Manistee River
🍃 Natural River🏔 Scenic River🐟 TU Conservation
Manistee / Wexford Co. · 190 mi · Class Riffles
2,040CFS/ 14.47 ft
Above Optimal→Stable
Water temp: 44°F — Hypothermia risk, wear a drysuit
Optimal: 300–1200 CFS · USGS #04124000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
National Scenic River · Michigan Natural River · Trout Unlimited Conservation
190 miles through Manistee National Forest — among the finest trout fisheries east of the Rockies. Upper reach is fast and intimate; below Tippy Dam widens into world-class steelhead and Chinook salmon water every fall.
Trip sections
Upper — Gaylord to Hodenpyl Dam, remote
Middle — Hodenpyl to Tippy Dam, classic canoe water
Lower — Tippy Dam to Lake Michigan, steelhead corridor
Outfitters
Pine River Paddlesports Center
Lower Manistee trips and rentals
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Your Optimal Range
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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.