Looking to find that perfect river to float? Well you are in luck, we have many fantastic paddling or floating rivers. The Little Manistee River, Big Manistee River, Pine River are great paddling rivers for all experience levels. If you are looking for a lazy day float, try the lower half of Bear Creek in the late summer/early fall for great fall color! Browse any of these great rivers below!
Number of Rivers in Manistee County
White Water Rivers
Number of Access Sites
Explore the Rivers in the Manistee County Area
With 250+ river miles to explore… there is no shortage of paddling and fishing opportunities on the rivers of Manistee. Here you will find a complete list of rivers in our region and recommended routes, trips and float times.
Best River for Families:Big Manistee River – This top Michigan river is ideal for families traveling to the region, as it is wide and there are plenty of rental liveries servicing the various segments.
Best River for Experienced Paddlers:Pine River – This river contains some of the only white water in the Lower Peninsula. This river is frequented by expert paddlers throughout the season, however, the early spring thaw attracts many from around the Midwest as this is the time of year when the river is at its swiftest current.
Best River for a Tube/Float:Little Manistee River – This great river, is shallow and is great for those looking for a quick 2-3 hour afternoon float.
EXPLORE OUR WATERWAYS
Download a complete guide to all of the rivers in Manistee County. Included you will find float times/charts and GPS locations for each access site.Download a Map of all the Manistee County Rivers
Watercraft Rentals
No Watercraft? No Problem… search our great rental liveries and companies serving the waterways around Manistee County.
Follow the travelers that love Manistee County, enjoy these stories about our incredible outdoor recreation, things-to-do, dining, shopping and unique experiences you will ONLY find here.
Browse our latest #MyManistee perspectives here, or scroll through these top stories in your category.
Traveling with your four legged companions is becoming more and more of a norm in the travel world, so rest assured that we have places that welcome your pets. A top beach in the Manistee Area would be the North Beach Access. Perfect, out of the way, and...
Escape from your hectic schedule, and let our endless miles of beaches, for as far as you can see, soothe and calm you. Wiggle your toes in the warm golden sand, close your eyes, breathe deeply and listen to the waves. Our Lake Michigan beaches are...
Great music, great people, open air and it’s all free. There are several summer-long concert series that feature a variety of musical genres in Manistee County on different days. Kick back and enjoy! Music on the Porch at Douglas Valley Winery (Sunday)...
If you’re an adventurous explorer, you’ve come to the right place. Our North Woods are in the heart of four-season natural beauty with thrill-a-minute activities. A passionate group of entrepreneurs have developed their own visions to share, creating...
Salmon fever erupted in Lake Michigan in the late 1960’s. Actually, erupted is an understatement: How about EXPLODED! For many years prior, Lake Michigan fishing was mostly fishing… not so much catching. The lamprey had devastated the lake trout. There...
Arcadia Lake is a 100-acre, natural beauty gem and Grebe Park, both family- and pet-friendly, offers access to all. Through the park’s association with Manistee County’s Explore the Shores Program, construction of a special fishing platform and launch site...
Is it the opportunity to catch 'the big one', or the wild beauty of the area that keeps anglers returning to Manistee County's rivers to fish? According to a few of the county’s river fishing guides, it turns out to be a combination of the two. Blessed...
Picture this. You’re relaxing with friends on the patio at Arcadia Bluffs Lodge, enjoying the warm sunlight softened by the pastel hues that signal the sunset to come. As you gaze westward toward Lake Michigan, you spot the Scottish bagpiper in full...
It’s a place you never thought of and the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. It’s the shoreline wedding with soft, sandy beaches and a deep blue water horizon that stretches as far as you can see, or the woodland wedding with rolling hills of green and an...
Take a weekend and take to the trails. Manistee County is a pretty great place to drop in with the sleds for a weekend. Two great snowmobiling clubs manage and maintain the trails in the area. The Wellston Snowmobiling club maintains the southern trail...
