See all 2 routes on Pine River
Michigan | Northern Lower Michigan
Pine RiverPeterson Bridge to Low Bridge
National Scenic River day through the Huron-Manistee National Forests from Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge. This is a permit-managed, fast, wooded Pine River run with a direct downstream USGS gauge and American Whitewater flow guidance.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Peterson Bridge River Access and take out at Low Bridge River Access for a permit-managed Pine River day in the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Use the Hoxeyville USGS gauge as a conservative low-water check, not a full ideal-range promise.
Access map
Put-in
Peterson Bridge River AccessBoth endpoints are official Pine River access points, but permit rules, launch windows, parking capacity, and temporary storm-damage notices can change the practical plan.
Take-out
Low Bridge River AccessPublished Pine River maps and route guides list Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge at roughly 8.25 to 8.6 miles, with travel time varying substantially by level, wood, stops, and boat traffic.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Both endpoints are official Pine River access points, but permit rules, launch windows, parking capacity, and temporary storm-damage notices can change the practical plan.
- Published Pine River maps and route guides list Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge at roughly 8.25 to 8.6 miles, with travel time varying substantially by level, wood, stops, and boat traffic.
- The Hoxeyville gauge is a direct same-river gauge downstream of the route. It is useful for same-day flow, but local wood and storm damage can matter as much as the number.
Watch for
- Fast current, sharp bends, narrow passages, sweepers, downed trees, and logjams.
- Scraping and more difficult maneuvering when the Hoxeyville gauge is below the 170 cfs floor used by the app.
- Cold water, strainers after storms, busy summer permit traffic, and limited quick exits between access sites.
- Do not launch without checking current Forest Service alerts, permit status, and recent Pine River hazard reports.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Pine River at High School Bridge near Hoxeyville, MI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
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.
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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Pine River at High School Bridge near Hoxeyville, 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 |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 170 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Pine River flow correlation for the Hoxeyville gauge |
| 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.
- Public route contextPeterson Bridge to Low Bridge
Published Pine River maps identify Peterson Bridge and Low Bridge as river access sites and list the reach at roughly 8.25 to 8.6 miles, with Forest Service permit rules applying in this corridor.
- Permit-managed riverForest Service Pine River permits
Recreation.gov administers Pine National Scenic River permits and lists Peterson Bridge and Low Bridge among the selectable access points.
- Gauge and threshold170 cfs low floor
American Whitewater publishes Pine River gauge guidance for USGS 04125460, with 170 cfs as the lower runnable floor and higher bands above that. The app uses the lower floor only and avoids claiming an ideal range for this specific Forest Service day trip.
- Route characterFast wooded Class I-II river
Forest Service Pine River material warns about swift current, sharp turns, narrow passages, downed trees, and logjams; American Whitewater characterizes the Pine as a beginner to intermediate whitewater river with downstream sections continuing toward Low Bridge.
- Current-data caveatUSGS 04125460 product-supported
USGS publishes Pine River at High School Bridge near Hoxeyville as monitoring location 04125460, and product code supports USGS gauges by site ID. Same-day gauge freshness, Forest Service alerts, and local wood reports should still be checked before launch.
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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Quick answers
Pine River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge route on the Pine River?
Paddle Today watches Pine River at High School Bridge near Hoxeyville, MI and uses 170 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does the Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge route on the Pine River start and end?
This route starts at Peterson Bridge River Access and ends at Low Bridge River Access, about 8.25 to 8.6 mi on the water.
Is the Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge route on the Pine 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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