Au Train River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
Upper Peninsula Paddle Guide
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
River History
The name is French for "at the shortcut": the river was part of an old Native trail that cut between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, in country Longfellow immortalized as the Land of Hiawatha. It was among the earliest places in Michigan reached by Europeans, and white settlement began in 1856. The Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette Railroad arrived in 1881, bringing tourists; a post office followed in 1883, part of Schoolcraft County split off to form Alger County in 1885, and the county's first jail was built at Au Train in 1890.
Logging drove the economy: a sawmill went up and logging on the river began in 1861–62, with the big drives of the 1880s — the largest, in 1887, sent 10 million board feet of pine down the Au Train. The Bay Furnace community burned in 1877 and its residents moved to Au Train; the county's first newspaper, The Au Train Alpha, was printed here; and the last logging venture closed the lumber era in 1919. On the water, the Au Train Dam and its powerhouse impound the Au Train Basin (12,342 acre-feet) for hydroelectric generation, while the river's natural cascades at Au Train Falls remain undammed as a scenic site. The Au Train is neither a designated Natural River nor a National Wild and Scenic River.
Interactive River Map
Tap a pin for details. Pinch or use the + / – buttons to zoom.
- Launch / take-out
- Dam / portage
- USGS gage
- Camping
Pins marked (approx.) are approximate — confirm exact launch spots before a club trip.
River Overview
Headwaters
The Au Train River rises at the outlet of the Cleveland Cliffs Basin, a reservoir in Au Train Township, and flows north past a series of cascades at Au Train Falls into Au Train Lake. It leaves the north end of the lake and meanders roughly 10 miles north through the Hiawatha National Forest — twisting through wetlands and sloughs — to its mouth on Lake Superior at the village of Au Train (46.4341, -86.83654). The full river is 16.8 miles long.
Major Tributaries
- Small forest creeks only
Major Confluences
- Au Train Lake — mid-river widening and the classic put-in
- Lake Superior — at the village of Au Train
Communities
- Forest Lake
- Au Train
Character of Each Section
Headwaters to Au Train Lake: reservoir outlet, dam and powerhouse, then the natural cascades of Au Train Falls dropping into the lake — not a paddling section. Au Train Lake: flatwater lake paddling, roughly two miles of open water, can get choppy in wind. Au Train Lake to Lake Superior (~10 miles, 4–6 hours): the classic trip — slow, crystal-clear, meandering water through national forest and wetlands with countless side sloughs. No rapids and no portages, but the maze-like channels demand attention; the river ends at an Au Train Beach take-out on Lake Superior, or paddlers can continue onto the big lake only in calm conditions.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
Primary USGS Gage
- Station
- 04044724 — Au Train River at Forest Lake, MI
- Location
- Left bank, 800 ft below the powerplant and 0.6 mi below Au Train Dam, 0.6 mi northwest of Forest Lake, Alger County
- Drainage Area
- 81 sq mi
- Period of Record
- October 1993 – April 2025 (discharge)
- Status
- Data ends April 2025 — confirm the gage is still reporting before relying on it
- Regulation
- Flow is regulated by the powerplant 800 ft upstream and by Au Train Basin (12,342 acre-ft)
USGS Interactive Map
Explore every USGS stream gage on and near the river. Tap a site for live flow and gage height.
Water-Level Considerations
| Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Too Low | Rare on the dam-regulated lower river; side sloughs may be impassable. |
| Good | Slow, clear meandering water; the classic 3–5 hour bridge-to-bridge trip. |
| High | Spring runoff raises the river and floods the sloughs — the maze gets harder to read. |
| Dangerous | The river itself is gentle; danger comes from Lake Superior at the mouth — stay off the lake in wind. |
Published paddling-specific flow ranges for the Au Train were not found — confirm a safe window with local sources before the trip. Typical summer water temperature: 60s °F ; Lake Superior at the mouth is frigid year-round.
Paddling Character
Recommended Boats
Best Conditions
Calm, clear summer days. The river is slow enough that wind barely matters on the water, but Au Train Lake and Lake Superior both need calm conditions. Morning paddles beat the afternoon breezes and the bugs.
Potential Hazards
Michigan Water Trails
Not a state-designated inland water trail — but the river's mouth opens directly onto the Lake Superior Water Trail. The Au Train Heritage Trailhead, a primary Lake Superior Water Trail site, offers a universal-accessible kayak launch and fishing pier, railroad depot pavilion, log cabin interpretive center, picnic tables and restrooms.
Dams & Portages
One hydroelectric dam on the river; the falls are natural and must not be paddled either.
| Order | Dam | Portage Side | Carry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Au Train Dam + powerhouse | Near Forest Lake; 0.6 mi above the USGS gage; impounds Au Train Basin (12,342 acre-ft). Keep well clear. | ||
| — | Au Train Falls (natural cascades) | — | — | Not a dam — a series of natural falls above Au Train Lake. Do not attempt to paddle the falls. |
Public Kayak & Canoe Launches
| Launch | River Mile | GPS | Parking | Restrooms | Fee / Pass | To Next Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Au Train Lake boat launch (FS) | ~0 (lake) | Yes | Vault (campground) | None known | ~3 mi lake + river | |
| Cameron Bridge put-in | Yes | None known | 3–5 hr trip to Doucette Bridge | |||
| Lake Road North Bridge boat launch | 46.42325, -86.83612 | Yes | None known | Short hop to canoe exit | ||
| Public Au Train River canoe exit | 46.423135, -86.836319 | Yes | None known | ~1 mi to Superior | ||
| Doucette Bridge | Yes | None known | ||||
| Au Train Beach (Lake Superior) | ~10 | 46.4341, -86.83654 | Yes | None known | — |
Liveries run the classic bridge-to-bridge trip (Cameron Bridge to Doucette Bridge) — confirm bridge names, parking and access with a local outfitter before the trip.
Camping
Au Train Lake Campground
- Area
- On Au Train Lake, Hiawatha National Forest
- Type
- Developed; ~$26/night; reservations available
- Water Access
- Boat launch — direct put-in for the river trip
- Amenities
- Vault toilets, camp host; no hookups, showers or dump station
Bay Furnace Campground
- Area
- Lake Superior shore, Hiawatha NF
- Type
- Developed national forest campground
- Water Access
- Lake Superior beach
- Reservations
- Confirm at recreation.gov
Hiawatha National Forest
- Area
- Surrounding the lower river
- Type
- Dispersed camping per forest rules (1-mile-from-road, leave-no-trace rules)
- Permits
- None for dispersed; developed sites by fee
Au Train village
- Area
- Near the river mouth
- Type
- Cabins, resorts and private campgrounds
- Notes
- Book early for July–August weekends
Wildlife & Fishing
- River Fishing
- Walleye, perch, suckers and bullheads live in the river year-round; steelhead make a spring run and salmon a fall run. Au Train Lake adds bass, walleye and pike.
- Seasons
- Trout/salmon seasons follow the Michigan DNR fishing guide; the spring steelhead and fall salmon runs are the headline events — check current regulations for the exact reach and gear rules.
- Wildlife
- The sloughs and wetlands are prime wildlife water: bald eagles, great blue herons, kingfishers, ducks, songbirds, muskrats and turtles are commonly seen.
- Eat Safe Fish
- Check the current MDHHS Eat Safe Fish guide for the Au Train River and Au Train Bay before eating your catch.
Safety
Required / Recommended Gear
River-Specific Concerns
The gentle river lulls paddlers into relaxing — then the channel forks five ways and none of them look like the way back. Navigate actively: the dead-end sloughs are the number-one way trips go sideways here. The only real danger on the water is at the end: Lake Superior is lethally cold and builds fast in a north wind. If whitecaps are showing at Au Train Beach, take out on the river.
Emergency Info
- Nearest Hospital
- Munising Memorial Hospital, 1500 Sand Point Rd, Munising — (906) 387-4110
- 911 Tips
- Give dispatchers GPS coordinates and the nearest bridge name (Cameron, Doucette, Lake Road North) — there are few addresses on the river. Carry a charged phone in a dry bag.
- Contamination
- No specific advisory confirmed; check current EGLE advisories and the MDHHS Eat Safe Fish guide before the trip.
Best Time & Access
- Best Months
- July, August, early September — warmest water, fewest bugs. June is beautiful but brings black flies and mosquitoes; bring a head net.
- Summer Crowds
- This is a popular tourist paddle — expect company on sunny July and August weekends; go early or midweek for quiet water.
- Fall
- Quiet river and good color; salmon run brings anglers. Cold mornings — dress for it.
- Winter
- Experienced, cold-water-equipped paddlers only.
- Hunting Seasons
- Deer archery generally Oct 1–Nov 14, firearm generally Nov 15–30; waterfowl and small game in fall — verify exact dates in the current DNR hunting digest.
- Shuttle / Livery
- Local liveries run the classic trip: Au Train River Canoes & Kayaks (N7195 Au Train Forest Lake Rd, 906-869-8738 — Cameron Bridge to Doucette Bridge, shorter trips from Au Train Lake); Northwoods Canoe and Kayak Rentals (paddleautrain.com, at Doucette Bridge); Da Yak Shak (N7543 Arbutus St, 906-202-1316). Confirm current schedules and whether they run to Lake Superior.
- Parking Passes
- No pass needed at Forest Service launches; campground fees apply at Au Train Lake Campground.
- Local Rules
- Not a Natural River — no special restrictions; pack out everything in the national forest.
Trip Planning
- Best One-Day Trip
- Au Train Lake to Lake Superior — ~10 miles, 4–6 hours, with a short car shuttle.
- Best Short Trip
- Bridge-to-bridge (Cameron Bridge to Doucette Bridge) — 3–5 hours with a livery shuttle; the livery favorite.
- Best Two-Day
- Base camp at Au Train Lake Campground: paddle the river one day, explore Au Train Lake and Au Train Falls the next.
- Packing
- Bug protection (June), sun protection, full dry-bag kit, paper map or GPS with the route marked — the sloughs all look alike.
- Leave No Trace
- Pack out everything; stay on durable surfaces at rest stops; respect private cabins along the river.
- Clean Drain Dry
- Clean, drain and dry boats and gear between waterways to stop invasive species — especially moving between the river, Au Train Lake and Lake Superior.
River Difficulty
American Whitewater: Class III–IV+
- M-94 dam to below powerhouse (0.6 mi) — Class III–IV+
Rest of river not rated by American Whitewater.
Ratings rise at high water — check the USGS gage before paddling. American Whitewater
Quick Reference
- River
- Au Train River
- Length
- ~16.8 mi
- Region
- Eastern Upper Peninsula
- Counties
- Alger
- Headwaters
- Cleveland Cliffs Basin outlet
- Mouth
- Lake Superior at Au Train
- Tributaries
- Small forest creeks (verify locally)
- USGS Gage
- 04044724 at Forest Lake (record through Apr 2025 — confirm status)
- Best Season
- June–September
- Difficulty
- American Whitewater: Class III–IV+
- Best Section
- Au Train Lake → Lake Superior (~10 mi, 4–6 hr)
- Best Launch
- Au Train Lake boat launch (FS)
- Best Camping
- Au Train Lake Campground (Hiawatha NF)
- Major Hazards
- Maze of dead-end channels, Lake Superior at the mouth, dam upstream
- Dams/Portages
- 1 — Au Train Dam (stay below Au Train Lake)
- Recommended Boat
- Recreational or touring kayak, canoe, tandem
- Water Trail
- No (mouth connects to Lake Superior Water Trail)
Sources
- USGS 04044724 — Au Train River at Forest Lake
- USGS Interactive Water Data Map — Au Train River area
- Michigan Water Trails — Au Train Heritage Trailhead
- Michigan Water Trails
- Michigan DNR
- Hiawatha National Forest
Last updated: October 2026. Water levels, hazards, launches, camping rules and closures change. Verify current USGS flow, weather, river conditions, access and regulations immediately before launching.
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