Little Gratiot River Kayaking Guide
The Little Gratiot River is an 11.2-mile stream in Keweenaw County in the western Upper Peninsula, flowing from Lake Gratiot eastward to Lac La Belle. Its source sits at about 47.3624145, -88.1037186 and its mouth at Lac La Belle at about 47.376023, -88.031219. On a map it looks like a neat connecting paddle between two lakes — in practice, no one has documented it as one.
The important distinction: Lac La Belle has a public boat launch, and the launch serves the lake. It does not establish that the Little Gratiot River is navigable, legally accessible, or floatable between the lakes. The sources consulted contain no paddling route, mileage, put-in, or take-out for the river itself, and an 11-mile connector stream on the Keweenaw can easily be a shallow, rocky, beaver-dammed creek rather than a canoeable channel.
Paddlers visiting this area should plan on Lac La Belle as the venue — a sizable, scenic lake with real access — and treat the river as a question mark to scout from its road crossings, not as a route to assume.
Little Gratiot River at a Glance
- Region: Western Upper Peninsula — Keweenaw County
- Difficulty: Not a documented paddling route
- Character: 11.2-mile connector stream, Lake Gratiot to Lac La Belle
- Known for: Linking two Keweenaw lakes; nearby Lac La Belle public launch
- Watch for: The lake launch is not river access; no river route documented
Paddling the Little Gratiot River
No established route
No kayak itinerary is documented for the Little Gratiot River. The 11.2-mile course from Lake Gratiot (about 47.3624145, -88.1037186) to Lac La Belle (about 47.376023, -88.031219) has no recorded put-ins, take-outs, or mileage in the sources consulted. Do not assume the stream is floatable just because it connects two paddleable lakes.
Lac La Belle as the alternative
Lac La Belle is the established paddling water here, with a public launch serving the lake. Paddle the lake, enjoy the shoreline, and scout the river's mouth area from the water if you are curious — but do not commit to an upstream ascent without firsthand knowledge of depth, obstructions, and access.
Hazards & Portages
On an undocumented connector stream, expect beaver dams, shallow rocky stretches, and strainers — with no documented portages because there is no documented route. On Lac La Belle, wind can build chop on the open lake; stay near shore in a small boat and watch the weather.
Access & Parking
No public boat launch on the Little Gratiot River itself is documented. The Lac La Belle public launch serves the lake only. Verify land ownership at any road crossing before attempting river access, using DNR maps and county plats.
Map
Map shows the documented mouth reference at Lac La Belle; no river launch is confirmed there.
Paddle It With the Club
The West Michigan Kayaking Club paddles rivers like the Little Gratiot River all season long. Come float with us!