Platte River
🍃 Natural River
Benzie Co. · 30 mi · Class I
148CFS/ 1.38 ft
Optimal
→Stable
Optimal: 80–300 CFS · USGS #04126740
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
30 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
80–300 cfs
Optimal
150 cfs
Avg Flow
135 cfs
Hist. Median
#04126740
USGS Gauge
Michigan Natural River · Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Flowing through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Platte is famous for its coho salmon run — one of the first successful Pacific salmon introductions in the Great Lakes. A gentle, crystal-clear paddle to Lake Michigan.

Trip sections
Upper — Platte River State Hatchery to US-31, gentle meander
Lower — US-31 to Platte Bay, Sleeping Bear Dunes corridor
Outfitters
Riverside Canoes
Canoe and kayak rentals on the Platte River
Platte River Campground
NPS campground with river access and Lake Michigan beach
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
Loading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
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.