Horseshoe Falls is a short slide and ledge waterfall in Marinette County, Wisconsin, a Class II rapid on the Pike River system about 4 miles east of Amberg. The Pike is protected by the Wisconsin Wild Rivers Act of 1965, which restricts riverside development; the falls are seen from a canoe or kayak.
The falls
Earlier estimates give a single 10-foot drop on the South Branch Pike River. Paddling descriptions give a lower feature: the river splits around an island, the narrow left channel is often blocked by wood, and the larger right channel drops over a ledge of 1 to 1.5 feet into strong, swirling current. The rapid is much shorter than Scrounge Canyon upstream.
Getting there
No trail or shore access to the falls is documented; the falls lie on the paddling run from County Highway K to Yellow Bridge, rated Class II–III over 3.2 miles. It starts at an unimproved pull-off at the County K bridge and ends at a pull-off on Pike River Road. A canoe landing sits on Lear Road just upstream of the falls. Posted private property borders Yellow Bridge Rapids.
When to go
Flow depends on rain and snowmelt, so levels fluctuate. Recommended levels are 2.9 to 4.6 feet on the river gauge at Amberg for the run below County K; below 2.9 feet the rapids there are too shallow, and above 4.6 feet novices should stay off the river.
On site
Scout the falls before running them; beginners can carry back up on river right to run the drop again.
Nearby
Bull Falls is about 4.7 miles away and Daves Falls, in Dave's Falls County Park at Amberg, about 5.3 miles. A different Horseshoe Falls lies about 13.2 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.