Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
Trip Reports
What happened out there: the miles, the weather, the camps, and the people. Written by members after club trips.
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22OctAu Sable River
Au Sable River 4-Day Paddle, Hike & Bike Adventure
Four days based at Canoe Harbor in the Mason Tract: paddling two branches of the Au Sable, a rail-trail ride with an elk detour, lunch in the ruins of Durant's Castle and a final 10 miles on Sunday, with about 20 members and one night near 30°F.
- 4 days
- Paddle + hike + bike
- ~20 members
- Mason Tract base camp
- 15AugShiawassee River
Shiawassee River Kayaking Adventure: Byron to SHIATown Park
An 18–19 mile intermediate paddle on the Shiawassee National Heritage Water Trail, from Byron to SHIATown Park.
- 18–19 miles
- Intermediate
- Byron to SHIATown Park
- 23AugMuskegon River
Muskegon River Kayaking Adventure: Houghton Lake to White Birch Campground
An approximately 24-mile endurance paddle on the upper Muskegon River, from Houghton Lake to White Birch Campground.
- About 24 miles
- Hard — endurance paddle
- Houghton Lake to White Birch Campground
- 25JulyWhite River
White River Kayaking Adventure: Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery to Lake Michigan
A 16–18 mile paddle down the White River and across White Lake to Lake Michigan, from Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery.
- 16–18 miles
- White Lake crossing
- Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery to Lake Michigan
- 18JulyPine River
Pine River Kayaking Adventure: Dobson Bridge to Low Bridge
A two-day paddle in Wexford County — Dobson Bridge to Low Bridge on day one, Elm Flats to Low Bridge on day two, with camping at Coolwater Campground.
- 32 miles over two days
- Intermediate to advanced
- Dobson Bridge to Low Bridge
- 17JulyMuskegon River
Muskegon River Kayaking Adventure: Croton Dam DNR Boat Launch to Ed H. Henning County Park
An easy, own-pace 12.5-mile weekday paddle on the Muskegon River, from the Croton Dam boat launch to Ed H. Henning County Park.
- 12.5 miles
- Easy — own pace
- Croton to Henning Park
- 12JulyMuskegon River
Muskegon River Kayaking Adventure: White Birch Campground to Jonesville Road
Leg 8 of the club's traverse of the full Muskegon River — about 21 miles from White Birch Campground to Jonesville Road, paddled in November 2025 and again in July 2026.
- About 21 miles
- Nov 22, 2025 & Jul 12, 2026
- White Birch Campground to Jonesville Road
- 6JuneWhite River
White River Kayaking Adventure: Pines Point to Fruitvale Road
A remote, technical 15–20 mile paddle through the Manistee National Forest, from Pines Point to Fruitvale Road.
- 15–20 miles
- Remote & technical
- Pines Point to Fruitvale Road
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8MayGrand River
Grand River Active Paddle: High Water, Headwinds and Whitecaps
The Weekly Active Paddle from River Hill Drive to the 118th Avenue Boat Launch turned into a serious adventure — a river running over 7,000 CFS, 20 mph headwinds and 2-3 foot waves.
- May 8, 2026
- River Hill Drive to 118th Avenue
- High water & whitecaps
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21SepManistee River
Manistee River: 3-Day Kayak Camping Expedition
About 60 miles in three days, carrying everything needed for a self-supported camping trip.
- 3 days
- ~60 miles
- ~20 miles a day
- Self-supported camping
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31AugFife Lake & Boardman River
Fife Lake: North Country Trail Hike and Boardman River Paddle
Three days of trail miles, campfires, a little rain, live music, and a paddle down the Boardman to finish.
- 3 days
- Hike + paddle
- North Country Trail
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27JuneJordan River Valley
Jordan River Hiking & Kayaking Adventure
A full weekend in the Jordan River Valley: ~10 miles on the Jordan River Pathway, campfire at Graves Crossing, then paddling the Jordan to Rogers Road Bridge.
- Hike + paddle
- Weekend
- Signature Adventure Series
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30MayManistee River
First Annual Manistee River Kayak & Hiking Adventure
Hike ~10 miles on the Manistee River Trail, then paddle back from Hodenpyl Dam — the trip that changed the club.
- Hike + paddle
- ~10-mile hike
- Annual tradition
- Signature Adventure Series
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25MayThornapple River
Thornapple River: Vermontville Highway to Nashville
An adventure paddle on the club's easternmost stretch of the Thornapple — eight miles from W Vermontville Hwy to the Nashville Dam boat launch, with two portages, log hops and one more flip.
- 8 miles
- 2 portages
- May 25, 2025
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10MayThornapple River
Thornapple River: Nashville to Thornapple Lake
A fast, friendly 8.6-mile paddle from the Riverside Park boat launch in Nashville to the Thornapple Lake boat launch — good current, a four-tier rock drop and no portages.
- 8.6 miles
- 0 portages
- May 10, 2025
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1June 2021Crockery Creek
Crockery Creek: 36 Miles of Fallen Trees
36 miles of fallen trees — our battle with Crockery Creek.
- 36 miles
- Obstacles
- Adventure
More from the river
Trip stories and planning notes from The Kayakers Journal.
Be in the next report.
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