See all 2 routes on Pine River
Michigan | Northern Lower Michigan
Pine River
Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge
Check current paddling conditions for this Pine River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the next useful weekend
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
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.
Put-in
Peterson Bridge River AccessOpen mapBoth 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 AccessOpen mapPublished 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.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
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.
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.
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 170 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence 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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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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.
Quick answers
Pine River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling 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 this Pine River route start and end?
This route starts at Peterson Bridge River Access and ends at Low Bridge River Access, about About 8.25 to 8.6 mi on the water.
Is this Pine 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.