Michigan | Northern Lower Peninsula
Sturgeon River
Trowbridge Road Access to Haakwood State Forest Campground
Check current paddling conditions for this Sturgeon 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
A moving-water Sturgeon River reach from the official Trowbridge Road access to Haakwood State Forest Campground, using direct USGS 04127997 telemetry at Wolverine. The 120–700 cfs band is community planning guidance; current flow, weather, wood, and paddler skill control the decision.
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
Trowbridge Road public Sturgeon River accessTrowbridge Road access is a roadside path down from the southwest side of the bridge; confirm parking, carry distance, and shoreline conditions before loading boats.
Take-out
Haakwood State Forest Campground carry-in accessHaakwood has a short footpath to the river and a separate Rondo access nearby; the Recreation Passport and campground rules apply.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Trowbridge Road access is a roadside path down from the southwest side of the bridge; confirm parking, carry distance, and shoreline conditions before loading boats.
- Haakwood has a short footpath to the river and a separate Rondo access nearby; the Recreation Passport and campground rules apply.
- The 120–700 cfs CanWePaddle band is not an agency-certified go/no-go rule; pair it with direct USGS telemetry, trend, weather, and same-day scouting.
- The Sturgeon is swift with chutes, riffles, sweepers, and standing waves; this is not a beginner route and may require a suitable boat and rescue plan.
Watch for
- Low water below the conservative 120 cfs screen, high water above 700 cfs, rapid rises, and cold water.
- Sweepers, overhanging branches, continuous riffles, chutes, and standing waves.
- Limited intermediate access and private frontage; do not assume informal exits or camping.
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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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 | Sturgeon River at Wolverine, 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 |
| Target band | 120 cfs to 700 cfs |
| Low threshold | 120 cfs |
| High threshold | 700 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Sturgeon River Wolverine Run runnable estimate |
| 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.
- Route definitionTrowbridge Road Access to Haakwood State Forest Campground; approximately 8 mi
CanWePaddle identifies the Wolverine Run and Trowbridge/Haakwood area endpoints; Michigan DNR separately documents the Trowbridge access and Haakwood river access.
- Public endpoints and coordinatesTrowbridge Road public access to Haakwood State Forest Campground carry-in
Michigan DNR publishes the Trowbridge Road coordinates and Haakwood coordinates/access details.
- Live gauge and thresholdUSGS 04127997; 120–700 cfs community runnable estimate
USGS provides direct discharge telemetry at Wolverine; CanWePaddle supplies a gauge-linked estimate that is explicitly non-authoritative.
- Safety and river characterSwift Class I–II water with chutes, riffles, sweepers, and standing waves
Sturgeon River Paddlesports describes the middle section as the fastest portion with technical features and standing waves; same-day scouting and skill matching are required.
- Camping and logisticsHaakwood State Forest Campground provides designated overnight camping and river access
The campground is first-come, first-served with vault toilets, hand-pump water, fees, and a Recreation Passport requirement.
- 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.
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
Sturgeon River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Sturgeon River?
Paddle Today watches Sturgeon River at Wolverine, MI and treats 120 cfs to 700 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Sturgeon River route start and end?
This route starts at Trowbridge Road public Sturgeon River access and ends at Haakwood State Forest Campground carry-in access, about Approximately 8 mi planning reach on the water.
Is this Sturgeon 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.