Trips down the Manistee River are an unique experience that should be taken when you are able to spend enough time to truly enjoy the leisurely float downstream, and have the time to “pull over” for a picnic, exploring, or just relaxing on the bank.

The river is noted for its constant water flow.  One will never have to portage; there is always enough water over gravel beds and sand bars to float over. 

This is a very pristine river system with hundreds of crystal clear smaller rivers and pure water springs flowing into it, and with very little development along its banks.

float the manistee

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Avoid the hassle and incovenience of scheduling pick-up times by using one of our upstream launches and ending at Chippewa Landing!

Group of people in swimwear standing in front of a yellow bus labeled 'Canoes, Rafts, Kayaks, Tubes' during daytime at outdoor location.

Day Trips

  • Group of fifteen people standing beside inflatable boats on a riverbank, with trees and greenery in the background.

    Chase Creek- 2 Hours

    Our shortest trip. Around 2 hours in a canoe or kayak a little longer in tubes or rafts. This is our most popular trip for rafting!

  • People gather with kayaks on the riverbank before kayaking in a forested area.

    Missaukee Bridge- 3.5 Hours

    This trip distinguishes the Manistee River from trips on other rivers.  It is relatively unsettled and unspoiled, with towering hills, clear water gravel beds, sand bars for swimming, and plenty of places to pull over.  There are islands to explore, abundant wildlife, and many tributaries flowing into the river to join you in the float downstream.  It is the trip that everyone comes back to do over again, because one trip is never enough to enjoy the beauty of this stretch of the Manistee River.

  • People kayaking and paddleboarding on a river surrounded by autumn trees.

    Rainbow Jim- 5 Hours

    Named after a Manistee River icon, Rainbow Jim is our longest day trip. This is a full day canoe, or kayak trip. This is the trip for people who want to start early, and spend the whole day enjoying the river. 

Overnight Trips

  • M66 Bridge - 8 hours

    This is our standard one night, 2 day trip. Plenty of pristine places to camp.  Allow 4-5 hours each day on the river. ~ 40 miles

  • Sharon Bridge - 11.5 hours

    Spend three days on this trip with 3 to 4 hours on the river each day.  This distance could be done in two days with a lot of paddling, or four days with a lot of stops for fishing, exploring, or just relaxing. ~ 50 miles

  • CCC Bridge - 15 hours

    This will be a four or five day trip.  The river is quite different for the first day, with a lot of shallow water (still no portages!), and low banks. One of the prettiest stretches along the whole river. ~ 65 miles

  • M-72 Bridge - 20 hours

    This is our go-to launch for those longer trips. People who launch here are generally looking for 4+ days on the water. There is some shallower water and generally are more obstacles in the river. ~ 85 miles

  • CR 612 - 24 hours

    A trip for serious canoers! Plan on spending most of a week out there if you launch here! ~ 100 miles

  • Cameron bridge - 25 hours

    You can’t canoe the whole river without starting at the top! There are places where you can launch upstream of Cameron, but this launch marks the highest publicly accessible launch on the Manistee. ~107 miles.

Map showing camping sites, roads, and landmarks along the Chippewa River in Michigan, including DNR campsites, Chippewa Landing, and nearby towns such as Traverse City and Kalkaska.