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Anyone ever canoe the Manistee River?

  • biologos said...

    What a sweet idea...I have thought about the Lake Superior to Lake Michigan trip...Starting in the mouth of the Tequamenon and then portaging into the east branch of the Fox and finishing where the Manistique dumps into Lake Michigan.

    I would blow off the Manistee, and hitch a ride on Tanner's charter boat.

    Mudjin harbor

  • Mudjin harbor said...

    I would blow off the Manistee, and hitch a ride on Tanner's charter boat.

    gHost will take you across Lake Michigan if you have time.

    CivilEGR

  • JackPineSavage said...

    Years ago, the fur traders used to do the Lake Huron and Lake Michigan route you're considering. Lake Margrethe in Grayling was originally named Portage Lake because they would use that lake to bridge the gap between the two rivers. There is a Portage Creek that runs from Lake Margrethe to the Manistee River, but it is impassible for normal canoe traffic.

    Reading about the Fur Traders and the Indians using this route is what gave me the idea.

    Still not sure where I would portage at. M72 intersects both rivers and is about 6.5 miles between the two. As of now I think that would be easiest. Further North there is Co. Road 612. That is only about a 4 mile portage. However, that would include a lot more upstream paddling on the Au Sable and I"m not sure the Au Sable is even passable upstream from Grayling.

    Ol Drippy21167

  • I think 3 days is about right but I did it in 1976 so can't remember where we camped along the river, but there used to be a camp ground after you paddle across Pere Marquette Lake, between the lake and Lake Michigan. Supposed to be good fishing, trout, along the way, but we did not.

    My buddy's family had a cottage about 5 miles south of Ludington we were going to canoe to it. Started across Pere Marquette Lake about 2:00 in the afternoon and the winds picked up, Took us 4-5 hours. Had a couple people in boats come and asked if we were ok.

    Got across lake, portaged our gear, canoes, etc. to campground mentioned above and were dead. It was getting dark and all we had left to eat was like two hot dogs. A women comes up to us with a huge plate of speghetti, meatballs, salad, garlic bread and goes we saw you boys out there today and thought you might like some food.

    Sometimes life is good!

    northandwells

  • northandwells said...

    I think 3 days is about right but I did it in 1976 so can't remember where we camped along the river, but there used to be a camp ground after you paddle across Pere Marquette Lake, between the lake and Lake Michigan. Supposed to be good fishing, trout, along the way, but we did not.

    My buddy's family had a cottage about 5 miles south of Ludington we were going to canoe to it. Started across Pere Marquette Lake about 2:00 in the afternoon and the winds picked up, Took us 4-5 hours. Had a couple people in boats come and asked if we were ok.

    Got across lake, portaged our gear, canoes, etc. to campground mentioned above and were dead. It was getting dark and all we had left to eat was like two hot dogs. A women comes up to us with a huge plate of speghetti, meatballs, salad, garlic bread and goes we saw you boys out there today and thought you might like some food.

    Sometimes life is good!

    That's awesome! Paddling works up some serious hunger, at least for me.

    There is a really sweet campground along the Manistee not too far upstream from the main trailhead in town. I think we were about two hours east of that when we camped. No amenities; you'd need to dig catholes, etc. It's up on top of a set of hills with runoff trails all over. There was a natural waterslide. Granted, those things can change from year to year, but this was only in 2010, so I'm thinking it's still around. It was one of the coolest campsites I've been to, albeit a bit tiring lugging all your gear up the hill.

    This post was edited by Harjo on 5/9/2012 at 11:35 AM

    PSN: interpavement

    Harjo

  • Ol' Drippy said...

    Reading about the Fur Traders and the Indians using this route is what gave me the idea.

    Still not sure where I would portage at. M72 intersects both rivers and is about 6.5 miles between the two. As of now I think that would be easiest. Further North there is Co. Road 612. That is only about a 4 mile portage. However, that would include a lot more upstream paddling on the Au Sable and I"m not sure the Au Sable is even passable upstream from Grayling.

    Every once and a while someone will try this. They typically use M-72 as the portaging route. If you went up to Co Rd 612, you would do ALOT of extra paddling to save the extra 2.5 miles of portaging. The AuSable, above M-72, is passable, but very shallow in alot of spots. I wouldn't suggest trying to navigate it with a canoe loaded with gear.

    JackPineSavage

  • JackPineSavage said...

    Every once and a while someone will try this. They typically use M-72 as the portaging route. If you went up to Co Rd 612, you would do ALOT of extra paddling to save the extra 2.5 miles of portaging. The AuSable, above M-72, is passable, but very shallow in alot of spots. I wouldn't suggest trying to navigate it with a canoe loaded with gear.

    Thanks a lot. I was leaning toward taking M72 and now I'm just about sold. Although I'm saving that trip for next year. Having never canoed the Manistee I'm just gonna do M72 to Lake Michigan this year. I've done the Au Sable many times. Never upstream though. I imagine it's pretty tough once you get out of Mio Pond.

    Ol Drippy21167

  • Didn't read thread...but I canoed a manatee's river on a number of drunken nights.

    signature image signature image

    FORKS DOWN!!!

    Black Dutch

  • Black Dutch said...

    Didn't read thread...but I canoed a manatee's river on a number of drunken nights.

    attachment

    AMwood

  • So, am I correct in thinking you want to PORTAGE your canoe and gear ~5 miles? Is that normal or a lot?

    SpartyPants1

  • SpartyPants1 said...

    So, am I correct in thinking you want to PORTAGE your canoe and gear ~5 miles? Is that normal or a lot?

    Correct. And that is indeed a lot. It would be tough but it would also be a nice break from paddling upstream for several days.

    Ol Drippy21167

  • Big Manistee is great. Have fun!

    FearsomePenguin

  • Last year my son, I and some friends canoed from Ely MN to Atikokan Canada through the Quetico Provencial Park. Got into some very little traveled waters and some fierce portages.

    100 miles in under 9 days; pack it in, pack it out.

    Some of the best scenary and camp sites I have ever seen. Good smallmouth fishing and a very sore back.

    Sure beats a desk job.

    northandwells

  • Bender said...

    Ever try the Baldwin?

    The Baldwin (N. branch of the Pere Marquette) is a great trout stream but it is not passable. The PM itself, however, is the longest dam-free river system in Michigan and offers both fine fishing and canoeing. Much of it requires a permit, however.

    85Grad

  • WHOODA!!! i camped off the river bank last summer and coned a 3 or 4 hour trip down the river and we stop along the way and drink and eat!

    Spartan1988

  • I lived in Manistee, and as a boy scout they always made us canoe the little and big river. I learned it's much better to tube them drinking beer. Can't escape the bugs as easily though.

    sprtnjdk

  • decent fishing on the Manistee as well. Have caught trout, pike and bass back in the day when I had time to fish.

    I must be crazy to be in a loony bin like this.

    RP McMurphy

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