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.
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...
Farming in Manistee County is not just a job for the families who live and work here- it is part of their history and culture. Each individual farming family is unique in its own way, celebrating the traditions of ancestors through each crop they harvest...
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...
As you are driving north through Manistee County on the beautiful Scenic Highway M-22, you will find yourself "on top of the county" when you reach the Arcadia Overlook (known by some as "Inspiration Point"). When you travel through the quaint town of...
Completed in 1918, Tippy Dam (known as Junction Hydro when it was built) was named after Charles W. Tippy, a board of directors chair for Consumers Power. Tippy is Consumer Energy’s second largest hydro dam producing up to 20,000 kilowatts and providing...
As is true of so many businesses in Manistee County, the Northern Natural Cider House and Winery in Kaleva is a family operation. When I visited, the Dad, Dennis Mackey, is still living in his great grandfather’s home built in 1905, with wife Diane, and...
Leave it all behind and begin to discover Manistee County – a place that will take you back in time. No neon. No billboards. No stop and go lights. It’s morning on M-22 and the sun begins to peek through the sky as it rises in the east, just tinting the...
I can’t count how many times I’ve traveled across M-55 to get to Manistee County from the east side of the state. What I recently learned is that right before the village of Wellston, you will cross one of Michigan's rarest truss bridges. The Cooley...
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...
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)...
