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 A
National Wild and Scenic River is an official, federal
designation that was created by Congress in 1968. It began
as a response to the damming, diverting and degrading that
had been happening to many of our country's great
waterways.
In
Michigan 625 miles of rivers are designated "Wild and
Scenic." These rivers possess remarkable scenic,
recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic,
cultural or other similar values. They and their immediate
environments are protected for the benefit and enjoyment of
present and future generations.
A
Wild and Scenic River is not a national park or wilderness
area. The idea is not to halt development and use of a
river; instead, the goal is to preserve the character of a
river.
To
learn more about our National Wild and Scenic Rivers, visit
the official National
Park Service web site,
the Michigan
DNR page about these rivers,
and a map
of Michigan's Natural and Wild & Scenic
Rivers.
Lower
Peninsula
AuSable
River, USFS (also
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream)
Designation/Reach:
October 4, 1984. The main stem from the Mio Pond
project boundary downstream to the Alcona Pond project
boundary.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 23.0 miles; Total -- 23.0 miles.
This
short stretch of river preserves only a small portion of
one of Michigan's most popular canoeing rivers. The
AuSable is one of America's most productive trout
fisheries.
Bear
Creek, USFS (also
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream)
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From Coates Highway to the confluence
with the Manistee River.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 6.5 miles; Total -- 6.5 miles.
The
lower 6.5 miles of Bear Creek meanders through lush
swamps, rolling hills, and farm land. Limited access and
development enhance the pristine scenery. There are
healthy populations of both resident trout and anadromous
steelhead and salmon.
Manistee
River, USFS (also
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream)
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources boat ramp below Tippy Dam to the
Michigan State Highway 55 Bridge.
Classification/Mileage:
Recreational -- 26.0 miles; Total -- 26.0 miles.
The
lower Manistee River is a slow, wide river that meanders
through rolling hills and rich marsh land teeming with
wildlife. The Manistee River is very popular for its
excellent fishing, particularly for salmon, as well as
for quality boating and scenery.
Pere
Marquette River, USFS (also
Blue Ribbon Trout
Stream)
(map
and more info)
Designation/Reach:
November 10, 1978. The segment downstream from the
junction of the Middle and Little South Branches to its
junction with U.S. Highway 31.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 66.0 miles; Total -- 66.0 miles.
Wandering
gently through overhanging bluffs and across the grassy
floodplains of central Michigan, this is one of the
finest trout streams of the Midwest.
Pine
River, USFS (also
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream)
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. The segment from Lincoln Bridge to the
east 1/16th line of Section 16, T21N, R13W.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 26.0 miles; Total -- 26.0 miles.
The
lower 25 miles of the Pine River wind swiftly through a
deeply cut channel with heavily forested upland, offering
high-quality fishing, small-craft boating, and
outstanding scenery.
Upper
Peninsula
Black
River, USFS
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From the Ottawa National Forest
Boundary to Lake Superior.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 14.0 miles; Total -- 14.0 miles.
The
Black River provides visitors with outstanding scenery,
unique geographical features, superb fisheries, cultural
history, and abundant recreation opportunities. The many
waterfalls, rapids, and gorge-like landscapes along this
river, combined with a mix of large hemlock and eastern
white pine, has long been recognized as a distinctive
resource.
Carp
River, USFS
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From the west section line of section
30, T43N, R5W to Lake Huron.
Classification/Mileage:
Wild -- 12.4 miles; Scenic -- 9.3 miles; Recreational
-- 6.1 miles; Total -- 27.8 miles.
The
Carp River flows through predominately forested lands
with little development along its way. Spring's high
water facilitates canoeing and offers steelhead fishing
and dipping for smelt near the river's mouth. Summer is
the time for brook or brown trout, and fall brings salmon
fishing.
Indian
River, USFS
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From Hovey Lake to Indian Lake.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 12.0 miles; Recreational -- 39.0 miles; Total
-- 51.0 miles.
The
Indian River provides a variety of beautiful scenery,
from canyon-like banks and sharp meandering curves to
broad marshland reaches. Trout fishing is good and there
is spawning habitat for lake sturgeon, as well as eagle
and osprey habitat. Obstructed waters require frequent
portages for canoes downstream from Steuben.
Ontonagon
River, USFS (also
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream)
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. The East Branch from its origin to the
Ottawa National Forest boundary. The Middle Branch from
its origin to the northern boundary of the Ottawa
National Forest. The Cisco Branch from its origin at
Cisco Lake Dam to its confluence with Ten-Mile Creek
south of Ewen. The West Branch from its confluence with
Cascade Falls to Victoria Reservoir.
Classification/Mileage:
Wild -- 42.9 miles; Scenic -- 41.0 miles;
Recreational -- 73.5 miles; Total -- 157.4 miles.
In
this true backcountry setting, the gorge-like landscape,
exposed sandstone cliffs, and waterfalls provide a unique
recreational area for the mid-western United States. The
river also has excellent fishing for resident brown
trout, Lake Superior run salmon, and
steelhead.
Paint
River, USFS (also
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream)
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. The main stem from the confluence of
the North and South Branches to the Ottawa National
Forest boundary. The North Branch from its origin to its
confluence with the South Branch. The South Branch from
its origin to its confluence with the North Branch.
Classification/Mileage:
Recreational -- 51.0 miles; Total -- 51.0 miles.
The
main stem of the Paint River is an excellent year-long
canoe route. The brook and rainbow trout fishing is
outstanding. The historical use of this river for log
drives provides many historical interpretive
opportunities.
Presque
Isle River, USFS
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. The main stem from the confluence of
the East and West Branches to Minnewawa Falls. The East
Branch within the Ottawa National Forest. The South
Branch within the Ottawa National Forest. The West Branch
within the Ottawa National Forest.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 19.0 miles; Recreational -- 38.0 miles;
Total -- 57.0 miles.
Portions
of this river are considered by some as the most
challenging whitewater river in Michigan, if not in the
Midwest. This river is listed as one of the ten North
American rivers that "defines the outer edge of
contemporary whitewater paddling" (Canoe
Magazine).
Sturgeon
River (Hiawatha National Forest), USFS
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From the north line of Section 26, T43N,
R19W, to Lake Michigan.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 21.7 miles; Recreational -- 22.2 miles;
Total -- 43.9 miles.
Early
summer and late fall are the best times to canoe the
Sturgeon River. Two rapids challenge the canoer. Elusive
brown trout, steelhead and salmon challenge anglers.
Sturgeon
River (Ottawa National Forest), USFS
(also
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream)
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From its entry into the Ottawa
National Forest to the northern boundary of the Ottawa
National Forest.
Classification/Mileage:
Wild -- 16.5 miles; Scenic -- 8.5 miles; Total --
25.0 miles.
This
river flows through a narrow, dissected, gorge-like
valley with an average depth of 200-300 feet. Valley
walls have slopes of 50-90%, and the river flows through
the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness.
Tahquamenon
River (East Branch), USFS
(also
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream)
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From its origin to the Hiawatha
National Forest boundary.
Classification/Mileage:
Wild -- 3.2 miles; Recreational -- 10.0 miles; Total --
13.2 miles.
The
East Branch of the Tahquamenon River is a high-quality
brook trout stream. Persistent anglers, who overcome the
dense alder along much of its length, are well rewarded
for their efforts.
Whitefish
River, USFS
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. The main stem from its confluence with
the East and West Branches to Lake Michigan. The East
Branch from the crossing of County Road 003 to its
confluence with the West Branch. The West Branch from
County Road 444 to its confluence with the East Branch.
Classification/Mileage:
Scenic -- 31.5 miles; Recreational -- 2.1 miles;
Total -- 33.6 miles.
The
Whitefish River is cold, swift and deep in the early
spring to challenge canoeists and provide good steelhead
fishing. During the summer, much of the river becomes too
shallow for canoeing, but offers fishing for brook trout
in the upper reaches and a variety of warmwater species
downstream from the confluence of the East and West
Branches.
Yellow
Dog River, USFS
Designation/Reach:
March 3, 1992. From its origin at the outlet of
Bulldog Lake Dam to the boundary of the Ottawa National
Forest.
Classification/Mileage:
Wild -- 4.0; Total -- 4.0 miles.
The
Yellow Dog River drops 240 feet through numerous outcrops
and cascades within the McCormick Wilderness. Surrounding
vegetation consists of large eastern white pine, eastern
hemlock, sugar maple, northern red oak, and other
old-growth northern hardwood species.
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