Paddling our Rivers in Manistee County

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!

Your River Adventures. #MyManistee

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.

River Tips and Recommendations


 

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.

Found 3 listings

 

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.

Red, White & Blue Water

The piers at the mouth of the Manistee River are most often used for watching spectacular sunsets over Lake Michigan.  But on one weekend in May in Manistee, at dawn and again at noon, there are spectacular sights of a different variety to be witnessed. In...

Manistee’s sugar sand beaches

In the City of Manistee, over 130 acres of Lake Michigan sandy beachfront parks straddle the banks of the Manistee River Channel. First Street Beach/Douglas Park to the south, and Fifth Avenue Beach and Park to the north, offer open, accessible concession...

Through the Glass – A Photographer’s Eye on Manistee County

Written By: Andrew Allen  Manistee is easily one of the most scenic counties in Michigan, so (although thrilled) we weren’t surprised when Pure Michigan decided to begin its Fall and Seek campaign here. Over the next 3 days we were blessed to have photographer Dan...

Ice Fishing the Lakes of Manistee

As January temperatures drop, a thick layer of ice begins to form across the inland lakes, and slowly small shanty towns start to develop as sport fishermen flock to 80 deep water lakes of our region for another type of winter fishing.  Through the mid to late winter...

Go North for a Day-Trip

One of Manistee County’s best-kept secrets is its easy, pretty drives to access other communities. Couple that with our wide variety of lodging and you have the perfect combination of staying here and creating interesting day trips to many of the places...

Time to Try Something New

Encumbered by responsibilities, we yearn to get away from it all. We find ourselves seeking the peaceful refuge of the wide-open spaces of the great outdoors. Winter is no exception. Good News! We have just the solution for your winter blues or cabin fever! This year...

10 years of Tight Lines for Troops

Ten years ago Manistee charter boat captain Bob Guenthardt had an idea to Honor Veterans with a day of fishing,  “I thought it would be a one-time deal,” Guenthardt said. “We could never have imagined how it has grown.”Every year the Manistee Community...

Top 5 Unique Fall Finds for 2020

There are more ways to experience fall color than just by car or bike. Here is your TOP 5 #MyManistee "Unique Ways to Explore Fall" this fall color season in Northern Michigan.   1) Scenic Airplane Tour Take a Scenic Airplane Ride with Orchard Beach Aviation....

Let’s go for a ride!

Grab your bike and let’s go riding... Sometimes, the best areas to ride, are not the formal trail systems in the region. Summer beach rides are a blissful way to go for a ride. Generally winds are lower in the summer so it is easy to cruise along the water...

A Passenger Ship Through the Past – Touring the S.S. City of Milwaukee

Written by: Andrew Allen Growing up in Manistee County somehow the S.S. City of Milwaukee always seemed to hide right in plain sight. I’d drive past the massive (347 foot passenger/railroad car) ferry without really giving it much thought. Finally, sometime in high...