Below Athens
Small and winding
A twisting creek through farmland and woods, with deadfall.
Lower Peninsula River Guide / Calhoun County to the St. Joseph River near Mendon
Nottawa Creek
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
A winding southwest Michigan creek that flows from Nottawa Lake past Athens to the St. Joseph River near Mendon. The lower creek is part of the St. Joseph River Water Trails, and the run from Athens down to the St. Joe and Mendon makes a good day on the water.
RegionSouthwest Michigan
CountiesCalhoun, Branch, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph
WatershedSt. Joseph River
Great Lake BasinLake Michigan
River LengthAbout 34 miles
PaddleableBelow Athens to the St. Joseph River, about 19 miles to Mendon
Best SeasonMay to October
MouthSt. Joseph River, east of Mendon
Before you launch: deadfall and private land
- Deadfall: trees fall across this winding creek. Expect to work around them.
- Private land: most of the bank is private. Use the public access sites.
- Joining the St. Joe: the St. Joseph River is bigger and can be pushy in high water.
- Check the gage: the creek gets low in late summer.
River History
The creek's name comes from the Nottawaseppi, an older name tied to the Potawatomi people of southern Michigan. The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi still has its homeland at the Pine Creek Reservation in Athens Township, near the creek. In 2004 the band and the town of Athens dedicated the Athens Arch to mark their friendship.
Settlers in the 1830s cleared the land along the creek for farms, and mill towns like Athens grew up on it. Today the lower creek is part of the St. Joseph River Water Trails network, managed with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission.
River Map
River Overview
Nottawa Creek flows out of Nottawa Lake in south central Calhoun County, runs northwest, then arcs southwest through the village of Athens. It crosses into St. Joseph County and joins the St. Joseph River about three miles east of Mendon. It's about 34 miles long.
Nottawa Lake
The creek's source in Calhoun County.
Athens
The creek becomes paddleable below the village. USGS gage nearby.
Shorts Road access
Start of a 7.8-mile water trail route to the St. Joe.
Olney Road access
Public access with parking on the north bank.
St. Joseph River
The creek joins the St. Joe east of Mendon.
Mendon
Boat ramp in Mendon, about 19 miles below Athens.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
The USGS gage near Athens is the one to check for Nottawa Creek.
How to read it
Compare today's flow with the typical flow for the date shown on the USGS graph. Well above normal means faster current, debris coming downstream and fewer safe eddies. Well below normal means more dragging and more liftovers.
After heavy rain, check again the morning you launch. Small rivers rise and fall quickly.
Paddling Character
Lower creek
Easy current
Easy current to the St. Joseph River.
St. Joseph River to Mendon
Bigger river
Wider water on the St. Joe for the last stretch to Mendon.
Michigan Water Trails
Nottawa Creek is part of the St. Joseph River Water Trails, a listed Michigan Water Trail network. One mapped route runs 7.8 miles from the Shorts Road access to the St. Joseph River.
Local paddlers describe about 19 miles of water from below Athens to the Mendon boat ramp, with nine access sites.
Michigan Water Trails, Nottawa CreekDams & Portages
Nottawa Creek
Check the trail map
The water trail map marks dam sites in the watershed. Scout anything you can't see past, and carry if in doubt.
Launches
Listed upstream to downstream. Confirm parking, fees and current conditions before you go.
Below Athens
Athens area access
The creek becomes paddleable below Athens. Confirm parking and access.
MapLower creek
Shorts Road access
Start of the 7.8-mile water trail route to the St. Joe.
MapLower creek
Olney Road River Access
Parking lot access on the north bank.
MapMendon
Mendon boat ramp
Take-out on the St. Joseph River in Mendon.
MapCamping
Area
Local campgrounds
Private campgrounds near Mendon and Three Rivers work as a base. There's no camping on the creek.
Wildlife & Fishing
Wildlife
Herons, kingfishers, wood ducks, deer and wild turkey are common along the creek.
Fishing
Expect smallmouth bass, rock bass, pike and panfish, with more fish where the creek meets the St. Joe.
Safety
Safety essentials
- Wear your PFD the whole time.
- Watch for downed trees. Never slip under a log.
- Scout anything you can't see past.
- Use public access sites only.
Rules, passes and private land
- 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
Best Time & Access
Spring
Higher water and more deadfall. Cold.
Summer
The best season, but low by August.
Fall
Good color and quiet water.
Winter
Cold and icy. Not recommended.
From Grand Rapids, Athens is about an hour and 30 minutes south. Take US-131 south to Kalamazoo, then I-94 east and M-66 south toward Athens.
Trip Planning
Water trail run
Paddle the 7.8-mile Shorts Road route to the St. Joe.
Long day
Run from below Athens all the way to Mendon, about 19 miles.
Combine
Pair with the Prairie, Portage or Rocky rivers nearby.
Check before you go
Look at the Athens gage and the weather.
River Difficulty
We use the American Whitewater difficulty scale. Nottawa Creek is easy moving water, rated Class I. Deadfall is the main challenge.
Athens to the St. Joseph River
Easy current with deadfall.
Quick Reference
| Source | Nottawa Lake, Calhoun County |
|---|---|
| Mouth | St. Joseph River, east of Mendon |
| Length | About 34 miles |
| Paddling | About 19 miles from below Athens to Mendon |
| Main towns | Athens, Mendon |
| Key gage | USGS 04096900, near Athens |
| Michigan Water Trail | St. Joseph River Water Trails |
| Best season | May to October |
| Difficulty | Class I |