Bear River Detail

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All Bear River

Conditions

• River Conditions. Generally less than 50′ wide, starting out as shallow sandy bottom, middle section of silty lowlands, and final stretch as rocky whitewater. Rarely more than 6′ deep.
• Bank Conditions. Swamp milkweed, swamp roses, water lily, blue flag irises, sweet gale.
• Development. The upper 2/3 of the river is virtually uninhabited, then housing relatively continuous in Petoskey.

Statistics

• Length: 16 miles.
• Duration: 6 hours.
• Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate in the upper stretches, Beginner in middle section, and Advanced at the end.
• Current: The current covers all ranges, with medium speed in the upper reaches, very slow current in the middle, and fast whitewater at the end.

River Play

• River Break: Very few locations to take a break, due to soft bottom and marsh lowland banks.
• Nature: Abundant birds and small critters.

Walloon Lake to Bear River Road

Conditions

• River Conditions. Width between 10′-30′ with sandy bottom and less than 3′ depth, until reaching the golf course. Width widens to 50′-100′ with more of a silty bottom after the golf course.
• Bank Conditions. Low lands.
• Development. Virtually uninhabited.
• Caution. Canoe won’t fit under US-131 bridge. Need to lie low in kayak… Recommend checking clearance before the float.

Access Notes

• Melrose Township Park. In the Village of Walloon Lake. Can drop off at river on shoulder of M-72 for easy put-in, or drag about 300 feet across the park lawn from the parking lot.
• Springvale Road. Medium difficulty access. Four areas for roadside parking. Steep banks to river.
• Bear River Road. Two road parking spaces.
• Staging Distance. 4.5 mi.

Statistics

• Length: 7.2 miles. Walloon Lake to Springvale Road: 2.9 mi. Springvale Road to Bear River Road: 4.3 mi.
• Duration: 2.5 hours. Walloon Lake to Springvale Road: 1 hr. Springvale Road to Bear River Road: 1.5 hr.
• Difficulty: [C] Beginner-Intermediate. Need to steer, few obstructions, easily avoid tangles.
• Current: [B] Quick current visible on surface. Current slows to barely visible near golf course.

River Play

• River Break: Standing in river only, shallow sand areas.
• Nature: Bird watching. Traverses through low lands, with water-loving plants along the banks.

Bear River Road to River Road Sports

Conditions

• River Conditions. The water color begins to turn stained, from the leaching of soils in the swamp adjacent to the river. Bottom is silty & soft.
• Bank Conditions. Low lands, with low-lying vegetation.
• Development. Virtually uninhabited.

Access Notes

• Bear River Road. Two road parking spaces.
• Evergreen Trail. Access upstream of bridge, left side, 2 road parking. Parking lot for trailers just East of river on North side of Evergreen Trail.
• Click Rd. No access.
• McDougal Rd. No access.
• River Road Sports Complex. Wood landing area with stairs, left side of river, 200′ flat pull, parking available.
• Staging Distance. 4.5 mi.

Statistics

• Length: 5.5 miles. Bear River Rd to Evergreen Trail: 2.9 mi. Evergreen Trail to River Road Sports: 2.6 mi.
• Duration: 2 hours. Bear River Rd to Evergreen Trail: 1 hr. Evergreen Trail to River Road Sports: 1 hr.
• Difficulty: [D] Beginner. Wide area, rare obstructions, gentle current.
• Current: [D] No current visible on surface.

River Play

• River Break: Periodic shallow sandy stretches to get out and play.
• Nature: Bird watching.

Evergreen Trail to Sheridan Road

Conditions

• River Conditions. Slow current, 4′ max depth, sand/muck mix.
• Bank Conditions. Low vegetation, wooded the entire length.
• Development. Periodic houses & structures.

Access Notes

• Evergreen Trail. Access upstream of bridge, left side, 2 road parking. Parking lot for trailers just East of river on North side of Evergreen Trail.
• Click Rd. No access.
• McDougal Rd. No access.
• River Road Sports Complex. Wood landing area with stairs, left side of river, 200′ flat pull, parking available.
• Standish Rd. No access?
• Sheridan St. Access on left side of river. Upstream of tubes is the easiest, but opposite side of road from parking lot. Downstream of tubes… Take center tube, go a bit wild, re-group, then work upstream to stairs. Both options have narrow stone stairs.
• Staging Distance. 4.1 mi.

Statistics

• Length: 4.9 miles. Evergreen Trail to River Road Sports: 2.6 mi. River Road Sports to Sheridan Road: 2.3 mi.
• Duration: 2 hours. Evergreen Trail to River Road Sports: 1 hr. River Road Sports to Sheridan Road: 1 hr.
• Difficulty: [C] Beginner-Intermediate. Virtually no tangles until near the end, mostly just steering.
• Current: [C] Slow current visible on surface.

River Play

• River Break: River Road Sports Complex. And about a dozen shallow sandy spots to get out and play.

Sheridan Road to Lake Michigan

Conditions

• River Conditions. Quick current with rapids for experienced level kayakers only.
• Bank Conditions. Through Bear River Park, trail on both sides, then rising hillsides to homes.
• Development. Houses & structures within the City of Petoskey.
• Caution. Very fast water with rapids. Helmet & expertise required. Also, stones placed within the river to create the rapids are still being “smoothed” by the water. Skin cover is recommended to prevent abrasions, in the event of overturn.

Access Notes

• Standish Rd. Access on left side of river. Upstream of tubes is the easiest, but opposite side of road from parking lot. Downstream of tubes… Take center tube, go a bit wild, re-group, then work upstream to stairs. Both options have narrow stone stairs.
• Mitchell St Bridge. Access on left side of river.
• Staging Distance. Driving: 1.4. Walking: 1.2 mi.

Statistics

• Length: 1.2 miles.
• Duration: really fast.
• Difficulty: [A] Advanced. Rapids, boulders, standing waves.
• Current: [A] Rapids or whitewater.

River Play

• River Break: The entire section is within the Bear River Recreation Area. But exiting the river midway, may be a bit of a challenge…