Cass River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows

River History

Named for Lewis Cass, Michigan's territorial governor, the Cass forms from North and South branches near Cass City and flows southwest through Caro, Vassar, Tuscola, Frankenmuth and Bridgeport. It joins the Shiawassee inside the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, less than a mile from where the Saginaw River begins.

The river powered mills in its Thumb towns, and Frankenmuth's riverfront grew around it. The town's former dam is now a rock ramp built for fish passage — today's Rock Ramp Rapids. The Cass River Greenway and partners built the water trail with 13 access sites and two portages.

Interactive River Map

Zoom and drag to follow the river. Confirm every launch on the ground before you commit to a shuttle.

River Overview

The water trail runs 37.5 miles across two counties and six townships. Expect 2–3 mph on a leisurely paddle.

Upper sections near Vassar have wooded banks, rocky riffles and small rapids. Below Frankenmuth the river widens and slows through riparian forest and sandbars, then into the refuge's marshes.

USGS Flow & Water Conditions

Check the Frankenmuth gage before you go. Low water exposes rocks above Vassar; high water makes the Rock Ramp Rapids much more powerful.

If the USGS map doesn't load on your device, use the live gage links below.

Dams & Portages

• Frankenmuth Rock Ramp Rapids — former dam site, now a rock-ramp fish passage; portage strongly advised
• Second water trail portage — check the Cass River Water Trail map

Launches

Listed upstream to downstream. Access changes — check the county, city or DNR site before you go.

Trip Planning

• M-46 Bridge → Vassar (6.3 mi) — 2��3 hours; wooded with riffles and small rapids
• Vassar → Tuscola (5.7 mi) — 2–3 hours; rural, beginner
• Tuscola → Frankenmuth (5 mi) — 1.5–2.25 hours; wide river
• Frankenmuth → Hoffmann Park (6 mi) — 2–3 hours; quiet forest and sandbars
• Hoffmann Park → Davis Park (4.4 mi) — about 2 hours; accessible launches
• Davis Park → M-13 (5.6 mi) — 2–3 hours toward the refuge
• M-13 → Wickes Park (3.5 mi) — 1.5–2.5 hours through the refuge

The Frankenmuth City Paddle (1 mile) is a short loop past the covered bridge.

Download the Cass River Water Trail map from cassriverwatertrail.org.

River Difficulty

Class I  American Whitewater classification

The Cass is Class I, and most water trail segments are rated beginner or beginner–intermediate. The exception is the Rock Ramp Rapids in Frankenmuth, which need expert handling — portage them on club trips.

Quick Reference