Boardman River Detail

PlayMap.net

All Boardman River

The river evolves from crystal clear waters flanked by public natural areas, to downtown Traverse City with boardwalks. The upper section is narrow with a quick current within the State Forest and is a section of the Michigan Wild-Scenic Natural River with crystal clear water. The middle section remains quick, but straightens for easier maneuvering. Below Beitner Road is whitewater until the Boardman River Nature Center downstream of Cass Road. After Boardman Lake, the stretch though downtown is gentle with one portage.

Conditions

• River Conditions. Clean, fresh, shallow water in the upper half, to fast water in the middle, to Boardman Lake & slow current at the end. Generally, less than 30 feet wide and 6 feet deep in the river sections.
• Bank Conditions. Mostly wooded.
• Development. The majority of the river traverses public land.

Statistics

• Length: 25 miles?
• Duration: 14 hours?
• Difficulty: Starting out, the river is quite narrow with some navigation challenges. Mid section from Brown Bridge to Beitner Road is quick, but fairly easy to navigate. Below Beitner, rapids exists, with changing conditions based on recent dam removals. The current slows when approaching Boardman Lake, then a light easy float to Lake Michigan. Overall, one of the more challenging rivers in Northwest Michigan.
• Current: Initially a quick current, then gradually slows when approaching Traverse City, with no current crossing the lake. Overall, however, the current switches from fast to slow throughout the extents of the river.
• Portage. Portage are required at Traverse City dam between Cass & Union Streets.

River Play

• Nature: Songbirds, waterfowl, and wildlife are all abundant along the corridor, especially in the upper reaches.
• Fishing: The upper section above the former Brown Bridge Pond is good for brook and brown trout. Salmon run in the lower section in Traverse City during Fall spawning season.

The Forks to Brown Bridge

The upper section is broken down into two parts

• Fork’s Campground to Scheck’s Place Campground.
• Scheck’s Place Campground to Brown Bridge.

Fork’s Campground to Scheck’s Place Campground

Fairly narrow with moderately fast water in a wild and natural setting.

Conditions

• River Conditions. Moderate to quick current in winding alignment. Generally around 30 feet wide and less than 3 feet deep, with some 6 feet deep holes.
• Bank Conditions. Mixed hardwood and conifer forest, flanked with state forest property.
• Development. Virtually none, traversing through State Land.

Access Notes

• Forks Campground. Primitive sites are on the riverbank, with good access and parking.
• Scheck’s Place Campground. Access on right side, wood deck access adjacent to parking lot.

Statistics

• Length: 5 miles.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Difficulty: [B] Intermediate. Hard to navigate, many obstructions, quick current, caught in tangles.
• Current: [B] Quick current visible on surface.

River Play

• River Stops. Many places to stop on dry land. Ranch Rudolf for food, drinks & provisions.
• Nature: Wild and natural.

Scheck’s Place Campground to Brown Bridge

Moderate speed current down a winding corridor, flanked by State Forest lands then opens to redevelopment of the river channel in the former Brown Bridge Pond.

Conditions

• River Conditions. Average width of around 30′, generally less than 3′ deep, with some holes up to 6 feet, and sand & gravel bottom.
• Bank Conditions. The upper reaches present State Forest upland valley with a mix of evergreens, hardwoods, and periodic cedar stands. Approaching the former Brown Bridge pond, the corridor transitions to banks carved in the bottom lands. A nice color float in fall.
• Development. Virtually none, traversing mostly through State Land.

Access Notes

• Scheck’s Place Campground. Easy access with good parking.
• Brown Bridge. Easy access with a deck, and parking lot.

Statistics

• Length: 4.9 miles.
• Duration: 2.5 hours.
• Difficulty: [C] Beginner-Intermediate. Need to steer, few obstructions, easily avoid tangles.
• Current: [B] Quick current visible on surface.

River Play

• River Break: Frequent areas for stopping.
• Nature: State Forest wild.
• Fishing: Designated Trout Stream.

Brown Bridge to Beitner Park

Broken down into two sections

• Brown Bridge to Shumsky Road.
• Shumsky Road to Beitner Road.

Brown Bridge to Shumsky Road

The current picks up and the alignment straightens, continuing through wooded landscape with occasional riverfront cottages. A good fall color float.

Conditions

• River Conditions. The current is swift, with less meander, and clean clear water. Average width is about 40′, and generally 3′-6′ deep with sand & gravel bottom, and occasional large rocks and submerged logs and stumps.
• Bank Conditions. Hardwoods and periodic lowlands, with occasional farmland and meadow areas.
• Development. Mostly private land with periodic cottages.
• Caution. Watch for low foot bridges.

Access Notes

• Brown Bridge. Easy access with a deck, and parking lot.
• Garfield Road.
• Shumsky Rd. Easy access on right side of river with parking lot.

Statistics

• Length: 7.3 miles. Brown Bridge to River Road: 3.6 mi. River Road to Shumsky: 3.7 mi.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Difficulty: [C] Beginner-Intermediate. Need to steer, few obstructions, easily avoid tangles.
• Current: [B] Quick current visible on surface.

River Play

• River Break: The river is fast and direct, making river stops challenging.
• Nature: Riverside becomes more developed and less of a wild natural setting.

Shumsky Road to Beitner Road

The current picks up and the alignment straightens, becoming quite a bit quicker than upstream.

Conditions

• River Conditions. Gravel bottom with quick current.
• Bank Conditions. Mostly undeveloped hardwood forest.
• Development. Periodic houses.
• Caution. Watch for low foot bridges.

Access Notes

• Shumsky Rd. Easy access on right side of river with parking lot.
• Beitner Park. Right side of river with deck access and adjacent to parking lot. Exit upstream of Beitner Road culverts.

Statistics

• Length: 4.6 miles.
• Duration: 1.5 hours.
• Difficulty: [B] Intermediate. Challenging to navigate due to speed of current.
• Current: [B] Quick current visible on surface.

River Play

• River Break: fast current makes stopping difficult.
• Nature: Intermittent houses and natural areas.
• Fishing: Trout Stream.

Beitner Park to Hull Park

Broken down into two sections

• Beitner Road to Jack’s Landing (Cass Road).
• Jack’s Landing to Hull Park.

Beitner Road to Jack’s Landing (Cass Road)

Whitewater with boulders and standing waves, then gradually slows to standing water after the Boardman River Nature Center.

Conditions

• River Conditions. Boulders and fast current creating whitewater conditions.
• Bank Conditions. Changing conditions with the redevelopment of the river banks since the removal of Keystone & Sabin Dams.
• Development. Periodic houses, but mostly nature preserve land with adjacent trail system.
• Caution. Initial half-mile section of boulders, quick water, and standing waves. Consider walking the section before floating it, from the riverside trail and viewing platform.

Access Notes

• Beitner Park. Easy access on right side of river with parking lot. enter river at downstream of Beitner Road.
• Olesen Bridge Trailhead (not shown on map). Exit on right upstream of bridge, then 600’+ to parking.
• Lone Pine Trailhead (not shown on map). Exit on right, then 500’+ to parking.
• Jack’s Landing – Cass Road. Exit on right, upstream of Cass Road bridge. Gravel bank landing.

Statistics

• Length: 3.4 miles.
• Duration: 1 hour.
• Difficulty: [A] Advanced. Rapids, boulders, standing waves.
• Current: [A] Rapids or whitewater.

River Play

• River Break: Access trails are in many places along the river.
• Nature: Nature preserve flanking both sides of river, with redevelopment of the corridor since the removal of the dam.
• Fishing: Not sure…

Jack’s Landing (Cass Road) to Hull Park

Immediately after entering the river, rapids exist until after passing the Boardman River Nature Preserve (former Sabin Dam site). After that, easy & calm current and river width to Boardman Lake.

Conditions

• River Conditions. Initial stretch of whitewater, then easy wide current.
• Bank Conditions. Nature preserve mixed with industrial.
• Development. Industrial development, but mostly non visible from river.
• Caution. Boardman Lake can be challenging to cross when headwinds are strong.

Access Notes

• Jack’s Landing. Access at downriver-most point, to avoid log & boulder tangles at the launch area.
• YMCA. Left side of river with kayak launch on docks.
• Racquet Club Drive Launch. Left side of river, just downstream from YMCA.
• Medalie Park. South end of Boardman Lake, veer right at river mouth. Dock access on nearly standing water.
• Hull Park. North end of Boardman Lake to right (East) side of river continuation to Lake Michigan. Boatlaunch access with trailer parking.

Statistics

• Length: 3.4 miles. Sabin Dam to Medalie Park, South side of Boardman Lake: 2.1 mi. Boardman Lake: 1.3 mi.
• Duration: 1.5 hours. 1 hour on the river. 0.5 hour on the lake.
• Difficulty: [A] Advanced. Advanced for only first 20%, then wide gentle current after that.
• Current: Variable. Starts with standing water, boulders & rapids, then transitions to slow visible current on surface after the Nature Center, to flat water at ponded areas and lake.

River Play

• River Break: Random access points to the nature preserve.
• Nature: flanked by nature preserve property, embedded in TC industrial zone.
• Fishing: probably not much…
• Tubing. Nature Center to YMCA is wide & gentle current.

Hull Park to Clinch Park

The float initiates through a short section of industrial, then approaches park and residential after passing under the 8th Street bridge. The second half traverses through downtown Traverse City.

Conditions

• River Conditions. Moderate current below the dam with sand & weed bed mix bottom along developed banks through Traverse City.
• Bank Conditions. Developed bank with boardwalk for much of the way.
• Development. From Boardman Lake to Lake Michigan is fully residential and commercial developed.
• Caution. The weir, just below Front Street, is closed in the Fall during the salmon run. Other times, it can be low clearance to get underneath. East Bay may be challenging during high winds.

Access Notes

• Hull Park. North end of Boardman Lake. Boatlaunch access with trailer parking.
• TC Dam. Access on left side.
• Boatlaunch. On left side, a couple hundred yards before Lake Michigan.
• Clinch Park. Boat launch with parking.
• Staging Distance. Drive: 2.1 mi. Walk: 1.5 mi.

Statistics

• Length: 2.6 miles. Hull Park to the Dam: 0.9 mi. Dam to Mouth: 1.2 mi. Mouth to Clinch Park, in East Bay: 0.5 mi.
• Duration: 1.5 hours.
• Difficulty: [D] Beginner. Wide area, rare obstructions, gentle current.
• Current: [C] Slow current visible on surface.
• Portage. Portage on the left side of the dam, taking care at the dam outflow.

River Play

• River Break: Fully developed river banks, with boardwalks, docks, and parkland access points. Even a few pubs for a cold one.
• Nature: Birds and other urban creatures.
• Fishing: Fishing is decent the entire length. Salmon spawning in the fall from the weir to Lake Michigan.