This is a good video of the section that I was looking for:

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The current certainly looks like something not to fool around with when your out there even in a tandem boat!

From my hasty research, it seems that Kennabas and Canyon are the trickiest to land from the upriver side or pushing off to head back upriver due to strong currents, even at the portages. I don't think I'll get the chance to do any of this this year but hopefully next summer.

I know a member on this site who went through there the Spring that I was up there with his brother and their sons. On the way out, they detoured via Wawiag to avoid the dangerous currents and water levels at these falls.

BillConner wrote on Jun 10^th, 2020 at 10:10am:


Good pics! That helps a lot!

No, that's fine. BillConner answered my question and the photo links gave me a better sense of the challenges. The year I went up there as a solo, there were REALLY high snow melts (2014?) and so the runoff had really jacked up the rivers with high GPMs. On top of all of that, it was raining, so I took the "Gons" over to Cullen and hung out there.

I still want to go back--probably not this year-- that one stretch of water has always bugged me. Of course, if you have any doubts, DON'T talk to Janice!  She scared the BEGEEZUS out of me with your tale of getting washed over the falls (I think it was Canyon but it could of been Koko Falls). 

There have been times I’ve had to paddle like hell and times that it was easy. I’m not sure what ‘normal’ is. The currents above and below the falls are quite strong and it seems like every year someone gets flushed over one of the falls. Not being a solo paddler, I cannot speak to the differences with tandems. Wish I could give you a one size fits all answer. I would call the Park office before your trip and ask lots of questions.

It's a good point, but all things being equal, i.e. normal water levels, what is the current like going down river? Do folks in tandems have to paddle hard to reach the other side and do they ferry across? Janice made no mention of it when I was at her Cache Lake cabin picking up my permit that Spring so long ago....

It all depends on water levels...when are you going?

I don't recall it being an issue, just too little current except close to falls. Maybe this will help.
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After the portage over what I think is the second falls on the chain, you have to switch from River Left to River Right over a short 1/2 mi or less.

Is it do-able in solo boat?

I'm guessing that you have to clear the falls outfall after the portage and then point the bow upstream to start your ferry across the stream, hoping that the current isn't too strong to carry into the next falls....

Right? Or is there a better way to cross?