many major rapids (Class III - IV) and waterfalls which are enjoyed by whitewater enthusiasts but not suitable for angling in a watercraft! This segment of the river also has a few dams with no verified portages.
Just to the north of Iron Mountain is a new Wisconsin boat landing (R) located just south of the US Hwy 2 bridge. Putting in here you can float 5.5~ miles down to the Ford Dam and paddle into Cowboy Lake to take out at the Cowboy Lake Park landing (L). This is a 6.6 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 39 minutes.
The last suggested trip puts in at the outflow of the Michigamme Lake Dam Landing (R) and 10.5~ miles downstream you take out at Twin Falls Flowage Landing (R). This is a 10.9 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 57 minutes.