I am in the beginning stages of planning a week-long canoe trip for some teens. I am looking for a place preferably in Michigan where we can put in, canoe for the week, and camp along the way.
My hope is to give them as primitive an experience as possible, so I would like to avoid towns and be able to cook over campfire throughout the week if possible.
Would anyone know of a stretch of river that might fit this bill? Also, if you know of a livery that services that river you would recommend, I would be grateful.
Michigan Canoe Trip
The Muskegon River from Reedsburg Dam to Muskegon is a 200 mile stretch of great paddling water. My son and I paddled the whole distance in six days fifteen years ago but that might be more paddling than you want to do. No problem - just choose the section you prefer to paddle. Significant, though manageable portages exist at Hardy and Croton Dams. There are liveries up and down the river as well as plenty of campgrounds.
Manistee River
The Manistee river is a really nice river. There are a couple of outiftters you could use Wilderness Canoe Trips in Mesick and Chippewa Landing canoeing, which is North of Cadillac on 131. I’ve used both and they are great. The Manistee is a really nice river with lots of twists and turns. Great clear water. Plus you can camp wherever you want as long as it is on state forest property. There are lots of campsites along the way just look where people have gone up the river banks in the sand.
The Au Sable Rvier is another nice river for you to look at.
Also the Huron River
in Southern Michigan. If interested, I can put you in touch with someone who has considerable experience paddling and camping the Huron. The Pere Marquette could be another strong possibility.
The Muskegon, Manistee, and AuSable noted above are excellent paddle trips. They do tend to be busy in season, especially on weekend. All have dam portages. The Manistee has two while the AuSable has six. All are well marked and relatively straight forward. The AuSable can be done in under 15 hours … if you are a marathon racer. For the rest of us, 6 days works out pretty well.
Doc Fletcher has information here: http://www.canoeingmichiganrivers.com/1/149/index.asp
Also look for Dennis & Date’s book Canoeing Michigan’s Rivers. It’s a good reference. Mine’s worn out but still in use.
Michigan Canoe Trip
Little old post
But The Ausable from grayling to mio (50 miles) has camp sites, than beyond that it has only primitive camping (another 50 or so miles). I did the first half last year in 2 days. Once you enter the Huron National forest, they have set campsites but are pretty primitive, your supposed to reserve them too I guess.
Heres the link to the DNR
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364_52259_31442-95630–,00.html