Millecoquins River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows

River History

The name "Millecoquins" is French in origin, and a Michigan DNR forest compartment review notes it is known locally as the "River of a Thousand Rascals (He-Devils)." Historic variant spellings include Lower Millecoquin River, Mille a Cocquin River, and Mino Cockien River. Long before European settlement, Ojibwe families fished and traveled this Lake Michigan shoreline — nearby Naubinway's name comes from the Ojibwe, loosely translated as "place of echoes" or "to gaze in wonder." In 1843, William Boucha and his Ojibwe-French wife Catherine Trotochaud Boucha built a log trading post on Millecoquins Point, one of the first permanent links between Euro-American settlers and the Indigenous communities of this coast.

Naubinway grew into a sawmill hub during the white-pine logging boom, then reinvented itself around commercial fishing and tourism. The river itself stayed wild: it has no dams and carries no Natural River or Wild and Scenic designation. The upper river is state-recognized trout water flowing through state forest land near Engadine, while the lower river is better known to anglers than paddlers, drawing a fall salmon run. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has conducted periodic sea-lamprey control treatments on the river — USGS-published research documents lampricide (TFM) treatments on the Millecoquins — so paddlers should heed any posted treatment advisories.

Interactive River Map

Tap a pin for details. Pinch or use the + / – buttons to zoom.

• Launch / take-out
• Dam / portage
• USGS gage
• Camping

Pins marked (approx.) are approximate — confirm exact access spots before a club trip.

River Overview

Headwaters

The Upper Millecoquins River begins at the outlet of Millecoquins Trout Pond in northern Mackinac County and runs about 7.6 miles generally south through state forest land to Millecoquins Lake. This is spring-fed, cold, clear trout water — home to brook and rainbow trout — winding through a landscape of rolling hardwoods, seeps, and pothole ponds.

The Lake

Millecoquins Lake sits between the two river sections at roughly 1,890 acres. It is shallow and weedy, holding walleye, northern pike, perch, and bass — a warmwater lake that completely changes the character of the river below it.

Lower River & Mouth

The Lower Millecoquins River leaves the south end of Millecoquins Lake and winds about 9.6 miles south to Lake Michigan, entering the big lake roughly 1.5 miles west of Naubinway. Warmed by the lake, the lower river shifts from brown and rainbow trout water at its north end to bass and pike water near the mouth, and it supports a popular fall salmon run.

USGS Flow & Water Conditions

No active USGS stream gage is documented on the Millecoquins River. Check with the Michigan DNR or local sources for current conditions before paddling, and treat the river as ungauged.

USGS Interactive Map

Explore every USGS stream gage on and near the river. Tap a site for live flow and gage height.

Water-Level Considerations

Typical Water Temperature

The upper river stays cold year-round thanks to spring seepage — expect trout-stream temperatures even in midsummer. Millecoquins Lake and the lower river warm significantly in summer.

Paddling Character

Upper Millecoquins (Trout Pond to Millecoquins Lake)

Narrow, cold, and clear, threading through state forest. Expect a high likelihood of fallen timber and beaver activity — this reach is essentially unscouted by the club, so treat every bend as unknown until you have eyes on it.

Millecoquins Lake

Shallow, weedy open water. Fine paddling on calm mornings; an afternoon west wind can chop it up quickly.

Lower Millecoquins (Lake Outlet to Lake Michigan)

Slow, winding, and brushy, warming as it goes. The main unknowns are deadfall blockages and private-land portage options — scout before committing a group. The mouth opens onto Lake Michigan, where waves, fog, and cold water take over.

Recommended Boats

• Recreational kayak
• Canoe
• Pack canoe

Potential Hazards

• Deadfall & strainers
• Beaver dams
• Private land (limited portage options)
• Wind on Millecoquins Lake
• Lake Michigan waves & fog at the mouth
• Cold water
• No marked launches

Michigan Water Trails

No designated water trail was found on the Millecoquins River. Check the current trail directory before your trip.

Source: michiganwatertrails.org. Access sites on each trail page appear on its live map.

Dams & Portages

No dams are documented on the Millecoquins River. Small private impoundments or beaver dams may exist on tributaries. There are no established portage trails on the river.

Public Kayak & Canoe Launches

There are no documented, maintained kayak launches on the Millecoquins River itself — plan on informal or carry-in access and confirm every put-in on foot first. locally

Camping

No riverside campgrounds are documented on the Millecoquins. The headwaters run through state forest land, where Michigan DNR dispersed camping is generally allowed — typically primitive, no permit needed, with limits on stay length and setbacks from water and trails.

Much of the river corridor is private land — camp only where you have clear permission or on public land per DNR rules.

Wildlife & Fishing

• Brook trout (upper)
• Rainbow trout (upper & lower)
• Brown trout (lower)
• Salmon run (lower, fall)
• Bass & pike (lower, near mouth)
• Walleye, perch (Millecoquins Lake)

Trout Seasons

Michigan's general inland trout season runs from the last Saturday in April through September 30, but special regulations apply on many UP streams — check the current Michigan DNR fishing guide for this water.

Wildlife

Bald eagles, loons, great blue herons, beavers, river otters, white-tailed deer, and black bear are all typical of this country.

Fish Consumption

Check the current MDHHS Eat Safe Fish guide for species- and waterbody-specific advisories before keeping fish.

Sea Lamprey Control

USGS-published research documents periodic lampricide (TFM) treatments on the Millecoquins for sea lamprey control — heed any posted treatment notices.

Safety

Required / Recommended Gear

• PFD worn at all times
• Paddle + spare
• Whistle
• Bilge pump
• Dry bag
• First-aid kit
• GPS / navigation
• Emergency communication
• Cold-water protection in spring & fall
• Saw or folding saw (deadfall country)

River-Specific Concerns

This is genuinely remote water: long drives on county roads, no services at the river, and spotty to nonexistent cell coverage. The upper river's cold, spring-fed water can chill a swimmer fast even in July. On Millecoquins Lake, afternoon winds build chop on shallow water. At the Lake Michigan mouth, treat the big lake with full respect — waves, fog, and 50-degree water are normal. During fall firearm deer season, wear blaze orange on shore.

Calling 911: give your GPS coordinates, the county (Mackinac), and the nearest named road or landmark (e.g., "Millecoquins Lake," "US-2 west of Naubinway"). Carry a satellite communicator — do not rely on a cell phone alone.

Best Time & Access

Best Months

June through early October. Spring brings high, cold water and black flies; fall brings the salmon run and gorgeous color — plus hunting seasons.

Crowds

Essentially none on the river itself. Expect anglers near the mouth during the fall salmon run.

Hunting Seasons

Fall is big-game and small-game season in the UP — wear blaze orange ashore, especially during the November firearm deer season. Check the current DNR hunting digest.

Shuttle & Livery

No liveries operate on the Millecoquins. Nearest rental shops are in St. Ignace and Manistique — confirm availability before counting on one.

Parking Passes

A Michigan Recreation Passport is required for motor-vehicle entry to state parks, state forest campgrounds, and DNR boating access sites.

Watercraft Permits

Michigan requires no general paddling permit; motorized craft need registration.

Local Rules

Respect private land — much of the river frontage is privately owned. Pack out everything; no glass or litter near the water.

Trip Planning

Best One-Day Trip

Millecoquins Lake outlet to the Lake Michigan mouth (~9.6 mi) — only after scouting for deadfall and confirming take-out access.

Best Short Paddle

A calm-morning loop on Millecoquins Lake from the public boat access.

Overnight Options

None established on the river — plan dispersed camping on state forest land near the headwaters or a base camp at a nearby campground.

What to Pack

Full remote-UP kit: navigation, saw, repair kit, extra food and water, bug headnet in June, cold-water layers, satellite communicator.

Leave No Trace

Plan ahead, travel on durable surfaces, pack out all waste, leave what you find, and respect private property along the banks.

Clean Drain Dry

Clean, drain, and dry boats and gear between waters to stop aquatic invasive species — especially moving between Millecoquins Lake and Lake Michigan.

Quick Reference

River

Millecoquins River (Upper + Lower)

Length

~17 mi total (7.6 upper, 9.6 lower) + Millecoquins Lake

Region

Eastern Upper Peninsula, Mackinac County

Headwaters

Millecoquins Trout Pond, Garfield Township

Mouth

Lake Michigan, ~1.5 mi west of Naubinway

USGS Gage

None known

Best Season

June – early October

Difficulty

Class I

Best Stretch

Lower river, lake outlet to mouth

Top Hazard

Deadfall/strainers; remoteness; Lake Michigan at the mouth

Dams

None known

Water Trail

No