Upper and middle river
Farm drain
A ditched channel with steep banks through open fields. Only worth paddling in spring high water.
Lower Peninsula River Guide / Huron County to Lake Huron at Port Crescent State Park
Pinnebog River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
A slow, winding Thumb river that ends in the dunes of Port Crescent State Park, near the tip of the Thumb. The last couple of miles through the park are one of the prettiest easy paddles on Michigan's east side, with dune views, a sandy river mouth and a campground right on the water.
RegionThe Thumb
CountiesHuron
WatershedFarm drains across northern Huron County
Great Lake BasinLake Huron
River LengthAbout 39 miles
PaddleableLower river through Port Crescent State Park
Best SeasonMay to October
MouthLake Huron at Port Crescent State Park
Before you launch: wind on Lake Huron
- Lake Huron at the mouth: waves and rip currents can be strong off the river mouth when the wind blows onshore. Stay in the river on rough days.
- Shifting sandbars: the mouth changes with every storm. Expect shallow spots and drag your boat if needed.
- Farm drain upstream: most of the river above the park is a ditched farm drain. It's only worth paddling in high water.
- Busy beach: the park's beach is crowded in summer. Watch for swimmers near the mouth.
River History
The Pinnebog carried logs to the sawmills of Port Crescent, a lumber and salt town at the river mouth. Its post office opened in 1865, and by 1884 about 350 people lived there. The village also shipped salted herring and whitefish, and a brine well and salt works opened in 1880 and 1881. The town took its name from the crescent-shaped bay at the river mouth.
When the timber ran out, Port Crescent faded. Sand mining kept going until 1936, and buildings were moved to other towns. The 120-foot chimney of the Pack & Woods sawmill stood as the last landmark until it was torn down in 1961. The state began buying the land for Port Crescent State Park in 1956, and the ghost town site is now part of the park.
River Map
River Overview
The Pinnebog River forms where the Colona and Colfax drains meet in Colfax Township, south of Bad Axe. It flows about 39 miles north through Huron County farmland, past Popple and the east side of Elkton, and reaches Lake Huron inside Port Crescent State Park, about 4 miles southwest of Port Austin. Many county drains feed it, including the Musselman Drain from Rush Lake.
Colfax Township headwaters
Farm drains meet south of Bad Axe. Too small to paddle.
Middle river near Popple and Elkton
A straightened channel through open farmland. Paddleable only in high water.
Kinde Road
Site of the live USGS gage, near the village of Pinnebog.
Port Crescent State Park
The river winds through the park between dunes and woods. The best paddling on the river.
Lake Huron
The river ends at a sandy mouth on the park's beach.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
The USGS gage at Kinde Road near Pinnebog shows how much water is coming down from the farm country upstream. In the park, the river is slow and usually deep enough to paddle all season, and the mouth is shaped by Lake Huron's waves and water level.
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
Port Crescent State Park
Slow and scenic
Slow, meandering water past dunes, woods and the old town site. Easy for beginners and families.
River mouth and Lake Huron
Sandbars and surf
Shifting sandbars and waves where the river meets the lake. Calm days only.
Michigan Water Trails
As far as we could find, the Pinnebog itself is not a designated Michigan Water Trail. The Thumb Coast tourism bureau lists it as a paddling route, and the Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail follows more than 100 miles of the Lake Huron shoreline in this part of the Thumb.
Check the official list for updates, since new trails are added over time.
Thumb Coast water trailsDams & Portages
Huron County
No dams
We didn't find any dams on the Pinnebog. Watch for culverts and drain structures at road crossings upstream.
Launches
Listed upstream to downstream. Confirm parking, fees and current conditions before you go.
Upper river
Kinde Road crossing
Bridge at the USGS gage near Pinnebog. Look at the river here before planning an upper-river trip. Access may be limited.
MapPort Crescent State Park
Park carry-in launch, Lot A
Carry-in launch in the state park, a short walk on a sand trail from the parking lot. A Recreation Passport is required.
MapCamping
River mouth
Port Crescent State Park
A 142-site modern campground on Lake Huron, plus cabins, domes and a cottage. The river runs right through the park. Reserve early for summer.
Night sky
Dark sky preserve
Port Crescent is a designated dark sky preserve, with an observation platform near Lot D. Great after an evening paddle.
Wildlife & Fishing
Wildlife
The park's dunes, woods and river corridor draw herons, sandhill cranes, eagles, swallows and migrating songbirds. The Thumb's tip is a major stopover for birds crossing Lake Huron in spring and fall.
Fishing
Shore fishing on the river in the park is popular. Pike, bass, panfish and fish moving in from Lake Huron are all possible.
Safety
Safety essentials
- Wear your PFD the whole time.
- Stay in the river when Lake Huron is rough. Rip currents form off the mouth in onshore wind.
- Watch for swimmers near the beach and mouth.
- Avoid the upper drain in high water, when culverts are dangerous.
Rules, passes and private land
- A Michigan Recreation Passport is required to enter Port Crescent State Park.
- 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
- Lake Huron forecast checked before launch
- Sandals for dragging over sandbars
Best Time & Access
Spring
High water upstream and cold water everywhere. The park is quiet.
Summer
The best time to paddle the park. Busy campground and beach.
Fall
Great color, migrating birds and an empty beach.
Winter
Ice and snow. Not for paddling.
From Grand Rapids, Port Crescent State Park is about three and a half hours east. Take I-96 east toward Lansing, then cross the Thumb on M-46 and M-53 north to Port Austin.
Trip Planning
Camp and paddle
Base at Port Crescent and paddle the river through the park, then out to the lake on a calm morning.
Short and easy
The paddle through the park is a few miles round trip. Combine it with a hike on the park's dune trails.
Tip of the Thumb weekend
Add a Lake Huron shoreline paddle near Port Austin on calm days.
Check before you go
Look at the Kinde Road gage, the Lake Huron forecast and campground reservations.
River Difficulty
We use the American Whitewater difficulty scale. American Whitewater doesn't list the Pinnebog, so it's rated Class I: easy water with no rapids. Waves and rip currents at the mouth can make Lake Huron far harder.
Pinnebog River in Port Crescent State Park
Slow, easy water. Great for beginners and families.
River mouth and Lake Huron
Easy on calm days. Onshore wind brings surf and rip currents.
Quick Reference
| Source | Colona and Colfax drains, Colfax Township |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Lake Huron in Port Crescent State Park |
| Length | About 39 miles |
| Dams | None |
| Nearby towns | Elkton, Pinnebog, Port Austin |
| Key gage | USGS 04159046, Kinde Road near Pinnebog |
| Launch | Carry-in launch, Port Crescent State Park, Lot A |
| Camping | Port Crescent State Park, 142 sites plus cabins |
| Best season | May to October |
| Difficulty | Class I |