Molasses River Kayaking Guide
An important honesty note opens this guide: the only Molasses River documented in Michigan is in Gladwin County in the Lower Peninsula — a 16.8-mile tributary of the Tittabawassee River, part of the Saginaw River watershed, with its mouth mapped near 43.93363, -84.30167. Despite targeted searches of topographic records, paddling references, and geographic databases, no Upper Peninsula waterway by this name could be verified.
This entry appears in our Upper Peninsula series only because the name showed up on the UP request list. The river itself is not in the Upper Peninsula, and it would be misleading to file it under a UP county or region. We have listed its actual county (Gladwin) and actual region (Lower Peninsula) rather than invent a UP identity for it.
What is documented about the real Molasses River is fishing-oriented, not paddling-oriented: it crosses M-61 near Gladwin, and fishing references describe it as a Gladwin County stream. No kayaking route, put-in, or take-out is documented for it. If you were hoping to paddle a UP river by this name, the name on your list most likely refers to a different waterway — double-check your source.
Molasses River at a Glance
- Region: Lower Peninsula — Gladwin County (not a UP river)
- Difficulty: Unknown — no paddling route documented
- Character: 16.8-mile Tittabawassee River tributary; fishing stream
- Signature reach: None documented for paddling
- Watch for: No verified UP identity — do not plan a UP trip on this name
Paddling the Molasses River
The documented Molasses River (Gladwin County)
The real Molasses River runs 16.8 miles through Gladwin County to the Tittabawassee River, with a Little Molasses River tributary of its own. Fishing references place it along M-61 near Gladwin. That is the verifiable record — a Lower Peninsula fishing stream.
No UP identity
No topographic or paddling source documents a Molasses River in the Upper Peninsula. Do not confuse this name with a UP paddle plan, and do not navigate to a UP launch looking for it — none exists under this name.
Hazards & Portages
Unknown for paddling. The river is documented for fishing, not kayaking, and no paddling hazards, portages, or flow guidance exist in the record. Anyone floating it would be doing so without beta.
Access & Parking
No verified paddling access. The M-61 crossing near Gladwin is a fishing reference, not a documented launch. There is no UP access to verify because there is no UP Molasses River in the records.
Map
The marker below shows the documented Molasses River's reference point in Gladwin County in the Lower Peninsula — there is no verified Upper Peninsula waterway by this name.
Paddle It With the Club
The West Michigan Kayaking Club paddles rivers like this one all season long. Come float with us!