Torch River

Photo: Notorious4life, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain) — Torch Lake, which flows into the Torch River

The Torch River is short, sweet, and famous — a winding ribbon of water connecting Torch Lake to Lake Skegemog in Antrim County, and one of the signature stretches of the Chain of Lakes Water Trail. That trail links more than 100 miles of lakes and rivers through Antrim and Kalkaska counties, but the Torch River itself is the jewel many paddlers come for: a slow, twisting, wildlife-rich channel famous for its gin-clear water and the legendary sandbar where it meets Torch Lake.

Put in at the DNR launch off Aarwood Trail NW — a small, unimproved ramp near the river — or at the Torch River Bridge access site off Torch River Road. From either launch you can float the river's gentle bends in either direction: upstream toward the Torch Lake sandbar, where the Caribbean-blue shallows are a favorite swimming stop, or downstream into Lake Skegemog. The whole river is no-wake in stretches and never more than a relaxing few hours, which makes it perfect for families and beginners.

Two pieces of honest advice. First, go early. The Torch River is beloved, and on summer afternoons it fills with motorboats — weekday mornings are the golden hours, when the water is glassy and the wildlife (beaver, otter, bald eagles, herons) is out. Second, watch for wood: submerged logs and stumps are reported in the river, so keep your eyes on the water ahead and give the bottom a wide berth in the shallows. Paddle it right, and the Torch River is one of the prettiest easy floats in northern Michigan.

At a Glance

• Approximate length: A short river (about 2 miles of river channel) connecting Torch Lake and Lake Skegemog; part of the 100+ mile Chain of Lakes Water Trail
• Difficulty: Easy flatwater — ideal for beginners, families, and relaxed sightseeing
• Water character: Slow, winding, exceptionally clear water; sandy shallows and the famous Torch Lake sandbar
• Best season: Summer — and mornings beat afternoons for calm water and fewer boats

Paddling Sections

Hazards & Portages

• Heavy motorboat traffic: On summer afternoons the river is busy with powerboats. Paddle mornings or weekdays, stay to the edges, and make yourself visible.
• Submerged logs and stumps: Wood in the water is reported along the river — watch the bottom in shallow, clear stretches and steer around it.
• Shallow sandbar areas: The sandbar end is very shallow — lovely for swimming, but you may need to get out and walk your boat across the thinnest spots.
• No dams on the paddling stretch; the river's cautions are boats and wood, not whitewater.

Access & Parking

Two public launches serve the river: the Torch River Bridge access site off Torch River Road, and the DNR boat launch off Aarwood Trail NW (a small, unimproved ramp — fine for kayaks and canoes). Parking is at each site; both can fill up on summer weekends, so arrive early. A Michigan DNR Recreation Passport is required for state launch sites — check current requirements before you go.

Map

Marker: Torch River area near the Aarwood Trail DNR launch, Antrim County, Michigan.