Main channel
Big, fast water
Deep, fast current with freighter traffic and big wakes. For experienced paddlers only.
Lower Peninsula River Guide / Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair
St. Clair River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
The big blue border river between Michigan and Ontario, carrying the water of Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron past Port Huron, Marine City and Algonac to the St. Clair Flats. It's fast, deep and full of freighters, but its edges, islands and delta hold some of the best paddling in southeast Michigan, including the state's first National Water Trail.
RegionBlue Water Area
CountiesSt. Clair; Lambton County, Ontario
WatershedLakes Superior, Michigan and Huron
Great Lake BasinLake St. Clair (Lake Erie system)
River LengthAbout 40.5 miles
PaddleableEdges, islands and delta; main channel for experts
Best SeasonJune to September
MouthLake St. Clair at the St. Clair Flats
Before you launch: this is big, fast water
- Strong current: the river is deep and fast near Port Huron and the Blue Water Bridge. Plan trips so you're not fighting the current.
- Freighters: this is one of the busiest shipping channels in the Great Lakes. Stay near shore and well out of the shipping lane.
- International border: the middle of the river is the Canadian border. Don't land on the Ontario shore without clearing customs.
- Cold water: the river carries Lake Huron water and stays cold well into summer.
River History
For thousands of years the St. Clair was a canoe route between the upper Great Lakes and Lake Erie. French traders paddled it in the 1700s, and in 1814 the U.S. Army built Fort Gratiot at the head of the river in today's Port Huron. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, built in 1829, is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan.
In the 1800s Port Huron and Marine City became shipbuilding centers, and huge log rafts were towed down the river to Detroit. Freighters carrying iron ore, grain and stone have used the river ever since. Pollution made it a binational Area of Concern, but cleanup has removed most of its listed problems. At the bottom of the river lies the St. Clair Flats, the largest delta in the Great Lakes.
River Map
River Overview
The St. Clair River flows about 40.5 miles south from Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair, forming the border between Michigan and Ontario. It carries an average of about 182,000 cubic feet of water per second, but drops only about 5 feet along its whole length. It passes Port Huron, Marysville, St. Clair, Marine City and Algonac before splitting into the channels of the St. Clair Flats.
Lake Huron and the Blue Water Bridge
The river starts at Port Huron and Sarnia. Fast, deep and turbulent near the bridges.
Port Huron
The Black River joins downtown. Start of the Island Loop Route.
Marysville and St. Clair
Wide river with riverfront parks. The Pine River joins at St. Clair.
Marine City
Historic shipbuilding town. The Belle River joins here.
Algonac and Russell Island
The North Channel and islands. Calmer paddling around the islands.
St. Clair Flats
The delta, with Harsens Island, marshes and the Walpole Island First Nation.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
The USGS gage at Port Huron shows river levels at the head of the St. Clair. Because the river is fed by the upper Great Lakes, its flow is huge and steady. Wind and lake levels matter more than rain.
How to read it
The St. Clair's flow changes little from day to day. What changes is the wind. A strong south wind against the current builds steep waves, and northeast winds bring surf on Lake Huron at the head of the river.
Check the marine forecast every time, along with the gage.
Paddling Character
Riverfront edges
Shoreline paddling
Eddies and slower water along parks and seawalls. Stay close to shore.
Islands and the Flats
Delta paddling
Channels, marshes and islands around Algonac and Harsens Island. The best paddling on the river.
Michigan Water Trails
The St. Clair River is part of the Blueways of St. Clair, St. Clair County's network of 17 paddling routes on 10 bodies of water. Its Island Loop Route, a 10.2-mile loop on the Black River, Black River Canal, Lake Huron and St. Clair River, was named Michigan's first National Water Trail in 2013.
Other St. Clair River routes include the 4.3-mile Russell Island Loop at Algonac, the Krispin Blueway on Harsens Island and the St. John's Marsh trail in Clay Township.
Thumb Coast water trailsDams & Portages
St. Clair River
No dams
There are no dams on the St. Clair River.
Island Loop Route
Black River Canal tainter gate
A gate on the Black River Canal closes automatically in strong north-northeast wind. Drive past on Gratiot Road to check that it's open before starting the loop.
Launches
Listed upstream to downstream. Confirm parking, fees and current conditions before you go.
Fort Gratiot Township
North River Road Park
Main start of the Island Loop Route, with an ADA-accessible kayak launch.
MapPort Huron Township
Bakers Field Park
Alternate Island Loop start and end, with an ADA-accessible kayak launch.
MapPort Huron
River Front Park
Island Loop end point in Port Huron.
MapAlgonac
Russell Island Loop launch
Start of the 4.3-mile Russell Island Loop on the North Channel.
MapCamping
North of Port Huron
Lakeport State Park
Lake Huron campground just north of the river's head. A Recreation Passport is required.
Algonac
Algonac State Park
State park campground along the lower St. Clair River, with views of passing freighters.
Wildlife & Fishing
Wildlife
The St. Clair Flats and St. John's Marsh are major stops for migrating ducks, swans, herons and egrets. Bald eagles, ospreys and many songbirds live along the river.
Fishing
The St. Clair is one of the Great Lakes' top fisheries for walleye, muskie, smallmouth bass and perch, and lake sturgeon live in the river. Give anglers and their lines plenty of room.
Safety
Safety essentials
- Wear your PFD the whole time.
- Stay near shore and out of the shipping lane.
- Check the marine forecast. Avoid strong south winds on the river and onshore winds on Lake Huron.
- Don't land on the Canadian shore without clearing customs.
Rules, passes and private land
- The middle of the river is the U.S.-Canada border. Know the rules before crossing.
- Spare paddle, bilge pump, throw bag and whistle
- Dry bag with warm layers
- Map or GPS track with your take-out marked
- VHF radio
- Bright clothing so boaters can see you
What to pack
Best Time & Access
Spring
Very cold water and strong current. Experts only.
Summer
The best time, but busy with boats on weekends. Paddle in the morning.
Fall
Fewer boats and great migrating birds in the Flats.
Winter
Ice flows and cold water. Not recommended.
From Grand Rapids, Port Huron is about three hours east on I-96 and I-69. Algonac is about an hour south of Port Huron along M-29.
Trip Planning
Island Loop Route
The 10.2-mile National Water Trail loop is the classic trip. Go in the morning and check the tainter gate first.
Easier water
The Russell Island Loop and the St. Clair Flats are calmer than the main channel.
Plan with the current
Paddle downstream on the main river, or stay in eddies along the shore.
Check before you go
Look at the gage, the marine forecast and ship traffic.
River Difficulty
We use the American Whitewater difficulty scale. American Whitewater doesn't list the St. Clair River, so it's rated Class I: no rapids. Strong current, freighters and wind make the main channel a trip for experienced paddlers only.
St. Clair Flats and Russell Island
Calmer water around islands and marshes.
Island Loop Route and main channel
Fast current near the bridges, freighters and wind. Experienced paddlers only.
Quick Reference
| Source | Lake Huron at Port Huron |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Lake St. Clair at the St. Clair Flats |
| Length | About 40.5 miles |
| Average flow | About 182,000 cubic feet per second |
| Dams | None |
| Main towns | Port Huron, Marysville, St. Clair, Marine City, Algonac |
| Key gage | USGS 04159130, Port Huron |
| Water trail | Blueways of St. Clair; Island Loop National Water Trail (2013) |
| Best season | June to September |
| Difficulty | Class I, strong current |