West Michigan Tourist Association

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Paddlesports

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Baldwin Canoe Rentals
Baldwin
231-745-4669
www.baldwincanoe.com

With a fleet of over 300 canoes, 25 rafts and 90 solo & tandem kayaks, Baldwin Canoe Rental sets the standard in the paddlesports rental industry. Whether you have a party of two people or two hundred, they can meet your needs. They know the river like no one else and have a fantastic crew to ensure you have an awesome time.

Located in the heart of the Huron Manistee National Forest, just south of Baldwin, Baldwin Canoes serves the Pere Marquette River, considered to be Michigan's clearest and cleanest free flowing river and a great canoeing river for the beginner to intermediate paddler.

The Pere Marquette's current is steady, moderately fast, but not considered difficult during normal water levels for paddlers with few to basic skills. The river follows a winding course through a mixture of national, state, and private forests. The average depth of the river is between two and four feet, with deeper holes on the bends. The average width is between thirty and forty feet.

The most popular part of the Pere Marquette to paddle is the first twelve hours of the river, ending at Walhalla. In this twelve hour portion of the river there are several trips available ranging from three hours up to three days.

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Funtime Rentals @ Cadillac Sands Resort
Cadillac
231-775-2407
www.cadillacsands.com

At Cadillac Sands Resort, your stay should be memorable and that often involves getting outside, but don’t worry if you don’t own a kayak, canoe, fishing boat or pontoon, paddleboats or carriage bike, you're covered! Dock space is even available for your own boat or jet ski so you can go out and explore Lake Cadillac. Cadillac Sands Resorts mission is to see to it that you experience the best of every season. That’s why Funtime Rentals gives you the opportunity to get out there and play!

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Hanmer's Riverside Resort & Livery
Benzonia
800-252-4286
www.hanmers.com

At Hanmer's Riverside Resort & Livery, you can take a trip for an hour or up to three days. They can put together just about any trip you're after. If you have your own kayak or canoe, they will spot your car. Hanmer's Riverside Resort & Livery has been in business for 35 years along the Betsie River!

The Betsie River is a great kayaking and canoeing river for novice and experienced, starting in Grand Traverse County and ending at Lake Michigan in Benzie County with 50-55 miles of kayaking or canoeing at an average depth of two to two and a half feet and speed of two miles per hour. There are no rapids on the Betsie, but it has a steady, swift current to keep you moving and test your skills. There is one designated portage on the river that is Homestead Falls.

The Betsie is a state designated wild and scenic natural river, which ensures against new construction close to the river. Many small streams run into the river where the trout like to feed and hide in the many logjams along the river, a distant memory from the old logging days.

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Honor Trading Post
Honor
(231) 325-2202
www.CanoePlatteRiver.com

Tour the scenic Platte River in northern Michigan! Canoe, kayak, tube, fish, swim, play or just spend time with a friend. The Honor Trading Post is just seconds from the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, and the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. They rent canoes, kayaks and tubes for your enjoyment. Group discounts are available, so book a reservation today! A variety of items are available, including fishing supplies, fishing licenses, homemade pizza, hand-dipped ice cream, fresh deli sandwiches, fresh jerky, groceries, ice, camp fire wood, packaged liquor, beer and wine for your convenience. T-shirts and souvenirs are also available.

Lower Platte River
Gentle flowing river with easy gradual turns. River depth on average is between 2-3 feet deep with some good fishing holes. A great trip for the whole family or beginning canoers. Total trip time is about 2 1/2 hours and ends at a sandy beach on lake Michigan, with a beautiful picnic area and modern restroom facilities.

Upper Platte River
Much faster than the lower Platte River. More oriented towards the experienced canoer. The river on average is between 2-3 feet deep with tight turns, fast current, and underwater obstacles. A real trip....or should we say tip? Total trip time is about 3 1/2 hours and ends about 1 mile from The Trading Post on Deadstream Road.

River Country Tourism Council
Three Rivers
800-447-2821
www.rivercountry.com

River Country offers a wonderful place to begin your canoeing adventure. While canoeing down the rivers and creeks of River Country, visitors can see historic sites including mills and dams. Four trails are available on Nottawa Creek, the Portage River, and the St. Joseph River.

Trail 1: St. Joseph River – Colon to Mendon
This trail takes visitors down the St. Joseph River in Colon through Sturgeon Lake and joins up with Nottawa Creek. Paddling experience recommended for this trail is novice to intermediate. Your canoe trip can last anywhere from 2.5 to 4.5 hours depending on the duration of your trip.

Trail 2: St. Joseph River – Mendon to Three Rivers
As visitors travel down the St. Joseph River, they will canoe/kayak through deep, slow waters for the first two miles. After passing the Prairie Corners Bridge, the backwaters become more difficult to navigate and require more experienced visitors. A few times along the trail, visitors may be required to remove their canoes/kayaks and walk them to the next launch site due to the conditions of the water. Your canoe trip can be as long as 6 hours or as short as 2.5 hours.

Trail 3: Nottawa Creek – Factoryville to Mendon
The average paddling time for the third trail is 3.5 hours. Boat access is available at Rawson’s Mill. The recommended experience levels for the trail are intermediate for navigating Nottawa Creek and novice for traveling on the St. Joseph River.

Trail 4: Portage River – Portage Lake to Three Rivers
Public access to begin the trail is available at Portage Lake. Skilled navigation is required when reaching the Parkville Dam and the Hoffman Pond. Novice paddlers can easily travel during the first part of the trail while intermediate skills are needed to navigate the downstream area from Parkville to Three Rivers. The canoe/kayak trip lasts between 1.5 and 4-5 hours.

 

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Riverside Canoe Trips
Honor
231-325-5622
www.canoemichigan.com

Summer "family fun" is here- what a great time to float the crystal clear Platte River in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. Canoe, kayak, tube or raft the river, and you’ll end up at the beautiful sugar sand beach at Lake Michigan. Riverside Canoe Trips has been around since 1964, so drop everything and enjoy an outing on the famous Platte River. Remember: "if you visit us once, you’ll visit us twice!"

Sawmill Tube & Canoe Livery
Big Rapids
www.SawmillMI.com
231-796-6408

Stop by and enjoy a tube, canoe, or kayak on the beautiful Muskegon River, Michigan's second longest river. Tubing trips start at the Livery and end at Highbanks Park. That's about a two and a half hour float. If you're a hardcore tuber, try the six hour trip from Paris, Michigan. The total price for this trip is $8.00 per tube. This price includes the tube rental and transportation. We also have tubes that will fit any size cooler for your food and beverages. Sawmill provides canoe and kayak trips from one hour to seven days as well, the latter covering approximately 130 miles.

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Shomler Canoes & Kayaks, LLC
Irons
231-862-3475
www.shomlercanoes.com

The Pine River is considered by many to be the premier canoeing river in Michigan. With an average gradient of 12 foot/mile it offers a challenge unequalled in this area. The Pine River is also a National Scenic river that flows mainly through the Manistee National Forest. Weekdays and off season are truly a special time. With limited development it will seem like you have paddled back in time, seeing the river and wildlife just like the early explorers did so long ago. With trips from two hours to three days, Shomler Canoes & Kayaks can accommodate your group for their canoeing adventure. Whether this is your first visit or the 50th year of a canoeing tradition we invite you to let us show you what we fondly call The River.

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Vacation Trailer Park
Benzonia
800-482-5101
www.vacationtrailer.com

Vacation Trailer Park has canoe and kayak trips on the Betsie River from one hour to three days. We also offer vehicle spotting for those with their own equipment. The Betsie River is a designated scenic river in the State of Michigan and has some of the finest steelhead and salmon fishing available year round. The Betsie is rated advanced beginner to intermediate in skill levels. Come enjoy the beautiful scenery and the many different birds and wildlife along the way.