See all 2 routes on Muskegon River
Michigan | Central Michigan
Muskegon River
Crawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Muskegon River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
This moving-water Muskegon corridor follows the documented M-66/Crawford Park to Evart float. Use the direct 04121500 reading, same-day wood and weather inspection, and a staged take-out; do not infer private-bank camping or landing rights.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Crawford Park (M-66) public boat launchConfirm Crawford Park ramp, parking, and any closure notices before launch.
Take-out
Evart Riverside Park public canoe accessConfirm Evart Riverside Park canoe access, parking, and riverfront conditions before staging the shuttle.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Confirm Crawford Park ramp, parking, and any closure notices before launch.
- Confirm Evart Riverside Park canoe access, parking, and riverfront conditions before staging the shuttle.
- Do not continue beyond the named Evart take-out without a separate downstream plan.
Watch for
- Low water, shallow gravel, sweepers, strainers, and fallen trees in the low-gradient corridor.
- Rapid rises after storms, cold water, lightning, and flood-warning closures.
- Busy livery traffic near Crawford Park and Riverside Park; keep clear of other launches and follow posted rules.
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.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Muskegon River at Evart, MI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 325 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | USGS 04121500 long-record low-flow planning reference |
| 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.
- Exact route and distanceCrawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park; about 10 mi
A Traverse Area Paddle Club trip account identifies the M-66 Crawford Park start, Evart finish, roughly 10-mile distance, and 3-5 hour duration.
- Public endpoints and coordinatesCrawford Park to Evart Riverside Park
Michigan DNR identifies both public accesses and publishes coordinates and access directions.
- Live gauge and thresholdUSGS 04121500; 325 cfs conservative minimum-only planning floor
USGS supplies direct discharge and stage telemetry; the low-flow reference is explicitly a conservative planning aid rather than a guarantee of safe passage.
- Safety and river characterLow-gradient moving water with sand, fallen trees, cold-water, and rise hazards
Michigan DNR describes the section as low-gradient and canoe-accessible with predominantly sand bottom and abundant fallen trees; same-day scouting controls.
- Camping and logisticsLong day route with shuttle; Riverside Park and nearby designated campgrounds provide logistics
J&J documents scheduled Crawford-to-Evart trips and shuttle transport; use designated facilities and verify current camping rules.
- Image decisionNo external image copied
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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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Muskegon River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Muskegon River?
Paddle Today watches Muskegon River at Evart, MI and uses 325 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Muskegon River route start and end?
This route starts at Crawford Park (M-66) public boat launch and ends at Evart Riverside Park public canoe access, about About 10 mi on the water.
Is this Muskegon River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.