Days River Kayaking Guide

The Days River is a 30.1-mile stream in Delta County, in Michigan's central Upper Peninsula, flowing to Little Bay de Noc near Gladstone. It is described as a narrow, rocky, scenic stream — attractive water in a pretty setting, but not a river with a published paddling route.

The single most important documented feature is the sea-lamprey barrier near the Gladstone Golf Course: a low-head dam that is a hard, non-negotiable hazard. It is not runnable, and no portage route around it is documented — paddlers must treat it as a full stop and stay well clear of the drop and its recirculating hydraulics.

What public sources do not provide is a supported point-to-point paddling route or mileage on the Days River. A Days River Trailhead (45.89012, -87.046999) is listed among DNR-managed sites, but trailhead access is not the same as a documented float trip. Until a route is published or scouted, there is no responsible trip to recommend here.

Paddling the Days River

No established paddling route

There is no documented paddling route on the Days River — no put-in, take-out, or mileage appears in public paddling sources. The river's described character (narrow, rocky, scenic) suggests there could be floatable reaches, but the lamprey barrier near Gladstone divides the lower river and no through-trip has been published. Treat any outing here as exploratory, scout thoroughly, and give the barrier dam an extremely wide berth.

Hazards & Portages

The sea-lamprey barrier near the Gladstone Golf Course is the defining hazard: a low-head dam that must not be run and around which no portage is documented. Low-head dams are among the most dangerous features on any river — the recirculating current below them can trap even strong swimmers. Elsewhere, expect the narrow rocky stream's likely strainers, sweepers, and shallow riffles, none of which have been surveyed for paddlers.

Access & Parking

No paddling launch is documented for the Days River. A Days River Trailhead (45.89012, -87.046999) appears in DNR listings, but it is not described as a boat launch. Verify any access on Michigan DNR boating access maps before relying on it, and respect private property along the river.

Map

Reference point only — the marker shows the approximate mouth of the Days River at Little Bay de Noc. No public launch or established paddling route is documented here.