Little Cedar River Kayaking Guide

The Little Cedar River is a 56.7-mile river in Menominee County in the central Upper Peninsula — the longest stream in this batch by a wide margin. It rises near Hermansville and flows south through and past Hermansville, Daggett, and Stephenson before joining the Menominee River (mouth-area reference approximately 45.350253, -87.646503). Much of its course parallels US-41, which means road crossings are plentiful even though documented paddling access is not.

Do not confuse this river with the Little Cedar River in Gladwin County in the Lower Peninsula, a tributary of the Tobacco River. Same name, different water, different peninsula.

Despite its length and the many bridges along US-41, no established paddling itinerary, segment mileage, or confirmed launch is documented for the Little Cedar River in the sources consulted. That is a meaningful gap: a 56-mile river with easy road access would normally attract trip reports if it were regularly paddled, and their absence suggests the river is either too shallow, too obstructed, or simply unscouted. Treat it as an exploratory waterway, not a known run.

Paddling the Little Cedar River

No established route — despite the road access

The Little Cedar's 56.7 miles from the Hermansville area south to the Menominee River look promising on a map, with US-41 crossings offering obvious scouting points. But the sources consulted contain no put-in/take-out pairings, no segment mileages, and no trip reports. Until someone documents a run, assume the river may have the usual small-river problems: low summer flows, logjams, beaver dams, and fences or culverts at road crossings.

How to scout it responsibly

The practical approach is a windshield survey: drive the US-41 crossings, check water levels and obstructions from the bridges, and confirm land ownership before putting a boat in anywhere. Spring high water is the most plausible window. Do not treat a bridge shoulder as a launch — verify legal parking and public access to the water at each site.

Hazards & Portages

With no documented route, the hazard list is the generic small-river set: strainers, logjams, beaver dams, shallow riffles, and cold spring water. Road crossings can hide culverts and debris. There are no documented dams on the paddling sections in the sources consulted, but that is not a guarantee — scout each reach from the road before floating it.

Access & Parking

No public boat launch or confirmed river access is documented for the Little Cedar River. The many US-41 crossings are scouting points, not launches, until verified. Check DNR maps and Menominee County plats for public land and legal access before planning any trip.

Map

Map shows the documented mouth-area reference point for this river; no public launch is confirmed there.