SOUTH FORK
This short section on the South Fork of the Jump River can be part of the trip on Sheet J-4 or a continua- tion of the trip described on Sheet J-6. The scenic variety and canoeing fare are about the same as in those two sections. Again, water levels are very important. In low water, the trip can be quite difficult.
Put-in is at the public landing just above the State Highway 86 bridge.
A little over 2 miles downstream, above the County Hwy. M landing, was the site of two old saw mills. There is a good story here and proof to back it up. A French- man and an Indian are buried side by side in two marked graves. In the early days, most logging camps had many oxen, or horses later. Logging was largely a winter operation. In summer, the jacks would all leave. A care- taker would stay to take care of the camp and the ani- mals. Some of the camps were so isolated that a care- taker might die and not be found until much later. This is what happened to the Frenchman and he was buried on the spot near the river. Later, an Indian died while a group was camped upriver. He was interred alongside the Frenchman.
The canoeist can take-out at the County Hwy. M landing. Most will probably make a longer trip as described on Sheet J-4.
NORTH FORK
This upper North Fork of the Jump River has nu- merous riffles and rips, but no rated rapids. In some years there may be one or two beaver dams to scramble over. The river is relatively wild, scenic and untravelled. Fishing for northern pike and an occasional musky is considered good. During medium-high or high water, the trip from u. S. Highway 8 to County Hwy. I takes about 3 hours. The trip is extremely difficult during lower water levels due to shallowness. During July and August of a dry year the river bed is little better than "wet rock" in places. A small rain can bring the river up to acceptable levels, however .
The starting-point for this trip is at the U. S. Hwy. 8 bridge and landing. Just downstream, you enter a mead- ow-like section of mostly quiet water and good fishing. After passing a wooden bridge, the river enters a heav- ily wooded area and alternates between minor rapids and short stretches of quieter water.
About a mile below the "put-in", we pass under State Highway 86 and Soo line Railroad bridges. A quarter mile farther on is an old road crossing with the bridge out. This was the site of Hanson Mill and North Fork Settlement. In the early 1900's, there was a post office, store, and rooming house plus a dozen private houses here. In 1909, a forest fire burned everything but three of the homes. The mill was rebuilt but the people who lost homes relocated in the Village of Catawba, to the west.
It is known that three logging camps were somewhere along the river here but the exact sites have not been located.
Below here, the river meanders through a large basin with no roads for about seven miles. The river al- ternates from shallow rocky riffles to deep, long, quiet pools.
About three miles below Hanson Mill, where Beaver Creek joins the river, begins what the natives call the Horse Shoe for the shape of the channel. For similar rea- sons, the next two miles of river are called the Oxbow. Fishing is good in this section.
Take-out for this trip is at the County Highway I bridge.
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