48th Ave bridge crossing
This is the put-in for float trips heading 4.5 miles downstream to the Village of Lawrence. Once pathway clearing work is completed for the season this stretch is considered Intermediate because of the need to maneuver from side to side to find the pathways cut through log jams. This beautiful stretch of river is one of the wildest and most isolated segments. Be aware that there is a spot where the river divides into two channels. Although tree clearing has been done on the right side channel, it becomes very shallow in spots and might require hauling over a mud flat at low water.
To find this access, take I-94 to Lawrence (Exit #52) and head north into town. Continue north through the traffic light and head out of town. You will pass another access at a small park on the river on your left just before you drive over the bridge and this is where you will take out at the end of your float. Go over the bridge and continue north on CR 673. In a few miles you will come to a 4-way stop where you will turn right on 48th Ave/CR 673. Take this east and stay on 48th Ave going east when CR 673 turns north. As you approach 48th Ave bridge, there is a long guardrail. The best parking is west of the guardrail on either side of the road. Many people drive on to the bridge to unload (use your emergency flashers) and set their boats down over the guardrail next to either the southwest or southeast bridge abutment and then drive back to park their vehicles on the shoulder just past the guardrail.
The take-out in Lawrence is easy to find. Go under the bridge (first one you will encounter the whole trip), and then take out on River Left along a grassy bank. Be aware that at extremely high water, a boat cannot fit under this bridge. Of course, you shouldn't be on the river anyway when the water is that high. If you can't fit under the bridge, there is an emergency place to land on River Right which is the back yard of the 1st house north of the bridge on CR 673.
On Road Shoulder parking is available.
Carry-In boat access.
Length of access is less than 50 yards.
Unless you temporarily park on the bridge to unload, it is a long carry from the end of the guardrails where it is possible to park on the shoulder. From the southwest bridge abutment, it is a short but steep climb down over vegetation to the water which gets deep rapidly.
