Trip Report · Signature Adventure Series
Jordan River Hiking & Kayaking Adventure
From the Manistee River to the Jordan River Valley
Chasing the Next Adventure
Some adventures are good enough that you immediately start planning the next one. That's exactly what happened after our first big hike-and-paddle on the Manistee River and Manistee River Trail.
The turnout was incredible. The people were incredible. Hiking Michigan's backcountry and then paddling the same landscape from the water was something we knew we had to do again.
So we went looking for the next adventure — and set our sights on the Jordan River Valley.
A Magical Place in Northern Michigan
The Jordan River Valley reminds you why we get outside in the first place. It's rugged, remote and beautiful. The river winds through cedar, hardwoods and steep hillsides. The water is cold, clear and fast-moving. The trail is challenging and the scenery is breathtaking.
Together, the Jordan River and the Jordan River Pathway create exactly the kind of adventure West Michigan Kayaking Club was becoming known for.
Saturday
Hike the Jordan River Pathway, then camp at Graves Crossing.
Sunday
Kayak the Jordan River from Graves Crossing to Rogers Road Bridge.
Members could join for the full weekend or pick either the hike or the paddle.
Saturday: The Jordan River Pathway
We gathered around 9:00 AM at Pinney Bridge State Forest Campground (45°00'48.94"N, 85°01'48.16"W), left vehicles there and shuttled to Deadman's Hill Overlook (45°02'42.52"N, 84°56'06.06"W). By about 9:30 AM, we were on the trail.
The Jordan River Pathway is exactly what we look for: rugged, remote, beautiful and challenging. It winds through hardwood forest and along the valley with ridgelines, uneven terrain, river crossings and spectacular overlooks. At roughly 10 miles of backcountry hiking, the terrain demanded attention from start to finish.
Hiking a river valley is its own experience. You climb, you descend, you push through dense forest — then the trees open up and the whole landscape stretches out below you. The river was always there somewhere, sometimes in view and sometimes hidden under the canopy. We weren't just hiking beside the Jordan. We were experiencing the entire valley.
Saturday Night at Graves Crossing
After the hike, we headed to our weekend basecamp, Graves Crossing State Forest Campground, right along the Jordan River. Rustic sites, the river close by, and of course, a campfire.
The hiking is what gets people there. The campfire is where friendships grow. Everyone brought chairs, snacks and stories, and we spent the evening reliving the day's miles and getting ready for the river.
Sunday: Paddling the Jordan
Sunday traded hiking boots for paddling gear. We gathered around 9:00 AM, ran the vehicle shuttle to the take-out at Rogers Road Bridge (45°07'57.93"N, 85°07'24.71"W), and launched from Graves Crossing (45°02'01.11"N, 85°03'56.54"W).
From a kayak, the Jordan is a completely different river. The water is clear, the current moves, and the river winds through cedar forest and wildlife habitat. It's moving water that keeps paddlers engaged — several hours of true wilderness-style paddling. The river demanded attention, and it rewarded us with scenery that made every mile worth it.
On Saturday, we explored the valley from the trail. On Sunday, we explored it from the river. Same landscape, two completely different perspectives.
Why the Jordan Became a Signature Adventure
By the end of the weekend, everyone agreed: the Jordan River was amazing. The rugged trail, the valley, the clear moving water and the challenging paddle made this adventure stand out. We didn't just enjoy the Jordan — we fell in love with the whole experience.
We knew we wanted to come back, and we wanted more members to experience it. So the Jordan River Hiking & Kayaking Adventure became part of our Signature Adventure Series — the trips that represent what this club is all about:
- Real hiking
- Real paddling
- Real wilderness
- Camping
- A campfire
- Real adventure
A Friend of the Jordan
Every special place has people who become part of its story. For the Jordan River Valley, one of those people is our friend Tim Peebles.
Tim is known to many of us as a keeper and steward of the Jordan River — someone who cares deeply about this place and the river that runs through it. We're grateful for people like Tim who protect and share Michigan's rivers and wild places.
If you're ever in the Jordan River Valley, keep an eye out for Tim and say hello.
The People Are Always the Best Part
Just like on the Manistee, the people made the trip. Some came for the hiking, some for the paddling, some to push themselves, and some just to spend a weekend somewhere beautiful with good people. By the end, everyone had one thing in common: we did it together.
The Manistee showed us people were ready for something bigger. The Jordan proved we could take what worked and build something even more ambitious — a full weekend of hiking, paddling, camping and campfire stories. It became more than another trip. It became part of who we are.
Join the Next Jordan River Adventure
The Second Annual Jordan River Hiking & Kayaking Adventure is already on the club calendar. Check the Events Calendar for details, follow our Facebook Community for updates, and if you're new, complete the membership agreement before your first club event. Membership and club events are free.
Come hike it. Come paddle it. Come camp with us.
— Brad De Young, Founder, West Michigan Kayaking Club
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
RSVP on Facebook: 2nd Annual Jordan River Hiking & Kayaking Adventure (2027)