Lower Peninsula River Guide
Thunder Bay River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
A northeast Michigan river of dams, ponds and rocky rapids, running through state forest from Atlanta and Hillman to Lake Huron in downtown Alpena.
River History
The Thunder Bay River drains much of Alpena and Montmorency counties, rising near Atlanta and flowing past Hillman to Thunder Bay, an arm of Lake Huron. Logging ended here in the 1910s, and much of the cut-over land reverted to the state — it's now the Mackinaw State Forest.
Dams followed for hydroelectric power. Fletcher Pond, an 8,500-acre reservoir, began filling in 1932, and Norway (Seven Mile) Dam flooded the old Long Rapids to form Lake Winyah. Today the river ends at Alpena's Thunder Bay Maritime Heritage Center, home of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Interactive River Map
Zoom and drag to follow the river. Confirm every launch on the ground before you commit to a shuttle.
River Overview
The river is a chain of free-flowing stretches and impoundments: Atlanta Pond, Hillman Pond, Fletcher Pond, Lake Winyah and Fourmile Pond. Free-flowing sections in between are wide and often shallow, with rocky riffles.
Near Long Rapids, paddlers report wide, shallow rapids spanning the river — including Speehley Rapids — with big rocks that may require lining your boat in late summer. The final mile through Alpena is part of the Alpena Blueway.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
Check the Alpena gage for overall flow. Free-flowing sections get rocky and scrapy in late summer; dam releases also affect levels below each impoundment.
If the USGS map doesn't load on your device, use the live gage links below.
Paddling Character
- Class I with shallow, rocky Class I–II-type riffles (Long Rapids / Speehley Rapids)
- Wide, murky river between dams
- Large impoundments with motorboats and wind exposure
- Remote state forest corridor with few towns
- Urban finish through Alpena to Lake Huron
Michigan Water Trails
The final 1.2 miles of the river, from the Ninth Street Dam to Thunder Bay, are part of the Alpena Blueway, which belongs to the Huron Shores Coastal Water Trail along Lake Huron.
The upper river has no designated water trail.
Dams & Portages
- Atlanta Dam — 15 ft; scout for a carry route
- Hillman Dam — 16 ft; portage on the right
- Norway (Seven Mile) Dam — 43 ft; portage on the left
- Four Mile Dam — 27 ft; portage on the left
- Ninth Street Dam (Alpena) — 24 ft; paddle up to it from the Blueway, do not run
Launches
| Briley Park (Atlanta area) | Hard-surface launch |
|---|---|
| Emerick Park (Hillman) | Hard-surface launch |
| Thunder Bay River State Forest Campground | Carry-in launch; canoe-camping access |
| Long Rapids Township Park (M-65) | Carry-in launch, restroom |
| Lake Winyah / Fourmile Pond | Hard-surface launches on the impoundments |
| Sytek Park | Carry-in launch |
| Alpena Fairgrounds (11th Ave) | Gravel launch |
| Duck Park (Alpena) | Carry-in with ADA kayak launch |
| North Riverfront Park (Ford Ave) | Large launch, fee |
Listed upstream to downstream. Access changes — check the county, city or DNR site before you go.
Camping
- Thunder Bay River State Forest Campground — 10 rustic first-come sites, all with water access, reachable by canoe; Recreation Passport required
- Campers Cove RV Park & Canoe Livery near Alpena
- Fletcher Pond and Hillman-area campgrounds
Wildlife & Fishing
- Fletcher Pond has one of the largest osprey populations in the Midwest
- Pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye and panfish
- Brown and rainbow trout in parts of the system
- Eagles, loons and waterfowl on the impoundments
Safety
- Never approach the dams — take out above posted portages
- Wind and motorboats on Fletcher Pond and Lake Winyah
- Rocky rapids at low water — line or walk your boat if needed
- Heavy boat traffic near Alpena's marina and river mouth
Best Time & Access
- June through September
- Early summer for better water over the rocky rapids
- Fall for color in the state forest
- Campers Cove Canoe Livery rents canoes near Alpena
Trip Planning
- Long Rapids Township Park → downstream bridge — a day of shallow, rocky rapids — intermediate
- Thunder Bay River SFC canoe camp — paddle in to a riverside site for an overnight
- Alpena Blueway: Duck Park → Ninth Street Dam — 1.2 miles of easy urban paddling and maritime history
Plan trips section by section between dams.
Visit the Thunder Bay Maritime Heritage Center at the river mouth.
River Difficulty
Class I American Whitewater classification
The Thunder Bay River is Class I. Rocky riffles near Long Rapids and dam portages make free-flowing sections better for paddlers with some river experience, while the impoundments and the Alpena Blueway stretch suit beginners on calm days. The state forest campground makes a good overnight trip.
Quick Reference
| Length | About 75 miles |
|---|---|
| Flows into | Thunder Bay, Lake Huron (Alpena) |
| Class | I |
| Dams | Atlanta, Hillman, Norway, Four Mile, Ninth Street |
| USGS gage | 04135020 Alpena |
| Water trail | Alpena Blueway (lower 1.2 mi) |
Sources
- Thunder Bay River – Wikipedia
- Outdoor Michigan – Thunder Bay River
- Michigan Water Trails – Alpena Blueway
- Michigan DNR – Thunder Bay River State Forest Campground
- Paddling.com – Thunder Bay River trip
- USGS 04135020
River conditions change with every storm. This guide is for trip planning only — scout, check gages and use your own judgment.
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