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!

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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.

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Fishing and Hunting, Manistee Area, North Coast, River Country, Rivers and Paddling

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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.

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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.

Nature & Pet Friendly Parks in Manistee County

by Manistee VB | January 20, 2016 | Beaches, Outdoors, Spring, Summer | 0 Comments

Traveling with your four legged companions is becoming more and more of a norm in the travel world, so rest assured that we have places that welcome your pets. A top beach in the Manistee Area would be the North Beach Access. Perfect, out of the way, and...

Milestones to plan your trip around

by Brandon Jensen | January 29, 2019 | Events, First Time Visitors, Seasons, Summer | 0 Comments

One of the most commonly asked questions in any community can often be, “What is there to do around here?” While the answer to that question may vary depending on who you ask, in Manistee County, it’s not too hard to answer as there are several events that...

Ice Fishing the Lakes of Manistee

by Manistee VB | November 22, 2022 | Fishing & Hunting, Outdoors, Seasons, Winter, Winter Alt Campaign | 0 Comments

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...

Let’s go for a ride!

by Brandon Jensen | January 29, 2019 | Trails, What To Do | 0 Comments

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...

The Twisted Trails of Manistee County

by Manistee VB | February 10, 2016 | Adventure Sports, Conversations, Outdoors | 0 Comments

If spending weekends on ATVs climbing vertical rock walls, barreling through boulder gardens and mud bogs, joining in beat downs, truck pulls, dog parties and winter snow wheeling is your kind of fun, Twisted Trails Off Road Park is the place for you. “We...

The Piper Inspires Arcadia Bluffs & Manistee County

by Maralee Cook | May 25, 2016 | Golf Resorts, Golfing, Summer | 0 Comments

Picture this. You’re relaxing with friends on the patio at Arcadia Bluffs Lodge, enjoying the warm sunlight softened by the pastel hues that signal the sunset to come. As you gaze westward toward Lake Michigan, you spot the Scottish bagpiper in full...

Manistee’s sugar sand beaches

by Brandon Jensen | January 29, 2019 | Beaches, Summer, What To Do | 0 Comments

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...

Explore the Bridges & Dams of Manistee County

by Manistee VB | January 23, 2023 | First Time Visitors, Must See Manistee, Outdoors, Self Guided Tours, Tours | 0 Comments

Follow our Bridges & Dams Self-Guided Tour as it leads you to 10 spectacular structures. Manistee is home to 3 vehicular, 3 railroad, and 1 massive pedestrian bridge along with 2 hydroelectric dams, 1 egg take/salmon harvest weir, and 1 historic bridge site. This...

A Wedding Weekend in Manistee County

by Manistee VB | March 22, 2017 | Fall, Featured, Outdoors, Spring, Summer, Winter | 0 Comments

It’s a place you never thought of and the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. It’s the shoreline wedding with soft, sandy beaches and a deep blue water horizon that stretches as far as you can see, or the woodland wedding with rolling hills of green and an...

Best of the Beaches

by Manistee VB | July 3, 2024 | Beaches, Must See Manistee, Seasons, Summer, Uncategorized, What To Do | 0 Comments

Every beach offers a different experience when visiting this summer in #MyManistee From the Fifth Avenue Beach with it's iconic lighthouse and action packed fun in the sand, to the more quite beach locations found in the northern reaches of our county, Manistee is...