See all 3 routes on Clinton River
Michigan | Southeast Michigan
Clinton River
Shadyside Park to MacArthur Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Clinton River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Shadyside Park and take out at the Neil Dempsey launch in MacArthur Park for a very short Mount Clemens lower-Clinton link. Use the Sterling Heights gauge as a conservative warning check, then make a same-day call on wood, signage, and any lower-river obstructions before committing.
Put-in
Shadyside Park boat and canoe launchOpen mapMount Clemens says Shadyside Park has a handicapped accessible pier with a boat and canoe launch.
Take-out
Neil Dempsey Launch at MacArthur ParkOpen mapMount Clemens says MacArthur Park includes the Neil Dempsey universally accessible kayak launch.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Mount Clemens says Shadyside Park has a handicapped accessible pier with a boat and canoe launch.
- Mount Clemens says MacArthur Park includes the Neil Dempsey universally accessible kayak launch.
- Do not continue downstream beyond MacArthur without a separate lower-river and Lake St. Clair plan.
Watch for
- Low-water scraping or muddy landings when the Sterling Heights gauge is below the CRWC 8 ft low-water warning.
- Fast rises after rain, floating wood, strainers, and any posted dam or weir warning signage in the Mount Clemens reach.
- Urban stormwater and sewer-overflow water-quality concerns after wet weather.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Clinton River at Sterling Heights, MI |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 8.00 ft to 10.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 8.00 ft |
| High threshold | 10.00 ft |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Clinton River Watershed Council Sterling Heights gauge warnings |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Access mapShadyside Park RM 9.2 to Neil Dempsey RM 7.2
The 2024 CRWC water-trail map lists Shadyside Park and Neil Dempsey at MacArthur Park as consecutive public launches about 2 river miles apart.
- Public launchesShadyside Park and MacArthur Park
Mount Clemens says Shadyside Park has a handicapped accessible pier with a boat and canoe launch, and MacArthur Park has a universally accessible kayak launch.
- Proxy gaugeUSGS 04161820 at Sterling Heights
USGS Water Services returned 7.56 ft and 105 cfs at 2026-07-15T15:00:00-05:00 for Clinton River at Sterling Heights, MI. This lower Mount Clemens reach uses that same official warning gauge conservatively as a proxy.
- Lower-river contextMacomb County public launch network
Macomb County says the main branch of the Clinton River has eight public paddle launches across Utica, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Mount Clemens, and Harrison Township.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Clinton River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Clinton River?
Paddle Today watches Clinton River at Sterling Heights, MI and treats 8.00 ft to 10.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Clinton River route start and end?
This route starts at Shadyside Park boat and canoe launch and ends at Neil Dempsey Launch at MacArthur Park, about About 2.0 mi on the water.
Is this Clinton River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.