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See all 3 routes on Clinton River

Michigan | Southeast Michigan

Clinton River

Shadyside Park to MacArthur Park

Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 2.0 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 45 min to 1 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Clinton River flows past wooded banks in Macomb County, Michigan.
Route photoClinton River in Macomb CountyPhoto by Local hero via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.

Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route overview

Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

Quick facts

On-water distanceAbout 2.0 miShadyside Park to MacArthur Park
DifficultyeasyMileage is short and the corridor is slower than the open-water mouth section, but the Mount Clemens finish still demands attention to signage, obstructions, and any posted dam or weir warnings.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the take-out at MacArthur Park, then drive back to Shadyside Park. Inspect MacArthur before launching because downtown events, docks, or riverfront activity can slow the finish.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow Mount Clemens park, launch, and parking rules at both public access sites.
CampingDay tripTreat this as a short day trip. No on-route camping plan is assumed between Shadyside Park and MacArthur Park.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through fall is the practical season. This short city reach is still sensitive to rain spikes, floating wood, and water-quality issues despite its modest mileage.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

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.

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Prepare this trip

Take the plan with you

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Start

Put-in

Shadyside Park boat and canoe launch
Open map

Mount Clemens says Shadyside Park has a handicapped accessible pier with a boat and canoe launch.

Finish

Take-out

Neil Dempsey Launch at MacArthur Park
Open map

Mount Clemens says MacArthur Park includes the Neil Dempsey universally accessible kayak launch.

Plan this segment

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
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.

The Clinton River flows past wooded banks in Macomb County, Michigan.
Clinton River in Macomb CountyPhoto by Local hero via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: public domain

Score & sources

Data and sources

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

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Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

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Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking

Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteClinton River at Sterling Heights, MI
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band8.00 ft to 10.00 ft
Low threshold8.00 ft
High threshold10.00 ft
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreClinton River Watershed Council Sterling Heights gauge warnings
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Michigan

All 26 routes
Michigan route guideBrowse every tracked Michigan route.Southeast MichiganJump to routes in this region.

More on Clinton River

All 3
Downtown Utica to Budd ParkSoutheast MichiganModerate · About 11.8 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access plannerMacArthur Park to Harley EnsignSoutheast MichiganModerate · About 7.2 mi

Nearby routes by distance

Huron RiverArgo Park Canoe Livery to Gallup Park Livery · about 48 mi awayModerate · 3.5 miMill CreekMill Creek Park North to Mill Creek Park South, Dexter · about 54 mi awayModerate · Short park-and-play reach at Main Street; approximately 0.2 mi planning distanceCass RiverTuscola Township Park to Frankenmuth · about 65 mi awayEasy · 5 miRed Cedar RiverMcCormick Park Launch to Red Cedar Roadside Park · about 72 mi awayHard · Approximately 6 river miles planning reach

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.

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