Michigan | Northern Lower Peninsula
North Branch Au Sable River
Lovells Bridge to Kelloggs Bridge
Check current paddling conditions for this North Branch Au Sable 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 North Branch Au Sable route links the documented Lovells Bridge access with the Kelloggs Bridge take-out and direct USGS 04135800 telemetry. The reach is narrow, shallow, braided, and cold-water; 139–141 cfs references are conservative planning guidance, not a safety guarantee.
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
Lovells Bridge public carry-in accessLovells Bridge is carry-in access; verify the road approach, parking, and bank condition before loading boats.
Take-out
Kelloggs Bridge public river access and roadside parkingKelloggs Bridge has limited roadside parking and surrounding private frontage; stay in the river and use only the named access.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Lovells Bridge is carry-in access; verify the road approach, parking, and bank condition before loading boats.
- Kelloggs Bridge has limited roadside parking and surrounding private frontage; stay in the river and use only the named access.
- Do not assume additional bridge or private-bank access between endpoints; portage or turn around when wood, shallow bars, or braided channels make the route unclear.
Watch for
- Low water, gravel bars, shallow braids, sweepers, log jams, and tight turns.
- Rapid rises after storms, cold water, lightning, and changing channel conditions.
- Limited services and cell coverage; carry communication/rescue equipment and file a float plan.
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 | North Branch Au Sable River at Kelloggs Bridge near Lovells, 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 | 139 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 04135800 daily discharge statistics |
| 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 endpointsLovells Bridge to Kelloggs Bridge; roughly 8 mi planning reach
Traverse Area Paddle Club reports document the named endpoint pair and provide access coordinates.
- Public access and coordinatesLovells Bridge carry-in access to Kelloggs Bridge access
The Lovells Township recreation plan and DNR access material identify public access and parking at the named bridges.
- Live gauge and thresholdUSGS 04135800; 139 cfs minimum-only and 141 cfs lower-quartile planning references
USGS supplies direct discharge and stage telemetry at Kelloggs Bridge and publishes the daily statistics; neither value is a safety guarantee.
- Safety and river characterNarrow, shallow North Branch with gravel bars, braids, wood, and cold water
Michigan DNR's Au Sable plan and paddle-club reports document shallow sections and seasonal navigability.
- Camping and logisticsDay route with nearby designated forest/township camping only
No on-route camping is assumed; verify designated campground reservations and access separately.
- Image decisionNo external image copied
Use the product's rights-clean map/route presentation until a permissioned image is separately cleared.
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.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
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Quick answers
North Branch Au Sable River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling North Branch Au Sable River?
Paddle Today watches North Branch Au Sable River at Kelloggs Bridge near Lovells, MI and uses 139 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this North Branch Au Sable River route start and end?
This route starts at Lovells Bridge public carry-in access and ends at Kelloggs Bridge public river access and roadside parking, about Roughly 8 mi planning reach on the water.
Is this North Branch Au Sable 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.