Branches
Small rivers
The North, Middle and South branches are small and winding. Best in higher water.
Lower Peninsula River Guide / Beaverton to the Tittabawassee River at Edenville
Tobacco River Kayaking Guide: Launches, Dams & Flows
Wild Rivers. Rugged Trails. Real Adventure.
A short river that starts at Ross Lake in Beaverton, where its three branches meet, and runs to the Tittabawassee at Edenville. Much of the lower river used to be flooded by Wixom Lake. Since the 2020 dam failure drained the lake, the old river channel has come back to life.
RegionCentral Lower Peninsula, Saginaw Bay watershed
CountiesGladwin, Midland; branches in Clare
WatershedTittabawassee, then Saginaw River
Great Lake BasinLake Huron (Saginaw Bay)
River LengthAbout 13 miles, plus three branches
PaddleableBeaverton to Edenville; branches in high water
Best SeasonMay to October
MouthTittabawassee River at Edenville
Before you launch: a river that's changing
- Beaverton dam: the dam at Ross Lake in Beaverton forms the start of the river. Take out above it and stay clear of the spillway.
- Former lakebed: the lower river runs through the old Wixom Lake bed. Expect soft mud banks, stumps and a channel that's still settling.
- Restoration work: Wixom Lake and the Edenville Dam are being rebuilt. Check for construction closures and changing water levels.
- Cold water and debris: high water after storms brings fast current and drifting wood.
River History
The Tobacco's name goes back to its Ojibwe name, Asemaakwe-ziibi, meaning Tobacco-woman River. Older maps also show versions of that name. The river's North, Middle and South branches drain the farm and forest country of Clare and Gladwin counties, and the town of Beaverton grew up where they meet.
In the 1920s the Edenville Dam turned the lower Tobacco into an arm of Wixom Lake. In May 2020, record rain caused the Edenville Dam to fail, Wixom Lake drained, and the river was left running through the old lakebed. The Four Lakes Task Force is now rebuilding the dams and lakes, so the lower river will change again in the next few years.
River Map
River Overview
The Tobacco River forms at Ross Lake in Beaverton, where its North, Middle and South branches meet. It flows about 13 miles southeast through Gladwin County and into Midland County, joining the Tittabawassee River at Edenville. The branches add many more miles of small river upstream in Clare and Gladwin counties.
North, Middle and South branches
Small rivers in Clare and Gladwin counties. Paddleable in higher water.
Ross Lake and the Beaverton dam
The branches meet at Ross Lake in Beaverton. Dam at the outlet.
Below Beaverton
Site of the live USGS gage at Glidden Road.
Former Wixom Lake arm
The river now runs through the old lakebed, with mud banks and stumps.
Edenville and the Tittabawassee
The Tobacco joins the Tittabawassee at Edenville.
USGS Flow & Water Conditions
The USGS gage at Glidden Road in Beaverton is the one to check for the main river. The South Branch gage covers one of the branches above town.
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.
Below Beaverton, the river is still adjusting to the drained lakebed. Water levels may change as restoration work goes on.
Paddling Character
Ross Lake
Town lake
A small impoundment in Beaverton. Easy flatwater.
Lower river
Restored channel
The river winds through the former Wixom Lake bed, with stumps, mud and a changing channel.
Michigan Water Trails
The Tobacco River is not a designated Michigan Water Trail. Gladwin County has been building interest in river paddling, including its own canoe and kayak race.
Check the official list for updates, since new trails are added over time.
Michigan Water TrailsDams & Portages
Beaverton
Ross Lake dam
The dam at Ross Lake in Beaverton. Take out above it and carry around, or start below it.
Edenville
Edenville Dam, on the Tittabawassee
Failed in 2020 and being rebuilt. Stay clear of construction areas.
Plan ahead
Plan ahead
Check with the Four Lakes Task Force for construction schedules and any closures on the lower river before you go.
Launches
Listed upstream to downstream. Confirm parking, fees and current conditions before you go.
Camping
Gladwin
Gladwin City Park and Campground
Town campground on the Cedar River, about 15 minutes north.
Riverside
Local campgrounds
Small private campgrounds operate along the Tobacco and its branches.
Wildlife & Fishing
Wildlife
The drained Wixom Lake bed is turning back into floodplain, and it's a fascinating place to watch wildlife return. Herons, eagles, deer and beaver are common.
Fishing
Expect smallmouth bass, pike, rock bass and suckers in the river, and panfish in Ross Lake. Check the current Michigan fishing guide.
Safety
Safety essentials
- Wear your PFD the whole time.
- Take out above the Beaverton dam.
- Watch for stumps and soft mud in the old lakebed. Don't step out where you can't see the bottom.
- Stay clear of dam construction at Edenville.
Rules, passes and private land
- 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
- Old shoes for mud
- Folding saw for small deadfall
Best Time & Access
Spring
Higher water on the branches. Cold.
Summer
Good for the main river below Beaverton. Check the gage.
Fall
Good color and fewer bugs.
Winter
Cold and icy. Not recommended.
From Grand Rapids, Beaverton is about two hours northeast. Take US-131 north to US-10 east, then M-18 north to Beaverton.
Trip Planning
Short trips
Plan short runs below Beaverton while the lower river settles.
Branches in spring
Paddle the branches in spring high water.
Watch the restoration
Wixom Lake is being rebuilt, so the lower river may change. Check before every trip.
Check before you go
Look at the Beaverton gage and Four Lakes Task Force updates.
River Difficulty
We use the American Whitewater difficulty scale. American Whitewater doesn't list the Tobacco River, so it's rated Class I: easy water with no rapids. The changing lakebed channel is the main challenge.
Below Beaverton
Easy current through a changing channel with stumps and mud.
Ross Lake
Easy flatwater.
Quick Reference
| Source | North, Middle and South branches meet at Ross Lake, Beaverton |
|---|---|
| Mouth | Tittabawassee River at Edenville |
| Length | About 13 miles |
| Dams | Ross Lake dam at Beaverton |
| Main towns | Beaverton, Edenville |
| Key gage | USGS 04152500, Glidden Road at Beaverton |
| Michigan Water Trail | Not designated |
| Best season | May to October |
| Difficulty | Class I |