Upper river
Marshy and shallow
Slow water through wetlands and wildlife floodings. Often too shallow or too choked with vegetation to paddle far.
Lower Peninsula River Guide / Gladwin County to the Tittabawassee River
Molasses River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
A small, quiet Gladwin County river that feeds the Tittabawassee. It runs through farmland, swamp and state wildlife floodings, and it only carries enough water for a boat when it's running high. This is one of the least-paddled rivers in our guide, so treat any trip here as exploring.
RegionCentral Lower Peninsula, Saginaw Bay watershed
CountiesGladwin
WatershedTittabawassee River, then Saginaw River
Great Lake BasinLake Huron (Saginaw Bay)
River LengthAbout 17 miles
PaddleableLower river, in high water only
Best SeasonApril to early June
MouthTittabawassee River
Before you launch: small water, wood and no gage
- Expect deadfall: a small river like this collects downed trees. Plan on liftovers and turn back if the channel is blocked.
- No live gage: the old USGS gage at M-61 is no longer reporting. Judge the level by recent rain and by looking at the river from a bridge before you launch.
- Private land: most of the bank is private. Stop only on public land or where you have permission.
- Cold water: spring is the best time for depth, and also the coldest. Dress for a swim.
River History
The Molasses River country was part of the Saginaw Valley's white pine forest. In the late 1800s, lumber crews cut the Gladwin County pine and sent logs down the Tittabawassee system to the sawmills at Saginaw. After the timber was gone, much of the land was cleared for farms, and the cutover swamps that were left became state land.
Today the Michigan DNR manages several wildlife floodings along the river, including Molasses River Flooding No. 3, a state wildlife area of about 1,900 acres east of Gladwin. Downstream, the Tittabawassee was reshaped in May 2020 when the Edenville Dam failed and Wixom Lake drained. Restoration of the lakes is ongoing, so check current conditions if your trip continues onto the Tittabawassee.
River Map
River Overview
The Molasses River runs about 17 miles through Gladwin County before joining the Tittabawassee River, part of the Saginaw River system. Its largest tributary, the Little Molasses River, is about 11 miles long. The river is small, slow and winding, and much of it runs through wet woods, farm fields and state wildlife land. We found very little published paddling information for it, so scout before you commit to a stretch.
Upper river and the state floodings
Headwater streams and DNR wildlife floodings east of Gladwin. Shallow and marshy, best for wildlife watching from shore.
M-61 crossing, Grim Township
Where the old USGS gage stood, east of Gladwin. A good place to look at the river and judge the level.
Lower river
Slow, winding water through woods and farmland. The most likely stretch to hold enough water for a boat in spring.
Tittabawassee River
The Molasses ends at the Tittabawassee in Gladwin County.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
There's no live USGS gage on the Molasses River right now. The gage at M-61 near Gladwin is retired, but its old records are still useful. The Tobacco River at Beaverton is the closest live gage in the same part of Gladwin County, so use it as a rough guide to whether local rivers are up or down.
How to read it
If the Tobacco River is running well above its normal flow for the date, the Molasses is more likely to have enough water to paddle a kayak. If the Tobacco is low, expect the Molasses to be too shallow.
Always look at the river from a bridge before you launch. On a small river, a few inches of water makes the difference between paddling and walking.
Paddling Character
Lower river
Small and winding
A narrow channel with tight bends, downed trees and very little current. Expect to get out of the boat to pull over logs.
Michigan Water Trails
The Molasses River is not a designated Michigan Water Trail. Nearby, the Saginaw Bay Blueways and the Shiawassee and Cass river water trails cover the larger rivers of the Saginaw Bay watershed.
Check the official list for updates, since new trails are added over time.
Michigan Water TrailsDams & Portages
Gladwin County
No dams on the paddling stretch
We didn't find any dams on the lower river. The DNR wildlife floodings upstream are held back by small water-control structures. Stay away from them and from any culverts at road crossings.
Plan ahead
Downstream changes
If you continue onto the Tittabawassee, know that the river below has changed since the 2020 dam failures. Check with the Four Lakes Task Force and Gladwin County for current conditions.
Launches
There are no developed launches on the Molasses River that we could confirm. Road crossings are the usual way in. Many have no parking and some are on private land, so look first and confirm access before you go.
Camping
Gladwin
Gladwin City Park and Campground
A town campground on the Cedar River in Gladwin, a short drive from the Molasses.
State land
Dispersed camping on state land
Some state land in Gladwin County allows dispersed camping under DNR rules. Know the property lines and camp off private land.
Wildlife & Fishing
Wildlife
The state floodings along the Molasses draw ducks, geese, herons, sandhill cranes and beaver. White-tailed deer and wild turkey are common in the surrounding woods.
Fishing
The Molasses is a warm, slow river. Expect pike, panfish and suckers rather than trout. Check the current Michigan fishing guide for rules.
Safety
Safety essentials
- Wear your PFD the whole time.
- Turn back at logjams you can't safely lift over. Never try to slip under a downed tree.
- Scout from a bridge first. This river can drop fast after a dry spell.
- Share your route and check-in time. Cell coverage is spotty in rural Gladwin County.
Rules, passes and private land
- The state wildlife floodings have their own rules. Check posted signs before launching there.
- Watch for hunters in fall. Wear bright colors during hunting seasons.
- A Michigan Recreation Passport is needed at state parks and many state-run launches.
- Much of the riverbank is private. Stop only on public land or where you have permission.
- Leave No Trace: pack out all trash.
What to pack
- Spare paddle, bilge pump, throw bag and whistle
- Dry bag with warm layers
- Map or GPS track with your take-out marked
- Folding saw for small deadfall
- Rope for lining the boat over logs
Best Time & Access
Spring
The best chance of enough water. Cold, high and fast after snowmelt and rain.
Summer
Usually too low to paddle far. Good for scouting and wildlife viewing.
Fall
Low water unless there's been heavy rain. Hunting seasons start.
Winter
Frozen or near freezing. Not recommended.
From Grand Rapids, Gladwin is about two hours northeast. Take US-131 north to US-10, then follow M-61 east to Gladwin.
Trip Planning
Short trips only
Plan short out-and-back paddles or short point-to-point runs between bridges. Progress will be slow on a river this small.
Scout first
Drive the road crossings before your trip to check depth and look for logjams.
Bring a plan B
If the Molasses is too low, the Cedar and Tobacco rivers near Gladwin and Beaverton usually have more water.
Check before you go
Look at the Tobacco River gage, the forecast, and any DNR notices about the state floodings.
River Difficulty
We use the American Whitewater difficulty scale. American Whitewater doesn't list the Molasses River, so it's rated Class I: easy water with no rapids. Small rivers are still hard work because of deadfall and shallow water.
Lower Molasses River
Slow, flat water. The challenge is downed trees and low water, not current.
Quick Reference
| Source | Headwaters in Gladwin County |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Tittabawassee River, Gladwin County |
| Length | About 17 miles |
| Main tributary | Little Molasses River |
| Dams | None on the paddling stretch that we could find |
| Nearest town | Gladwin |
| Gage | None live. Use the Tobacco River at Beaverton (04152500) |
| Michigan Water Trail | Not designated |
| Best season | April to early June, in high water |
| Difficulty | Class I |