About
Cass River — Treaty of Saginaw, 1819. From Cass City through farmland meanders to Saginaw Bay, the Cass River winds 95 miles through Tuscola County at an average 620 CFS. The upper section from Cass City to Caro holds gentle riffles through agricultural corridors, while the lower stretch from Caro to the bay widens and slows considerably. Optimal flows run 200–1200 CFS on USGS gauge 04151500. The Ojibwe and Sauk peoples lived along these waters before European settlement, and the 2008 Cass River Greenway Initiative has worked to establish paddling access and habitat restoration along the corridor. Cass River Paddle Sports operates as the primary outfitter for the system.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.