Things to do / Travel Guide
For travelers who revel in the quiet simplicity of canoeing and flat-water paddling, northern Michigan offers plenty of options. While the incessant hum of motorboats, jet skis, and larger ships can be heard on many of the region's larger bodies of water, there are plenty of places that will be pleasing to the tranquility-seeking paddler. Kayak and canoe rentals are readily available in nearly all of the towns along northern Michigan's rivers and lakes, and the large majority of the liveries offer guided, organized canoeing trips. Daily canoe and kayak rentals usually cost between $20-40, depending on the type of equipment and length of rental. Paddling is usually at its peak from May through late October - but don't forget your insect repellent, as mosquitoes during this season can be ruthless.
Though the paddling and canoeing options are practically infinite, below you'll find a list of some of the more popular paddling destinations:
Northern Lower Peninsula
The Au Sable River is considered one of Michigan's most beloved rivers and also the site of the yearly Au Sable Canoe Marathon. There is an access point in the town of Mio, and the ride downstream to the landing at Comins Flats takes about two and a half hours. To spot bald eagles and other wildlife, or for a quiet, solitary canoeing experience, go early in the morning, particularly on summer weekends. You can often arrange to have one of the liveries pick you up from a landing site at the end of an excursion.
Upper Peninsula
The Manistique River is considered “family-friendly” - it is a gentle, lolling river that flows through Seney National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Superior State Forest. Along this route you will canoe past over 200 species of birds, and may even spot moose and wolves. Pack a lunch and stop anywhere along the river for a picnic in the remote wilderness.
The Tahquamenon River is a wide, lazy river that runs through approximately 100 miles of the east-central Upper Peninsula. The most popular stretch will take paddlers to the 200-foot-wide and 50-foot-high dramatic Tahquamenon Falls. The Upper Tahquamenon Falls is the second-largest waterfall east of the Mississippi.
The Sylvania Wilderness Area is best suited for wilderness canoeists. Here you will paddle through old-growth forests of pine and hemlock, hear the low, sorrowful wails of wolves and loons, and look for black bears rummaging for food in the forests that encircle the sparkling emerald lakes.
Craig Lake State Park in the Upper Peninsula offers paddlers six serene lakes with excellent wildlife sightings. Crooked Lake and Namesake Lake are often paddling favorites and offer a variety of inlets and charming, rocky coves.
When you arrive in northern Michigan the popularity of kayaking will immediately strike you: it is possible to rent kayaks, schedule kayaking lessons and tours, and consult kayaking experts just about anywhere on the northern Lower Peninsula or the Upper Peninsula. Daily kayak rentals usually cost between $20-40, depending on the type of equipment and length of rental. Late spring through late fall is usually the best time to ensure that your trip will be smooth and successful.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is perhaps one of the most picturesque sea kayaking spots in northern Michigan and the best way to see the beautiful, multicolored sandstone formations up-close. There is a nice launch site at Miners Beach. Paddle north along the cliffs and hear the sound of waves echoing inside the caves. The Chapel Beach area is a good place to stop for lunch.
Drummond Island features limestone-encrusted shores along northern Lake Huron. Experienced kayakers will enjoy the small islets near Drummond, and less experienced kayakers can stay close to Drummond's tranquil coves. Kayakers should be prepared to handle rough seas along the archipelago's eastern periphery.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a popular destination for sea kayakers. A good launch spot is available to the north, in Glen Haven, but there are many other suitable beach launches in the area. Here kayakers can explore Manitou Islands and visit the Francisco Morazan shipwreck site, as well as witness magnificent views of 300-foot sand dune cliffs. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is suited for experienced kayakers, as heavy waves, and broadside and frontal winds, are common.
Kayaking is an excellent way to see the Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale National Park in the Upper Peninsula. Kayakers can paddle in and around the rugged shorelines, caves, and various islands scattered throughout Lake Superior. The Isle Royale ferries will transport kayaks to the island. Here you can kayak around protected areas including Rock Harbor and the Five Finger Bay as well as rugged shoreline. Because the ferries circle the island, it is possible to arrange for them to pick you up at some point along a paddling segment.
Whitewater Kayaking
Pine River has a swift, strong current and has been ranked one of the Lower Peninsula's top kayaking destinations. The 40-mile run passes through Manistee National Forest. Travelers should beware that the river is so popular that during peak summer weekends the Pine often gets a bit clogged with kayakers. Kayakers will need a U.S. Forest Service canoe permit for this river.
The Sturgeon River is dubbed the fastest river in the Lower Peninsula and is therefore not advisable for beginners. Leaning trees, stumps and rocks, combined with Sturgeon River's fast and impetuous current, will test kayaker's maneuvers, particularly at the notorious “Devil's Elbow” and “Log Jam Bend” - narrow passages requiring excellent skills.
The seven rivers in the Ottawa National Forest on the Western Upper Peninsula provide kayakers with 1,000 miles of water. North of State Road 28 the rivers rapidly descend through hills and gorges. These rivers are only for strong kayakers with extensive whitewater experience.
Boardman River, an easier whitewater option, starts in Williamsburg and winds downstream past cedar, pine, and hardwood forests and country cottages to the Grand Traverse Bay. This kayaking expedition is approximately 20 miles in length.
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