Lower river at St. Clair
Slow and sheltered
Deep, calm water winding past homes, boathouses and the golf course. An easy beginner paddle.
Lower Peninsula River Guide / Brockway Township to the St. Clair River at St. Clair
Pine River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
A quiet Blue Water Area river that winds through farmland and woods to the St. Clair River in the city of St. Clair. The lower river is an easy, sheltered paddle from the St. Clair marina, and a nice change from the big water of the St. Clair River next door. Not to be confused with the other Pine Rivers in our guide.
RegionBlue Water Area, Michigan’s Thumb
CountiesSt. Clair
WatershedSt. Clair River
Great Lake BasinLake St. Clair (Lake Erie system)
River LengthBrockway Township to St. Clair
PaddleableLower river from St. Clair; upper river in high water
Best SeasonMay to October
MouthSt. Clair River at St. Clair
Before you launch: stay off the big river
- The St. Clair River is right there: the Pine empties into one of the busiest shipping channels in the Great Lakes, with strong current and freighter wakes. Turn around before the mouth unless you’re ready for it.
- Boat traffic: the lower Pine is lined with docks and boathouses. Watch for powerboats near the marina.
- Deadfall upstream: above the developed lower river, expect downed trees and shallow riffles.
- No live gage: there’s no USGS gage on the Pine. Judge the level by recent rain.
River History
The Pine River meets the St. Clair River at the city of St. Clair, one of the oldest settlements in the Blue Water Area. In the 1760s the British built Fort Sinclair at the mouth of the Pine, and the city later took a version of that name. Through the 1800s, the Pine carried logs to sawmills on the St. Clair River, and the town grew as a shipbuilding and lumber port.
Today the lower river is lined with homes, boathouses and the St. Clair marina, and the Pine River Paddle is one of the routes on the Blueways of St. Clair, the county’s network of water trails. Upstream, the river and its South Branch drain mostly farmland in the middle of St. Clair County.
River Map
River Overview
The Pine River rises in Brockway Township in northwestern St. Clair County and flows southeast through farm country to the St. Clair River on the south side of the city of St. Clair. Its main tributary is the South Branch Pine River. The lower few miles near St. Clair are slow, deep and sheltered, while the upper river is small and shallow.
Brockway Township headwaters
Farm drains and small creeks. Too small to paddle.
South Branch confluence
The South Branch joins in central St. Clair County.
Middle river
Small and winding through farmland and woods. Best in spring high water.
Pine Shores and Turtle Beach
The lower river bends around Pine Shores Golf Course. Turtle Beach is a common picnic stop.
St. Clair marina and the mouth
Docks, boathouses and the marina launch, just above the St. Clair River.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
There’s no live USGS gage on the Pine. The Belle River at Memphis, the next watershed south, is the closest live gage and a rough guide to whether local rivers are up. Near the mouth, the water level follows the St. Clair River.
How to read it
If the Belle River is running well above normal, the Pine is likely high too, with faster current and debris. If it’s low, the upper Pine will be too shallow to paddle.
On the lower river near the marina, depth is set mostly by the St. Clair River and Great Lakes water levels, so it’s paddleable all season.
Paddling Character
Middle and upper river
Small and rural
A narrow channel through farmland and woods with riffles and downed trees. Paddleable mostly in higher water.
Mouth
The St. Clair River
Fast current, freighters and big wakes. A different trip entirely, for experienced paddlers only.
Michigan Water Trails
The lower Pine River is part of the Blueways of St. Clair, St. Clair County’s network of water trails. The Pine River Paddle is an easy 8.4-mile round trip from the St. Clair marina, around the bends by Pine Shores Golf Course to Turtle Beach and back.
The Blueways of St. Clair also include routes on the Black River, the Belle River and the St. Clair River.
Thumb Coast water trailsDams & Portages
St. Clair County
No dams on the lower river
We didn’t find any dams on the paddling stretch. Watch for low bridges and culverts upstream.
Launches
Listed upstream to downstream. Confirm parking, fees and current conditions before you go.
St. Clair
St. Clair marina launch
ADA-accessible launch at the marina, 902 S. Second St. Start of the Pine River Paddle. Hourly kayak rentals have been offered at the marina.
MapLower river
Turtle Beach
Picnic stop with wooded trails, about halfway along the Pine River Paddle.
MapUpper river
Road crossings
Bridges upstream can work in high water. Confirm parking and access first.
MapCamping
Near Port Huron
Lakeport State Park
State park campground on Lake Huron north of Port Huron, about 30 minutes from St. Clair. A Recreation Passport is required.
St. Clair County
County and private campgrounds
Several campgrounds operate in St. Clair County. There’s no camping on the lower river itself.
Wildlife & Fishing
Wildlife
Herons, kingfishers, ducks and turtles are common on the lower river. The farmland and woods upstream hold deer, hawks and songbirds, and the St. Clair River corridor is a major flyway for migrating birds.
Fishing
The lower Pine draws pike, bass and panfish, and fish move in from the St. Clair River. Give anglers on docks and banks room.
Safety
Safety essentials
- Wear your PFD the whole time.
- Don’t paddle onto the St. Clair River unless you have the skills for strong current and freighter wakes.
- Watch for powerboats near the marina.
- Watch for downed trees on the upper river.
Rules, passes and private land
- Marina launches may charge a fee. Check before you go.
- 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
- Bright clothing so boaters can see you
Best Time & Access
Spring
The best time for the upper river. The lower river is cold.
Summer
The best time for the Pine River Paddle. Calm and sheltered, but busier with boats on weekends.
Fall
Good color along the bends and fewer boats.
Winter
Cold and icy. Not recommended.
From Grand Rapids, St. Clair is about three hours east. Take I-96 east to I-69 east toward Port Huron, then head south on M-29 to St. Clair.
Trip Planning
Classic route
Paddle the 8.4-mile round trip from the marina to Turtle Beach and back. No shuttle needed.
Combine trips
Pair the Pine with a paddle on the Black River in Port Huron or the Belle River for a Blue Water weekend.
Upper river
Plan upper-river trips for spring and scout the bridges first.
Check before you go
Look at the Belle River gage, the weather and marina hours.
River Difficulty
We use the American Whitewater difficulty scale. American Whitewater doesn’t list this Pine River, so it’s rated Class I: easy water with no rapids. The St. Clair River at the mouth is big, fast water and much harder.
Pine River Paddle, St. Clair
Slow, sheltered water. Great for beginners.
Upper Pine River
Small, shallow water with downed trees. Paddleable in high water.
Quick Reference
| Source | Brockway Township, St. Clair County |
|---|---|
| Mouth | St. Clair River at St. Clair |
| Main tributary | South Branch Pine River |
| Dams | None on the lower river |
| Main town | St. Clair |
| Gage | None live. Use the Belle River at Memphis (04160600) |
| Water trail | Pine River Paddle, Blueways of St. Clair |
| Classic route | 8.4-mile round trip, marina to Turtle Beach |
| Best season | May to October |
| Difficulty | Class I |