OPEN EVERY DAY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND THRU MID-OCTOBER
Open every weekend in April and May with weekdays by reservation.
LOCATED ON M-37
2 Miles North of Mesick
20 Miles North of Cadillac
25 Miles South of Traverse City
And just a short drive from Manistee, Interlochen, Frankfort
and Benzie. Reservations or Walk-Ins Welcome.
For Reservations Write, Phone Or Email
WILDERNESS CANOES
6052 Riverview Road
Mesick, MI 49668
(800) 873-6379
(231) 885-1485

 
The Nature Of The Manistee River

Canoe the unspoiled wilderness and sparkling waters of the Big Manistee River with Wilderness Canoe Trips. The Big Manistee starts as a narrow stream north of Grayling and spreads to more then 125 feet wide by the time it snakes its way westward near Mesick. Relax and enjoy almost 200 miles of rapid-free river, uninterrupted by portages and with few signs of civilization. Gentle currents will carry you effortlessly through scenic woodland teeming with wildlife. Quiet solitude provides a refuge for Beaver, Mink, Muskrat, Otter, Raccoon, Deer and more. Rainbow Trout, Pike, Walleye and Brown Trout flirt with the fishermen while Brook Trout entice anglers into the feeder streams. Share the river with Ducks, Geese, Swans and other waterfowl. Picnic among bouquets of wildflower shaded by Maple, Cedar and Jack pines.

Over Night Camping and Campgrounds
Most of the Manistee is start or federal owned land, with beautiful spots that have been used for years for private camping. Relax and enjoy the privacy, quiet and seclusion of the Manistee River. Just please leave it as you found it, clean and unpolluted. Please note we do not offer camping right at our canoe livery, there are many near by campgrounds to choose from.