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The Menominee River is a border river
separating Michigans Upper Peninsula
and Wisconsin.
It is formed by the confluence of the Brule and MichigammeRivers. The 100-mile stretch of
the Menominee River from above IronMountain to
Menominee provides a beautiful setting for wildlife watching. It is best
experienced by canoe or kayak. There are over 100 tributaries that enter
the Menominee River in this 100-mile
stretch. The shoreline and river corridor is very wild and scenic with
multiple ownerships including private, corporate, and state and county
governments. Large blocks of the shoreline and adjacent uplands are owned
by We Energies and timber companies such as International Paper, plus the
Michigan and the Wisconsin Departments
of Natural Resources, and county governments in Wisconsin. Numerous campgrounds and
boat access points along the river cater to wildlife watchers with
canoes. There are nine hydroelectric power dams and reservoirs on the
river; each has a portage for small boats.
Photo: We Energies
We Energies (Wisconsin Electric) owns 40,000 acres in the river corridor and is the
largest recreational developer. We Energies has
an extensive WildernessShores recreation
program with many recreation areas with boat launching sites and
wilderness campground facilities. They have produced a series of six
detailed river maps highlighting these areas and natural features in the Menominee River watershed. These maps are available
from area outfitters. One of the most scenic and popular natural
attractions in the river corridor is Piers Gorge. It contains some of the
fastest-moving water in Michigan and Wisconsin. It is
not navigable for general canoeing (class IV to V white water), but still
offers beautiful scenery and good wildlife viewing from shore. It has
become one of the more popular destinations for expert class kayakers in
the eastern U.S.
An undeveloped foot trail parallels the gorge for ½ to 3/4 of a mile.
Wildlife
Viewing
This beautiful Menominee
River corridor offers excellent bald eagle viewing opportunities.
Eagles are commonly seen all along the river, roosting in tall trees,
fishing in the shallow water, or soaring high overhead. This stretch of
river also boasts several eagle nests in tall trees right along the
shoreline. (Do not disturb or harass nesting eagles). In addition to the
eagles, ospreys, common loons, and waterfowl are frequent sightings on
this exciting float. Piers Gorge is a very scenic, fast-moving stretch of
the river near Norway,
Michigan,
and shoreline trails offer good viewing opportunities for eagles, osprey,
and waterfowl. We Energies and International Paper own the shoreline at
Piers Gorge and they encourage public use. We Energies canoe trail
brochures and their WildernessShores pamphlets
offer excellent, detailed maps for locating entry points by motor
vehicle.
The river currents
at piers gorge are very strong. Do not wade or swim. Keep small children and pets away from the water.
Directions
The 100 mile river corridor has many access points. These are
shown on recreational pamphlets produced the We Energies, a major landowner
on the river (canoe trail maps are available from area outfitters for a
nominal fee; WildernessShores pamphlets are free from We Energies), or
the Michigan
and Wisconsin DNR. Piers Gorge: From Norway, drive south on US-8
about 2 miles and follow the signs to Piers Gorge. The road ends at a
parking lot at the gorge.
Ownership: Largest: We Energies (906) 779-2546, International
Paper (906) 779-3271, Michigan DNR and, Wisconsin DNR, Marinette and Florence counties in Wisconsin; some private in-holdings..
Camping many primitive campgrounds along river, on or near
impoundments. All have pit toilets, several with drinking water. $8 per
site for overnight camping. Boat Ramp many
along the river corridor open to the public. Fishing good to
excellent fishing in the rivers and impoundments. Hunting
Publicly-owned forest land and the majority of corporate lands along the
river corridor are open to hunting.
Wildlife
Viewing 
