Michigan's Lower Peninsula River Guide

Au Gres River

Ogemaw County

Quiet, wooded river to Saginaw Bay at Au Gres.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Au Sable River

Michigan's legendary canoe country.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Bad River (Saginaw County)

Saginaw County

Saginaw Valley river from St. Charles to the Shiawassee River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Baldwin River

Lake County

Brushy Pere Marquette River tributary in Lake County.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Bass River

Ottawa County

Short Ottawa County tributary to the Grand River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Battle Creek River

Calhoun County

Bellevue to Battle Creek on a Kalamazoo River tributary.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Bear River (Petoskey)

Petoskey river with a whitewater park run to Little Traverse Bay.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Belle River

Lapeer County

Blue Water river from Imlay City and Memphis to the St. Clair River.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Betsie River

Benzie County

National Wild and Scenic gem.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Big Sable River

Lake County

Shoreline river flowing into Hamlin Lake.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Black River (Alcona County)

Alcona County

About 15.5 miles to Lake Huron at the village of Black River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Black River (Cheboygan County)

Cheboygan County

Fast, wild brook-trout river flowing north to Black Lake.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Black River (Port Huron)

Sanilac County

Thumb river of about 81 miles, wild in the Port Huron State Game Area.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Black River (South Haven)

Allegan County

Dark-water river reaching Lake Michigan at South Haven.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Boardman River

Kalkaska County

Traverse City's backyard river.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Boyne River

Otsego County

Lake Charlevoix tributary named for Ireland's River Boyne.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Carp Lake River

Emmet County

Lake Paradise outlet running to Lake Michigan near the Straits.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Cass River

Thumb water trail through Vassar and Frankenmuth.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Cedar River (Gladwin/Clare)

Clare County

Cedar-bank river from Clare County to the Tobacco River at Beaverton.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Cheboygan River

Final link of the Inland Waterway, Mullett Lake to Lake Huron.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Chippewa River

Isabella County

Wooded river through Isabella County, Barryton to Midland.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Clam River

Missaukee County

Cadillac river from Lake Cadillac to the Muskegon River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Clinton River

Oakland County

Metro Detroit river from Oakland County to Lake St. Clair.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Coldwater River

Barry County

Spring-fed trout stream to the Thornapple River.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Coldwater River (Branch)

Branch County

About 29.5 miles through the Coldwater lake country to Union City.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Crooked River

Emmet County

Inland Waterway channel linking Crooked Lake to Burt Lake.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Crystal River

Leelanau spring creek, Glen Lake to Glen Arbor.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Detroit River

Border river from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie at Detroit.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Dowagiac River

Van Buren County

Tree-lined river flowing to the St. Joseph near Niles.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Ecorse River

Downriver tributary joining at Council Point Park in Lincoln Park.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Elk River

Antrim County

Elk Lake's short outlet river at Elk Rapids.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Fawn River

Small, twisty river from Indiana to Constantine.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Flat River

Kent County

Gentle West Michigan paddling.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Flint River

Lapeer County

Historic auto-city river through Flint and Genesee County.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Galien River

Berrien County

Berrien County river flowing to Lake Michigan at New Buffalo.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Grand River

Hillsdale County

Michigan's longest river.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Grass River

Antrim County

Short Chain of Lakes link between Lake Bellaire and Clam Lake.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Gun River

Allegan County

Gun Lake outlet running to the Kalamazoo River east of Otsego.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Hersey River

Osceola County

Osceola County river through Reed City to the Muskegon at Hersey.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Huron River

Oakland County

Southeast Michigan's paddling corridor.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Indian River

Cheboygan County

Burt-to-Mullett connector at the heart of the Inland Waterway.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Intermediate River

Antrim County

Antrim County headwater of the Elk River Chain of Lakes.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Jordan River

Antrim County

Michigan's first Natural River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Kalamazoo River

Hillsdale County

Southwest Michigan's working river.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Kawkawlin River

Bay County

“Place of pike” river joining northwest of Bay City.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Leland River

Lake Leelanau outlet to Lake Michigan at Leland.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Lincoln River

Mason County

Branch river through Lincoln Lake to Lake Michigan near Ludington.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Little Manistee River

Mason County

Cold, wooded trout stream in the northwest Lower Peninsula.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Little Muskegon River

Quiet forest river from Morley to Croton Pond.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Looking Glass River

Clinton County

Slow, dam-free river through Clinton County to Portland.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Macatawa River

Ottawa County

“Black water” river through Holland, also called the Black River.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Manistee River

Manistee County

About 190 miles of classic northern Michigan paddling.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Maple River

Emmet County

Marsh-lined river through the Maple River State Game Area to Muir.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Maple River (Emmet County)

Emmet County

Pellston and Douglas Lake branches, once dammed at Lake Kathleen.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Molasses River

Gladwin County

Gladwin County stream of about 17 miles feeding the Tittabawassee River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Muskegon River

Roscommon County

About 216 miles from Houghton Lake to Lake Michigan.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

North Branch Au Sable River

Otsego County

Otsego Lake to the Au Sable mainstream south of Lovells.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Nottawa Creek

Calhoun County

About 34 miles from Nottawa Lake past Athens to the St. Joseph River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Ocqueoc River

Presque Isle County

North-flowing river, home of Ocqueoc Falls.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Paw Paw River

Slow floodplain river in Southwest Michigan.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Pentwater River

Grassland estuary and branches into Pentwater Lake.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Pere Marquette River

Lake County

National Wild and Scenic trout stream.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Pigeon River

Cheboygan County

Quiet northern Michigan water.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pigeon River (Huron County)

Huron County

Thumb farm-country river of about 38 miles ending at Caseville on Saginaw Bay.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pigeon River (Ottawa County)

Ottawa County

About 13 miles from Hemlock Crossing to Pigeon Lake and Lake Michigan.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pigeon River (St. Joseph County)

St. Joseph County

About 36 miles from Mongo, Indiana, to the St. Joseph River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pinconning River

Bay County

Short Bay County river through Pinconning to Saginaw Bay at Pinconning Park.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pine River

Osceola County

Thrilling whitewater in the Manistee forest.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pine River (Alcona/Iosco)

Alcona County

Alcona County south to Van Etten Lake and the Au Sable at Oscoda.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pine River (Arenac)

Arenac County

Branches meeting near Standish, east to Saginaw Bay.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pine River (Charlevoix)

The short channel linking Lake Charlevoix to Lake Michigan at Charlevoix.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pine River (Gratiot/Midland)

Mecosta County

About 100 miles past Alma and St. Louis to the Chippewa River near Midland.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pine River (St. Clair County)

St. Clair County

Blue Water Area river from Brockway Township to the St. Clair River at St. Clair.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Pinnebog River

Huron County

Thumb river of about 39 miles ending at Port Crescent State Park on Lake Huron.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Platte River

Grand Traverse County

Sleeping Bear's gentle paddle.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Portage River

Kalamazoo County

Historic trade-route river to Three Rivers.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Portage River (Jackson/Washtenaw)

Livingston County

About 15.5 miles from Waterloo Recreation Area to the Grand River near Jackson.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Portage River (Livingston/Washtenaw)

Portage Creek feeding the Portage Lakes and the Huron River chain.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Prairie River

Branch County

About 54 miles from Branch County lake country to the St. Joseph River at Three Rivers.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Rabbit River

Allegan County

About 62 miles through Allegan County to the Kalamazoo River at New Richmond.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Rainy River

Presque Isle County

Presque Isle County · about 22.5 miles from Rainy Lake to Black Lake.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Rapid River

Kalkaska County

Kalkaska County trout stream of about 17–18 miles to the Torch River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Red Cedar River

Livingston County

About 51 miles through Williamston, Okemos and East Lansing to the Grand River at Lansing.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Rifle River

Ogemaw County

Classic family canoe river.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

River Raisin

Lenawee County

Southeast Michigan history and paddling.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Rocky River

Cass County

About 28 miles from Cass County to the St. Joseph River in Three Rivers.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Rogue River

Newaygo County

Grand Rapids' backyard adventure.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Rouge River

Wayne County

Metro Detroit · about 127 miles in four branches to the Detroit River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Saginaw River

Bay County

About 22 miles from Saginaw to Saginaw Bay at Bay City.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Saline River

Washtenaw County

About 46 miles through Saline and Milan to the River Raisin at Dundee.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Salt River

Isabella County

About 19 miles from Isabella County to the Tittabawassee River at Sanford.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Salt River (Macomb)

Macomb County

About 18 miles from Richmond to Anchor Bay on Lake St. Clair.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Sebewaing River

Short Thumb river to Saginaw Bay at the village of Sebewaing.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Shiawassee River

Oakland County

National Water Trail — about 88 miles, Holly to Chesaning.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

South Branch Au Sable River

Roscommon County

Lake St. Helen past Roscommon and the Mason Tract to the mainstream.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

St. Clair River

Lambton County

About 40.5 miles from Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair along the Ontario border.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

St. Joseph River

Berrien County

Southwest Michigan's big river.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Sturgeon River (Lower Peninsula)

The Lower Peninsula's fastest river, Gaylord to Indian River.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Swan River

Presque Isle County

About 17 miles near Rogers City, from Swan Lake to Lake Huron.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Tawas River

Iosco County

About 3 miles from Tawas Lake to Tawas Bay at Tawas City.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Thornapple River

Kent County

Gentle Barry County paddling.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Thunder Bay River

Dams, ponds and rapids to Lake Huron at Alpena.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Tiffin River (Bean Creek)

Lenawee County

Bean Creek in Michigan · about 55 miles from the Irish Hills to the Maumee River in Ohio.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Tittabawassee River

Midland County

Wide, gentle river, Midland Tridge to Saginaw.

Camping: See the guide for camping info

Tobacco River

Gladwin County

About 13 miles from Ross Lake at Beaverton to the Tittabawassee at Edenville.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

Torch River

Kalkaska County

About 2 miles linking Torch Lake to Lake Skegemog.

Camping: Available — details in the guide

White River

National Wild and Scenic beauty.

Camping: See the guide for camping info