BOATING refers to the use of all small non-motorized watercraft, such as canoes, kayaks, rowboats, small sailboats, sailboards, etc. Use your own judgement as to which type of craft is appropriate at various locations. Taking a canoe or kayak on Lake Michigan needs careful attention to the weather. Taking sailcraft on a river may be silly.

Recent Boating News

boating
paddling
sailing

Mason County go to Mason County map
go to Ludington map

• Bass Lake - medium size lake, two public access sites
• Buttersville
  • Buttersville Park Beach - Lake Michigan
  • Pere Marquette Shrine - Pere Marquette Lake
• Cartier Park - Lincoln River
• Custer Bridge - carry-in access, portage around fish counting station
• Ford Lake - inland lake
• Gun Lake - inland lake
• Hackert Lake - small inland lake, one public access
• Hamlin Lake - large inland lake
  • Hamlin Marsh - public access, north side of upper Hamlin Lake
  • Victory Township Park - public access, south side of upper Hamlin Lake
  • South Bayou Park - public access, on South Bayou of Hamlin Lake
  • Wilson Hill Park - public access, south side of upper Hamlin Lake
  • Ludington State Park - public access, west side of lower Hamlin Lake
• Hoags Lake - small inland lake
• Indian Bridge - PM River, carry-in access, portage around fish counting station
• Lake Michigan Recreation Area
  • North Beach - Lake Michigan
  • South Beach - Lake Michigan
• Long Lake - small inland lake, one public access
• Ludington
  • Copeyon Park - city boat ramp, fee
  • Loomis Street Boat Ramp - city boat ramp, fee
• Ludington State Park
• Lake Michigan Beach - Lake Michigan
• Hamlin Beach - Hamlin Lake
• Lost Lake Canoe Trail - Lost Lake island route
• Pere Marquette River Flats - Pere Marquette River
• Pere Marquette Lake
  • Buttersville - public access
  • Copeyon Park - public access, self-pay fee
  • Pere Marquette River Flats - public access
  • Sutton's Landing - public access
• St. Mary's Lake - small inland lake
• Scottville Riverside Park - Pere Marquette River
• South Bayou Park - Hamlin Lake
• Summit Township Park - Lake Michigan - hand carry
• Sutton's Landing - Pere Marquette River
• Victory Township Park - Hamlin Lake
• Walhalla Bridge - Pere Marquette River
• Wilson Hill - access to Hamlin Lake

Manistee County go to Manistee County map

• Manistee Riverwalk - public boat launch at the west end at First Street Beach
• First Street Beach - Lake Michigan
• Nine Mile Bridge - Little Manistee River
• Highbridge - Manistee River
• Pine Lake - sand launch ramp on small inland lake, no water skiing
• Sawdust Hole - Manistee River
• Stronach Public Access - Manistee Lake, paved ramp

Lake County go to Lake County map

• Big Star Lake - large inland lake, paved ramp
• Bowman Bridge - Pere Marquette River
• Bowman Lake - small kettle hole lake, boats must be carried in a significant distance
• Gleason's Landing - Pere Marquette River
• Leverentz Lakes - boat launch on each lake
• Lincoln Bridge - carry in access to Pine River
• Lower Branch Bridge - Pere Marquette River
• McCarthy Lake - small inland lake
• Reed Lake - small inland lake
• Silver Creek Campground - carry in access to Pine River for paddling
• Sulak Landing - Pere Marquette River
• Upper Branch Bridge - Pere Marquette River

Oceana County go to Oceana County map

• Black Lake - small inland lake
• Colfax Access on School Section Lake - small inland lake
• Crystal Lake - small inland lake
• Horseshoe Lake - small inland lake- carry in access only
• Mears State Park - Lake Michigan
• Pentwater Lake
• Pentwater Township Boat Ramp - dock
• River Barn Public Access - Pentwater River
• Taylor Bridge - carry in access to White River

This is a designated Wild and Scenic Waterway between The Forks and Custer Bridge. If you wish to canoe on this portion of the Pere Marquette River you need a permit between May 15 and September 10. There are special regulations   which apply. Private watercraft permits may be reserved by calling 1-231-745-4631. Some of the landings along the river require a Recreation Fee sticker to park there (self-pay tubes are available- $3/day, $5/weekly, or $20/year at a Ranger Station). This is a listing of the landings from the farthest upstream to downstream of the portions considered canoeable.

The times listed below are taken from various sources, and will vary with the season of the year, current, paddler's abilities

• The Forks - at the fork of the Middle and Little South Branches
• M-37 - south side M-37 crossing, 0.7 miles, 15 minutes
• Green Cottage - south side, no bridge, 3.7 miles, 1 1/2 hour
• Gleason's Landing - north side, no bridge, 4.7 miles, 2 hours (primitive camping available)
• Bowman Bridge - south side, 2.6 miles, 1 hour
• Rainbow Rapids - north side, no bridge, 7.3 miles, 2.5 hours
• Sulak Landing - south side, no bridge, 3.1 miles, 1 hour
• Upper Branch Bridge - south side, 2.7 miles, 1 hour (add 10 minues to Elk Campground canoe-in campsite)
• Lower Branch Bridge - south side, 2.6 miles, 1 1/4 hours (add 1 1/4 hours to Logmark Campground canoe-in campsite)
• Maple Leaf Access (Logmark canoe-in campground is slightly before you reach Maple Leaf) - north side, no bridge, 3.7 miles, 1 1/2 hours
• Walhalla Bridge - south side, 3.8 miles, 1 1/2 hours
• Indian Bridge - south side, 5.5 miles, 3 hours
• Custer Bridge - south side- portage required, 2.4 miles, 2 hour
• Scottville Riverside Park - north side, 6 miles, 1 1/2 hours
• Pere Marquette River Flats - south side, 20 miles, 6 hours
• Sutton's Landing - south side, bridge on Pere Marquette Highway, 0.5 miles, 15 minutes

Manistee River Manistee County

The Manistee River is usually canoed from the M-66 Bridge in Wexford County to Tippy Dam, but can be paddled all the way to Lake Michigan. This website focuses on the Manistee County sites. This is a designated Wild and Scenic Waterway between Tippy Dam and the M-55 Bridge. This is a listing of the landings upstream to downstream, but detailed information will ultimately be provided only for those from M-115 downstream

The times listed below are taken from various sources, and will vary with the season of the year, current, paddler's abilities

• M-66 - M-66 bridge
• Coster Road - 3 hours
• Lucas Road - 1 1/2 hours
• US 131 - 3 1/2 hours
• Baxter Bridge - 4 hours
• 23 Road - south side, no bridge, 3 1/2 hours
• Harvey Bridge - 2 hours
• Glengary - 3 hours
• M-115 Bridge - 1 hours
• Hodenpyl Dam - portage, 1 hour
• Red Bridge - 4 hours
• Tippy Dam - DNR fee site, portage, north side, no bridge, 6 miles, depends on wind (flat water), 3 1/2 hours typical
• Highbridge - north side, 2 hours
• Bear Creek - 3 hours
• Rainbow Bend - 1 1/2 hours
• M-55 Bridge - 4 hours, (26 miles from Tippy Dam, this portion designated Wild and Scenic)
• Lake Michigan - 34 miles, more detail coming soon