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Michigan | Central Michigan

Muskegon RiverCrawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park

A documented roughly 10-mile Muskegon River day run from the public Crawford Park M-66 launch to Evart Riverside Park. The Michigan DNR identifies both public accesses and describes this reach as low-gradient, canoe-accessible river; a direct USGS Evart gauge supplies live discharge and stage context.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 10 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 3 to 5 hr depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Muskegon River at Big Rapids, Michigan.
River contextMuskegon River at Big Rapids; river-level context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Mojnsen via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 10 miCrawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park
DifficultymoderateA roughly 10-mile moving-water day through a low-gradient river corridor. The route is accessible to prepared flatwater paddlers but requires wood scouting, cold-water judgment, a shuttle, and enough time to finish before conditions or daylight deteriorate.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the Evart Riverside Park take-out before launching at Crawford Park, or use a current local livery shuttle. J&J documents scheduled Crawford-to-Evart trips; confirm current parking, hours, and transport before committing.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow Michigan boating rules and current City of Evart, Sylvan Township, and park access requirements.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a long day route. Riverside Park and nearby designated campgrounds may support overnight logistics; verify current season, reservation, and access rules separately.
SeasonMay-OctLate spring through fall is the practical window. Spring cold water, storms, rapid rises, and seasonal access conditions can materially change the trip.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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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.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Crawford Park (M-66) public boat launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

Confirm Crawford Park ramp, parking, and any closure notices before launch.

Finish

Take-out

Evart Riverside Park public canoe access
Open mapDirections to take-out

Confirm Evart Riverside Park canoe access, parking, and riverfront conditions before staging the shuttle.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

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.

Plan this paddle

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

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The Muskegon River at Big Rapids, Michigan.
Muskegon River at Big Rapids; river-level context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Mojnsen via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 4.0

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteMuskegon River at Evart, MI
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
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WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor325 cfs
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreUSGS 04121500 long-record low-flow planning reference
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.

  • 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.

    Source

  • Public endpoints and coordinatesCrawford Park to Evart Riverside Park

    Michigan DNR identifies both public accesses and publishes coordinates and access directions.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Michigan

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Quick answers

Muskegon River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Crawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park route on the 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 the Crawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park route on the Muskegon River start and end?

This route starts at Crawford Park (M-66) public boat launch and ends at Evart Riverside Park public canoe access, about 10 mi on the water.

Is the Crawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park route on the Muskegon River suitable 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.

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