State routes

Michigan Rivers

Compare 26 tracked Michigan paddle routes with route links, water-level context, difficulty, and access planning details.

24 routes support live scores. 2 planning-only routes provide trip details and source links without a live route score.

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26 routes20 rivers10 regions6 beginner routes

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Coverage snapshot

Explore supported Michigan rivers

Scan the highlighted river network from above, then use the route guides and access markers to find a supported reach.

26 route markers4 multi-route rivers6 beginner routes

Supported riverSelected reachAccess-point connectionStrong conditionsGood conditionsWatch closelySkip

Southwest Michigan 6 Southeast Michigan 5 Mid-Michigan 3 West Michigan 3 Northern Lower Michigan 2 Northern Lower Peninsula 2 Western Upper Peninsula 2 Central Michigan 1

Live conditions

Best Michigan routes today

Loading current scores, gauge reads, and weather signals.

--Live

Central Thumb

Cass River

Tuscola Township Park to Frankenmuth

Easy | 5 mi | 1.5 to 2.25 hr | Live score supported

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--Live

Southeast Michigan

Clinton River

Downtown Utica to Budd Park

Moderate | About 11.8 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access planner | About 4 hr to 6 hr for the full corridor, shorter with North Clinton River Park or Rotary Park pairings. | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Southeast Michigan

Huron River

Argo Park Canoe Livery to Gallup Park Livery

Moderate | 3.5 mi | About 1.5 hr, longer with crowds, low water, or repeated Cascades laps | Live score supported

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--Live

Western Upper Peninsula

Iron River

Mattioli Park to Brady Avenue / Apple Blossom Trail

Moderate | 3 mi | About 1.5 to 2.5 hr depending on flow, scouting, and stops | Live score supported

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Current scores load here when available. You can still open the route links to check details and sources if this update fails.

Best route options

Good starting points in Michigan

Ranked from route metadata, source support, difficulty, and logistics.

The Clinton River passes beneath Gillespie Street Bridge in Pontiac, Michigan.

Michigan routeSoutheast MichiganClinton RiverShadyside Park to MacArthur ParkLaunch at Shadyside Park and take out at the Neil Dempsey launch in MacArthur Park for a very short Mount Clemens lower-Clinton link. Use the Sterling H...

Route facts

Easy | About 2.0 mi | About 45 min to 1 hr, longer with low water, wood, or launch congestion | Planning only · no live scoreofficial source support

Michigan routeSoutheast MichiganClinton RiverDowntown Utica to Budd ParkShorter options: 2.2–9.6 miUse this as the upper Macomb Clinton River access-planner corridor from Downtown Utica to Budd Park, with North Clinton River Park and Rotary Park options.

Route facts

Michigan routeSoutheast MichiganClinton RiverMacArthur Park to Harley EnsignLaunch at the Neil Dempsey launch in MacArthur Park and follow the lower Clinton River to Harley Ensign at the Lake St. Clair end of the water trail. Us...

Route facts

Moderate | About 7.2 mi | About 2.5 hr to 3.5 hr, longer with wind, current, or motorboat traffic | Planning only · no live scoreofficial source support

The Pigeon River as viewed from a pedestrian bridge in Hemlock Crossing Park, Ottawa County, Michigan.

Michigan routeWest MichiganPigeon RiverHemlock Crossing County Park to Sheldon LandingA documented lower Pigeon River day route from Hemlock Crossing's public kayak launch to Sheldon Landing, using direct USGS 04108862 telemetry. The 3 cf...

Route facts

Easy | Approximately 5 to 6 river miles through Hemlock Crossing, Pine Bend, and Pigeon River corridor | About 2 to 3 hours depending on flow, stops, wood, and carries | Live score supportedofficial source support

The Prairie River flows through southern Michigan.

Michigan routeSouthwest MichiganPrairie RiverPrairie River Lake Public Access to Nottawa ParkA current county-documented Prairie River Trip 1 from Prairie River Lake to Nottawa Park, with a Findley Road exit and a direct long-term USGS 04097540...

Route facts

Easy | Approximately 10 to 12 river miles planning reach; use the documented Findley Road exit to shorten the trip | About 4 hours for the full county-planner trip, or roughly 2.5 hours to Findley Road | Live score supportedofficial source support

The Muskegon River at Big Rapids, Michigan.

Michigan routeCentral MichiganMuskegon RiverCrawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside ParkThis moving-water Muskegon corridor follows the documented M-66/Crawford Park to Evart float. Use the direct 04121500 reading, same-day wood and weather...

Route facts

Moderate | About 10 mi | About 3 to 5 hr depending on flow, wood, stops, and launch conditions | Live score supportedofficial source support

Beginner routes

Michigan beginner routes

These routes are tagged easy in the route data. Today's water can still change the call.

Cass RiverTuscola Township Park to FrankenmuthCentral Thumb | 5 mi Clinton RiverShadyside Park to MacArthur ParkSoutheast Michigan | About 2.0 mi Kalamazoo RiverNew Richmond Bridge Park to Hacklander DNR Boat LaunchSouthwest Michigan | 4.9 mi Looking Glass RiverLooking Glass Riverfront Park to Riverside City ParkMid-Michigan | 2.7 mi Pigeon RiverHemlock Crossing County Park to Sheldon LandingWest Michigan | Approximately 5 to 6 river miles through Hemlock Crossing, Pine Bend, and Pigeon River corridor Prairie RiverPrairie River Lake Public Access to Nottawa ParkSouthwest Michigan | Approximately 10 to 12 river miles planning reach; use the documented Findley Road exit to shorten the trip

Weekend planning

Routes with practical logistics

Use the live weekend board for score-based recommendations.

Cass RiverTuscola Township Park to Frankenmuth5 mi | 1.5 to 2.25 hr Clinton RiverDowntown Utica to Budd ParkAbout 11.8 mi for the full corridor; choose a shorter segment in the access planner | About 4 hr to 6 hr for the full corridor, shorter with North Clinton River Park or Rotary Park pairings.Clinton RiverMacArthur Park to Harley EnsignAbout 7.2 mi | About 2.5 hr to 3.5 hr, longer with wind, current, or motorboat traffic Clinton RiverShadyside Park to MacArthur ParkAbout 2.0 mi | About 45 min to 1 hr, longer with low water, wood, or launch congestion Huron RiverArgo Park Canoe Livery to Gallup Park Livery3.5 mi | About 1.5 hr, longer with crowds, low water, or repeated Cascades laps Iron RiverMattioli Park to Brady Avenue / Apple Blossom Trail3 mi | About 1.5 to 2.5 hr depending on flow, scouting, and stops

Browse coverage

Rivers and regions

Expand a river or region to browse its routes.

By river

Clinton River3

Clinton River hub Downtown Utica to Budd Park MacArthur Park to Harley Ensign Shadyside Park to MacArthur Park

Kalamazoo River3

Kalamazoo River hub B Drive North Access to Stuart's Landing Ceresco Green to Historic Bridge Park New Richmond Bridge Park to Hacklander DNR Boat Launch

Muskegon River2

Muskegon River hub Crawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park Croton Dam Tailwater Park to Thornapple High Rollway

Pine River2

Pine River hub Edgetts to Lincoln Bridge Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge

Cass River1

Tuscola Township Park to Frankenmuth

Huron River1

Argo Park Canoe Livery to Gallup Park Livery

Iron River1

Mattioli Park to Brady Avenue / Apple Blossom Trail

Jordan River1

Jordan River hub Graves Crossing to Rogers Road Bridge

Looking Glass River1

Looking Glass Riverfront Park to Riverside City Park

Middle Branch Ontonagon River1

Watersmeet Canoe Landing to Forest Road 5250

Mill Creek1

Mill Creek Park North to Mill Creek Park South, Dexter

North Branch Au Sable River1

Lovells Bridge to Kelloggs Bridge

Paw Paw River1

Riverside Kayak Park to Graham Avenue Water Access

Pere Marquette River1

Custer Weir & Boat Launch to Scottville Riverside Park

Pigeon River1

Hemlock Crossing County Park to Sheldon Landing

Portage River1

North Fisher Lake Road to Conservation Park

Prairie River1

Prairie River Lake Public Access to Nottawa Park

Red Cedar River1

Red Cedar Roadside Park to MSU Canoe & Kayak Launch

Red Cedar River1

McCormick Park Launch to Red Cedar Roadside Park

Sturgeon River1

Trowbridge Road Access to Haakwood State Forest Campground

By region

Central Michigan1

Muskegon River: Crawford Park (M-66) to Evart Riverside Park

Central Thumb1

Cass River: Tuscola Township Park to Frankenmuth

Mid-Michigan3

Looking Glass River: Looking Glass Riverfront Park to Riverside City Park Red Cedar River: McCormick Park Launch to Red Cedar Roadside Park Red Cedar River: Red Cedar Roadside Park to MSU Canoe & Kayak Launch

Northern Lower Michigan2

Pine River: Edgetts to Lincoln Bridge Pine River: Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge

Northern Lower Peninsula2

North Branch Au Sable River: Lovells Bridge to Kelloggs Bridge Sturgeon River: Trowbridge Road Access to Haakwood State Forest Campground

Northwest Lower Michigan1

Jordan River: Graves Crossing to Rogers Road Bridge

Southeast Michigan5

Clinton River: Downtown Utica to Budd Park Clinton River: MacArthur Park to Harley Ensign Clinton River: Shadyside Park to MacArthur Park Huron River: Argo Park Canoe Livery to Gallup Park Livery Mill Creek: Mill Creek Park North to Mill Creek Park South, Dexter

Southwest Michigan6

Kalamazoo River: B Drive North Access to Stuart's Landing Kalamazoo River: Ceresco Green to Historic Bridge Park Kalamazoo River: New Richmond Bridge Park to Hacklander DNR Boat Launch Paw Paw River: Riverside Kayak Park to Graham Avenue Water Access Portage River: North Fisher Lake Road to Conservation Park Prairie River: Prairie River Lake Public Access to Nottawa Park

West Michigan3

Muskegon River: Croton Dam Tailwater Park to Thornapple High Rollway Pere Marquette River: Custer Weir & Boat Launch to Scottville Riverside Park Pigeon River: Hemlock Crossing County Park to Sheldon Landing

Western Upper Peninsula2

Iron River: Mattioli Park to Brady Avenue / Apple Blossom Trail Middle Branch Ontonagon River: Watersmeet Canoe Landing to Forest Road 5250

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All tracked routes

Every Michigan route on Paddle Today

26 routes with condition and access details.

Showing all 26 routes.

Quick answers

Michigan paddling FAQ

How does Paddle Today choose Michigan paddle routes?

Paddle Today lists source-backed routes with reviewed access and trip information. This page includes 24 routes with live-score support and 2 planning-only routes across 20 rivers. Planning-only routes do not have a live route score.

Are these Michigan river conditions live?

Scored routes show the latest available conditions, subject to data availability. Planning-only routes provide trip information and source links without a live route score. Check update times and missing-data notices, and verify conditions with the linked managers before leaving.

Can I request another Michigan route?

Yes. Use the request form to send the river, reach, access points, and any source links. Requests help prioritize useful additions with verified public access and route evidence.