Upper river and town
Small and narrow
A small channel through farmland and the city of Pinconning. Paddleable mostly in higher water.
Lower Peninsula River Guide / Bay County to Saginaw Bay
Pinconning River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
A short Bay County river that runs through the town of Pinconning and out to Saginaw Bay at Pinconning Park. The lower river and the coastal marsh at the mouth make a relaxed paddle, and the park's campground puts you right on the water.
RegionSaginaw Bay
CountiesBay
WatershedAbout 27 sq mi
Great Lake BasinLake Huron (Saginaw Bay)
River LengthAbout 11 to 16 miles
PaddleableLower river, Pinconning to the bay
Best SeasonMay to October
MouthSaginaw Bay at Pinconning Park
Before you launch: Saginaw Bay conditions
- Wind and waves: Saginaw Bay is shallow and can turn rough quickly. Check the marine forecast before paddling past the mouth.
- Water levels shift: strong wind can push the bay's water up or down the river mouth by a foot or more in a few hours.
- Hunting season: the coastal marshes are popular for waterfowl hunting in fall. Wear bright colors.
- Small river upstream: above town the river is narrow and shallow, with downed trees.
River History
Pinconning takes its name from the river. The name comes from the Ojibwe word Opinikaaning, often translated as "potato place," for the wild potatoes that grew along its banks. Lumbermen George VanEtten and Henry Kaiser settled the town in 1872, and it grew as a logging community on the river.
In 1907 William Reid opened the Pinconning Creamery, and the town became known as the Cheese Capital of Michigan. Today the land around the mouth is protected in Bay County's Pinconning Park and the Saginaw Bay Land Conservancy's Pinconning Nature Preserve, part of a chain of coastal wildlands along the bay.
River Map
River Overview
The Pinconning River starts in Mount Forest Township, about 9 miles west of Pinconning, and flows east through the city to Saginaw Bay. It drains about 27 square miles of northern Bay County. Its largest tributary is the South Branch Pinconning River, which joins just upstream of town.
Mount Forest Township
Headwaters in farmland and woods. Too small to paddle.
South Branch confluence
The South Branch joins just upstream of Pinconning.
City of Pinconning
The river passes through town. Narrow, with road crossings.
Pinconning Nature Preserve
Protected wetlands and woods along the lower river.
Pinconning Park and the mouth
The river reaches Saginaw Bay at the county park, about 2 miles east of town.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
There's no live USGS gage on the Pinconning River. The Pine River near Standish, the next river north along the bay, is the closest live gage and a rough guide to local conditions. At the mouth, Saginaw Bay's level matters more than river flow.
How to read it
If the Pine River at Standish is well above its normal flow, local rivers are likely high and may be carrying debris. If it's low, the upper Pinconning may be too shallow to paddle.
Near the mouth, watch the wind. A strong west wind pushes water out of the river, and an east or northeast wind pushes it in.
Paddling Character
Lower river
Slow and marshy
Slow water through wetlands and woods below town. Good for wildlife watching.
Mouth and Saginaw Bay
Coastal marsh and open bay
Cattail marsh at the mouth opens to the shallow bay. Calm days are great; wind makes it rough fast.
Michigan Water Trails
The mouth of the Pinconning River is an access point on the Saginaw Bay Blueways, the water trail along the western and southern shores of Saginaw Bay. Bay County's blueways map lists the Pinconning River mouth and Pinconning Park & Campground as access sites, with the Coggins Road DNR launch nearby.
The bay routes are open-water trips, so plan around the wind.
Saginaw Bay Water TrailsDams & Portages
Bay County
No dams
We didn't find any dams on the Pinconning River. Watch for low bridges and culverts in town.
Launches
Listed upstream to downstream. Confirm parking, fees and current conditions before you go.
Pinconning
City of Pinconning crossings
Road crossings in town can work in higher water. Confirm parking and access first.
MapMouth
Pinconning Park
Bay County park and campground on the north bank at the river mouth.
MapSaginaw Bay
Coggins Road DNR boat launch
State launch on the bay near Pinconning. A Recreation Passport may be required.
MapCamping
Mouth
Pinconning Park
Bay County campground at the mouth of the river on Saginaw Bay. A great base for paddling the river and the coast.
South along the bay
Bay City State Park
State park campground on Saginaw Bay, about 30 minutes south. A Recreation Passport is required.
State game areas
No camping in the coastal game areas
Camping, fires and overnight stays are prohibited in the state game areas along the bay.
Wildlife & Fishing
Wildlife
The coastal marshes around Pinconning are some of the best bird habitat on Saginaw Bay. Look for great egrets, herons, bald eagles, terns and huge flocks of migrating ducks and geese in spring and fall.
Fishing
Saginaw Bay is famous for walleye and yellow perch, and the river mouth draws pike, bass and panfish. Ice fishing is popular in winter.
Safety
Safety essentials
- Wear your PFD the whole time.
- Check the marine forecast before heading onto Saginaw Bay. Stay near shore.
- Watch for wind shifts that change the water level at the mouth.
- Wear bright colors during waterfowl season.
Rules, passes and private land
- Camping, fires and overnight stays are not allowed in the coastal state game areas.
- Pinconning Park charges day-use and camping fees.
- 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
- Marine forecast checked before launch
- VHF radio or phone in a dry bag for bay trips
Best Time & Access
Spring
Walleye runs and high water. Good birding in the marshes.
Summer
Best for paddling. Calm mornings on the bay are ideal.
Fall
Waterfowl hunting season. Wear bright colors, but waterfowl hunters are out in the marshes.
Winter
Ice fishing season. Not for paddling.
From Grand Rapids, Pinconning is about two hours east and north. Take US-131 or I-96 to US-10 and I-75, then exit at Pinconning.
Trip Planning
Camp and paddle
Base at Pinconning Park and paddle the lower river and the marsh shoreline from camp.
Short river trips
The paddleable river is short. Plan an out-and-back from the park, or a one-way trip from town to the mouth in higher water.
Watch the wind
Plan bay paddles for calm mornings.
Check before you go
Look at the marine forecast, the Standish gage and Bay County park notices.
River Difficulty
We use the American Whitewater difficulty scale. American Whitewater doesn't list the Pinconning River, so it's rated Class I: easy water with no rapids. Wind on Saginaw Bay can make the mouth much harder.
Lower Pinconning River
Slow, flat water through marsh. Easy for beginners in calm weather.
Saginaw Bay shoreline
Easy in calm weather. Wind and waves can build quickly on the shallow bay.
Quick Reference
| Source | Mount Forest Township, Bay County |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Saginaw Bay at Pinconning Park |
| Length | About 11 to 16 miles (sources differ) |
| Watershed | About 27 sq mi |
| Main tributary | South Branch Pinconning River |
| Dams | None |
| Gage | None live. Use the Pine River near Standish (04143220) |
| Michigan Water Trail | Saginaw Bay Blueways access at the mouth |
| Best season | May to October |
| Difficulty | Class I |