A) Cayuga to Foster Jnctn. RR bridge (7.6 or 4.3 miles)

In Cayuga, the Bad is a meandering quietwater stream and stays that way for the first mile or so. A railway line follows the Bad along the entire reach and the bridges provide a handy reference. At about two miles into the run, after the first rail bridge is passed, light boulder bed rapids lead into a pair of ledge drops which are a warm-up for the drops to come. The Conley Road bridge (at 3.3 miles) can be used as an alternative put-in (shortening the run to 4.3 miles). The Bad starts accelerating downhill from here. Take care to count railway bridges as the river builds to fairly continuous class II-II+ water. Just beyond the third railway bridge down from Conley Rd, grab an eddy and scout river-right from the railway line. _Rocket Railroad Rapids_, the most challenging drop on the reach, lies just below. It starts with a fast flume of water leading into a ledge (about 4' or so) followed by a steep boulder slide of perhaps another 6'. Click this link to see video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4HEw2FD8F0 Downstream the river then alternates between fastwater and class II rockbed with a pair of class III boulderbed drops interspersed to liven things up. You'll pass two more railway bridges downstream of Rocket Railroad with the last significant drop being located about a half mile below these. After this the pace drops off and you'll be looking for the next railway bridge which marks your take-out. The Foster Junction take-out is located by driving 1.6 miles west of Mellen on Cty GG and looking for a small dirt road turning to the left. A short distance down this road is a grassy area along the railway. If you are not with someone who knows the run, we recommend you walk the eighth of a mile or so down the railway to the bridge over the Bad, to aid in recognizing the spot when you get to it on the river! Indeed, you may wish to mark this location with some temporary 'flag' you'll recognize. The best lodging deal in the northwoods may be at Cayuga Hotel Saloon, whose backyard is the put-in: $10 a night (as of this writing (in 2000)) includes coffee and sweet rolls in the morning with the owners (if they're awake).