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Site	Site Information	Office
Whirlpool Boat/Fishing	(General Info)	Huron Shores
AuSable River *	(Map) (General Info) (Distances and Times)	Mio
O'Brien Lake Fishing	(General Info)	Mio
* A Huron-Manistee National Forests' vehicle pass is required at this site. Please contact the appropriate office for complete costs and details.

Manistee Canoeing and Boating Big Sable River

Site	Site Information	Office
Pere Marquette *	see below (Permit Required)	Baldwin/White Cloud
Pine River *	see below (Permit Required)	Cadillac/Manistee
Manistee River *	see below	Cadillac/Manistee
Big Sable River		Cadillac/Manistee
Little Manistee	see below	Cadillac/Manistee
White River *	see below	Baldwin/White Cloud
Big South Branch of the Pere Marquette River		Baldwin/White Cloud
Little Muskegon River	see below	Baldwin/White Cloud

* A Huron-Manistee National Forests' vehicle pass is required at this site. Please contact the appropriate district for complete costs and details.

Canoeing and small boating (under 20hp and/or 26ft) are the most prevalent boating opportunities on water within the boundaries of the Huron-Manistee National Forest. Opportunities for power boating (water skiing) and sailing are limited because most lakes are too small to maneuver easily and too sheltered to keep good sailing winds. Some lakes have rules restricting motorboat use to certain time periods and/or sections of the lake. These rules are usually posted at the boat launch sites. Although you may use any water body with public access, most of the shorelines are privately owned. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has jurisdiction of all the State's waters; the USDA Forest Service only operates some of the launch sites.

Recreation boats used in Michigan require certain safety equipment and registration numbers. The Secretary of State's Office registers all resident motor boats. Out-of-state boats should be registered with your home state. Please visit the Michigan DNR website for detailed information on what is needed for legal boating in Michigan.

Some simple rules of water safety:
1. Motorized boats always yield to non-motorized boats.
2. Passing is done on the port (left) side of the boat ahead.
3. Two boats approaching each other should pass on the port (left) side of each other.
4. On rivers, allow ample time for boats ahead to maneuver rapids before following.
5. Stay low and in the center of your boat or canoe.
6. Try to tip facing downstream so the current won't fill your boat with water.
7. Stay with an overturned boat or canoe - it should float and help you reach shore.

The river is open to watercraft year-round. Recommended season is from May 1 to October 1.

Access (No Fee): Mio Bridge, McKinley Bridge, Bamfield Road Bridge, Bobcat Creek, Loud Dam Pond, Five Channels Pond, Cooke Dam, Foote Dam Pond, Rea Road, Au Sable Boat Launch

Access (Fee) : Pine Acres, Thompson's Landing, Sawmill Point, Whirlpool Boat Landing, and 4001 Landing

Camping: Primitive and developed campsites are available on the AuSable River impoundments; please contact the US Forest Service office nearest you for more information.

Fishing: Steelhead and salmon (below Foote Dam), trout, walleye, smallmouth bass. There are a variety of fishing seasons; please visit the MDNR website for more information.

Comments: A 23-mile section from Mio to 4001 Bridge is designated as a National Scenic River.

Access: Driftwood Valley campground, 18 Mile Bridge, Bear Track campground, Nine Mile Bridge, Six Mile Bridge, Stronach Bridge, Stronach Township Park

Camping: Driftwood and Bear Track (this link will take you to the camping page); primitive camping is also available, please contact the Manistee Ranger Station (number appears below).

Comments: One of northern Michigan's most picturesque fishing streams. Wadeable throughout its length.

Little Muskegon River

Fishing:

Seasons: Variety of fishing seasons; please see the Michigan DNR website.

Access:

Camping:

Recreation Opportunity Guide: Text / Map 1 / Map 2 / Map 3

Comments:

More Information: Contact the Baldwin Ranger Station at 231-745-4631

Manistee River

Access (Free): Hodenpyle Dam Pond, Red Bridge, Tippy Dam

Access (Fee): Bear Creek, Blacksmith Bayou, High Bridge , Rainbow Bend , and Sawdust Hole.

Fishing: Steelhead, salmon (below Tippy Dam), trout, walleye. Seasons: Year round fishing below Tippy Dam.

Camping: Seaton Creek (this link will take you to the camping page), Tippy Dam (MDNR)

Recreation Opportunity Guide: Map

More Information: Contact the Manistee Ranger Station at 231-723-2211.

Muskegon River

Pere Marquette River

The Pere Marquette River is a very popular fishing and canoeing river. Its crystal clear water and the variety of terrain and vegetation along its banks were attractive enough for it to be classified as a National Scenic River and a State Natural River. The Pere Marquette is one of the best fishing streams in the State, especially noted for brown trout, steelhead and salmon. The current is fairly swift, but the river is free of hazardous rapids and can be canoed rather easily. Peace and tranquility are natural features of the river. Many species of wildlife may be sighted by the quiet canoeist and angler.

Seasons: Year round fishing below M-37. Watercraft permits are required from May 15 through September 10.

Access (Free): Forks Landing, M-37 Bridge, and Elk.

Access (Fee): Bowman Bridge , Claybanks, Gleason's Landing, Green Cottage, Indian Bridge , Maple Leaf, Rainbow Rapids, and Upper Branch .

Fishing: steelhead, brown trout, salmon

No watercraft on the PM in the National Forest Wild and Scenic River portion either before 9:00am or after 6:00pm (enforced.)

Camping: Bowman Bridge (this link will take you to the camping page) , Claybanks

Recreation Opportunity Guide: Available

More Information: Contact the Baldwin Ranger Station at 231-745-4631The Pere Marquette River has a variety of fishing regulations.

Pine River

The Pine River is a National Scenic River located in the Manistee National Forest, approximately 20 miles southwest of Cadillac, Michigan. A high-gradient stream, it drops an average 10 feet per mile while flowing through Osceola, Lake, Wexford, and Manistee Counties before emptying into the Tippy Dam backwaters of the Manistee River.

The Pine River traverses a variety of water conditions, having many sharp bends, short choppy riffles, and passable log and debris jams. The Pine also has a section with class 2 white water rapids. Canoeists should be aware of high water markers located in the water at each landing. Water level at the red mark indicates dangerous high water.

The Pine River is a blue ribbon trout stream, supporting wild strains of brook, brown and rainbow trout.

Watercraft permits are required from May 15 through September 10.

Access (DNR): Edgetts, Skookum Bridge, and Lincoln Bridge.

Access (Forest Service/Fee): Low Bridge , Peterson Bridge , Dobson Bridge , and Elm Flats .

Species Present: Brook, brown and rainbow trout.

Fishing Season: last Saturday in April through September 30.

Camping: Peterson Bridge (this link will take you to the camping page)

Recreation Opportunity Guide: Map / Text

More Information: Contact the Manistee Ranger Station at 231-723-2211

White River

Fishing: Salmon, Steelhead (below Hesperia), Brook Trout, Brown Trout

Seasons: There are a variety of fishing seasons; please visit the MDNR website for more information.

US Forest Service recreation facilities are managed from May 1 to October 1

Access (Free): Pines Point, Podunk, Sischo Bayou

Access (Fee): Diamond Point

Camping: Pines Point (this link will take you to the camping page)

Maps: Recreation Map

Comments: This river is wadeable throughout its length.

More Information: General Information Sheet or Contact the Baldwin Ranger Station at 231-745-4631.