This video is a short paddle near the headwaters of the Manistee River located near Frederic & Dewitt Michigan. A second paddle the day after is much longer and will be in an upcoming video.
Finding access to the river as far up to the headwaters is not very viable for a few different reasons. First, where there are public lands near the upper portion of the river, the banks are taller. Second, where there is easier access to the river, everything seems to be private property. We looked at two locations on the East side of the river near Dewitt. We could get close to the river but it seemed like a bushwhack for access. Up the river further, we had easy access to Frenchman Creek that empties into the Manistee River. However, where the creek left the reservoir area, countless downed trees or tree growth close to the water made this unrealistic. In addition, the entire area was likely marshy and difficult to navigate. Looking for alternatives, there was a nice spot for access to the river off of the end of N Manistee River Road. After closer inspection, there were several downed trees in this area as well. After looking over both the east and west sides of the river, we concluded the only viable access was the put in at Cameron Bridge Road.
The paddle in this three mile section was unobstructed. The water was plenty deep during this dry period.
Trip Summary: Total Time = 0 hours 54 minutes. Moving Time = 0 hours 49 minutes. Distance = 2.6 miles.
Here are the links if interested in doing a similar trip. Click below:
