I spent four days (15 Sep - 18 Sep) on the Manistee River canoeing and camping. Despite the trip being a little damp; rain both Tuesday morning the day I put in and Thursday, it was a great trip.
Day 1 - I put in at the M72 bridge with assistance from Wilderness Canoe Trips in Mesick, MI where I left my truck. It took over an hour to get to the put in, so I started paddling about 10 am. I paddled until about 3 pm, stopping at the CCC Bridge campground for the night. It was an enjoyable paddle with enough current, twists and deadfall to keep the paddling interesting and requiring attention and boat handling. Bird life was plentiful. There were houses present in spots, but I saw no one at any of them. I assume a majority of them are second homes, and empty after labor day. Matter of fact, the whole trip I probably only saw about a dozen people, and despite developed areas I often felt I had some "Wilderness" to myself.
Day 2 - Throughout the day, the river opened up, but at times it seemed to recall that it was supposed to be a small, twisted river. I was surprised that I experienced this throughout the trip. I had decided this morning that based on the weather report to finish the trip in 4 days instead of 5. Friday night and Saturday morning were looking to be very wet and not the scattered light rain of yesterday. Again, birds; Blue Heron, Wood Ducks, Mergansers, Turkey and some other small waterfowl I couldn't identify, were everywhere. Included, I saw several bald eagles, and by time the trip was finished I lost count of how many I saw. Also, I saw some deer and beavers. I had left camp at about 8 am and was on the water for 8 hours, and dispersed camp on national forest land upstream from the Lucas Rd. Landing.
Day 3 - I was on the water early about 730am. I love paddling early in the morning; more wildlife, less wind, just a peaceful time to be on the water. Today, I paddled for about 7 hours aiming for the campground at Baxter Bridge. I missed the takeout, and ended up dispersed camping about 20 minutes past Baxter Bridge. This section had the fewest houses, and most of the southern side of the river was a national forest. It had the most wilderness feel of the whole river.
Day 4 - On the water even earlier just after 7, and another 7 hours on the river. Another great day with quiet, and almost no people. I should note one thing about the river, I was surprised by the 'high rollaways". They are quite tall dramatic open sand dunes in many of the bends of the river. I didn't expect such a dramatic landscape in "flat" lower peninsula of Michigan.
As I said, it was a great trip, great paddling and even though it might not be "true wilderness", I came away with a smile, and a rested mind.
SInce I finished the trip early I went and camped a couple of days at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The Dunes is a beautiful place and worth the visit. You can even get a paddle there. Most people float the rivers, but I went to one of the small inland lakes, Otter Lake. A leisurely, serene paddle took me around the edge of the pretty little lake on its crystalline waters and was a great end to a paddling trip in beautiful area.
Day 1 - I put in at the M72 bridge with assistance from Wilderness Canoe Trips in Mesick, MI where I left my truck. It took over an hour to get to the put in, so I started paddling about 10 am. I paddled until about 3 pm, stopping at the CCC Bridge campground for the night. It was an enjoyable paddle with enough current, twists and deadfall to keep the paddling interesting and requiring attention and boat handling. Bird life was plentiful. There were houses present in spots, but I saw no one at any of them. I assume a majority of them are second homes, and empty after labor day. Matter of fact, the whole trip I probably only saw about a dozen people, and despite developed areas I often felt I had some "Wilderness" to myself.
Day 2 - Throughout the day, the river opened up, but at times it seemed to recall that it was supposed to be a small, twisted river. I was surprised that I experienced this throughout the trip. I had decided this morning that based on the weather report to finish the trip in 4 days instead of 5. Friday night and Saturday morning were looking to be very wet and not the scattered light rain of yesterday. Again, birds; Blue Heron, Wood Ducks, Mergansers, Turkey and some other small waterfowl I couldn't identify, were everywhere. Included, I saw several bald eagles, and by time the trip was finished I lost count of how many I saw. Also, I saw some deer and beavers. I had left camp at about 8 am and was on the water for 8 hours, and dispersed camp on national forest land upstream from the Lucas Rd. Landing.
Day 3 - I was on the water early about 730am. I love paddling early in the morning; more wildlife, less wind, just a peaceful time to be on the water. Today, I paddled for about 7 hours aiming for the campground at Baxter Bridge. I missed the takeout, and ended up dispersed camping about 20 minutes past Baxter Bridge. This section had the fewest houses, and most of the southern side of the river was a national forest. It had the most wilderness feel of the whole river.
Day 4 - On the water even earlier just after 7, and another 7 hours on the river. Another great day with quiet, and almost no people. I should note one thing about the river, I was surprised by the 'high rollaways". They are quite tall dramatic open sand dunes in many of the bends of the river. I didn't expect such a dramatic landscape in "flat" lower peninsula of Michigan.
As I said, it was a great trip, great paddling and even though it might not be "true wilderness", I came away with a smile, and a rested mind.
SInce I finished the trip early I went and camped a couple of days at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The Dunes is a beautiful place and worth the visit. You can even get a paddle there. Most people float the rivers, but I went to one of the small inland lakes, Otter Lake. A leisurely, serene paddle took me around the edge of the pretty little lake on its crystalline waters and was a great end to a paddling trip in beautiful area.
