Au Gres River

A short, gentle Lake Huron tributary with small-town charm and great fishing

Photo: Notorious4life, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

The Au Gres River is a quiet gem on the Saginaw Bay shoreline, flowing through Arenac County to meet Lake Huron at the small town of Au Gres. It is not a big-water expedition river — its appeal is exactly the opposite: a short, leisurely paddle past cottages and wooded banks in an area long known for commercial fishing and excellent angling. Michigan's water trail network lists the Au Gres River Excursion as a gentle trip from Point Lookout Harbor at the river's mouth north to AuGres City Park, a route that suits beginners, families, and anyone looking for a relaxing couple of hours on the water.

Because the paddling mileage on the Au Gres is modest, it pairs naturally with a broader day on the Saginaw Bay shoreline — launch the kayaks in the morning, grab lunch in town, and finish with a swim or a sunset paddle on the bay. The river's lower reaches are wide and slow near the mouth, giving you plenty of room to practice strokes and simply drift. Local liveries are limited, so this is a bring-your-own-boat river, and the club's West Michigan Kayaking Club paddles here are usually relaxed social floats rather than workout runs.

At a Glance

• Approximate length: Short — the paddled section near Au Gres is a few miles of easy river
• Difficulty: Beginner — slow, sheltered water with minimal current
• Water character: Gentle river widening into Saginaw Bay; cottages and wooded banks
• Best season: May through October; summer is warmest for swimming and fishing

Paddling Sections

Point Lookout Harbor → AuGres City Park

Put-in: Point Lookout Harbor at the river mouth  |  Take-out: AuGres City Park, end of Main Street, Au Gres  |  Distance: Short excursion paddle

The signature Au Gres trip: launch at Point Lookout Harbor and paddle north up the river to AuGres City Park. Expect quaint cottages along the banks, calm water, and plenty of fishing activity. This is an easy out-and-back or one-way trip with a shuttle, and it is the route recognized in Michigan's water trail system for the Saginaw Bay Blueways.

Omer DNR Access → Au Gres

Put-in: DNR Au Gres River boat launch, south edge of Omer off US-23  |  Take-out: Au Gres City Park  |  Distance: A few miles of easy river

A slightly longer option starts at the state DNR boat launch just south of Omer on US-23. This reach of the river is more natural and less developed than the town stretch, with good chances to spot herons and other shoreline birds. Youngman Park, a shaded 23-acre city-owned park on M-76 between Sterling and Alger, sits near this stretch and makes a good picnic or rest stop.

Hazards & Portages

The Au Gres is about as hazard-free as Michigan paddling gets. There are no dams on the paddled sections and no rapids. The main things to watch are wind and boat wakes near the river mouth where it opens into Saginaw Bay — conditions can change quickly on the bay, so stay in the river channel on breezy days. Give fishing boats a wide berth, and be courteous to anglers working the banks.

Access & Parking

AuGres City Park (end of Main Street, Au Gres) has a wide launch area maintained by the city and is the most convenient take-out or put-in for the town stretch. Point Lookout Harbor offers parking and launch facilities at the mouth. The DNR boat launch south of Omer off US-23 is a state access site with parking — a Michigan Recreation Passport is required for state sites. Parking is generally plentiful and free at the city park.

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