Big Manistee Lake Branch
Wexford Co. · 25 mi · Class Riffles
—CFS
Loading…Optimal: 80–250 CFS · USGS #04126200
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
None
A quiet, spring-fed tributary of the Big Manistee River flowing through the Manistee National Forest. The Lake Branch offers gentle riffles and sand-bottom runs through mixed hardwood and pine forest — ideal for beginner paddlers and anglers chasing brown trout in clear, cold water.
Trip sections
Marilla to M-37 Bridge — 10 mi, gentle riffles through national forest
M-37 Bridge to Manistee confluence — 15 mi, wider current, good fishing
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.