See all 6 routes on Clinton River
Michigan | Southeast Michigan
Clinton River
North Clinton River Park to Rotary Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Clinton River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
-- Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at North Clinton River Park and take out at Rotary Park for the Sterling Heights Clinton River Water Trail run. Use the Sterling Heights USGS stage as a warning check, then verify the river visually because this urban corridor can change quickly after rain.
Put-in
North Clinton River Park accessible launch Open mapBoth endpoints are City of Sterling Heights accessible kayak/canoe launches, but park hours, events, and launch conditions can still change.
Take-out
Rotary Park accessible launch Open mapThe route passes Dodge Park before Rotary Park, so Dodge can serve as a check-in or earlier exit if conditions are worse than expected.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats
- Both endpoints are City of Sterling Heights accessible kayak/canoe launches, but park hours, events, and launch conditions can still change.
- The route passes Dodge Park before Rotary Park, so Dodge can serve as a check-in or earlier exit if conditions are worse than expected.
- Stay with public launches and avoid private banks; CRWC specifically tells paddlers to plan exits at public access points.
Watch for
- Low-water scraping or slow travel when the Sterling Heights gauge is at or below the CRWC 8 ft low-water warning.
- High, fast water, strainers, and woody debris when the gauge approaches or exceeds the 10 ft high-water warning, especially after rain.
- Urban stormwater and possible sewage-overflow water-quality concerns after high-flow events.
- Golf-course crossing signs, bridges, blind bends, and other city-park traffic in the Sterling Heights corridor.
Route gallery
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this score Today's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
Outlook Tomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the score Gauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Clinton River at Sterling Heights, MI |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 8.00 ft to 10.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 8.00 ft |
| High threshold | 10.00 ft |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Clinton River Watershed Council Sterling Heights gauge warnings |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
Notes What to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official access map North Clinton River Park RM 23.2 to Rotary Park RM 17.2
The 2024 CRWC water-trail map lists North Clinton River Park, Dodge Park, and Rotary Park as Sterling Heights launch sites, with 1.8 miles from North Clinton to Dodge and 4.2 miles from Dodge to Rotary.
- Endpoint coordinates 42.607767, -83.024447 to 42.570595, -82.971459
The CRWC map table gives source coordinates for North Clinton River Park, Dodge Park, and Rotary Park.
- Public launch support Accessible launches at both ends
The City of Sterling Heights says North Clinton River Park and Rotary Park have public universally accessible EZDock kayak/canoe launches, and that Rotary Park parking is free for residents and non-residents.
- Gauge warnings 8.0 ft low warning / 10.0 ft high warning
CRWC bases water-level warnings on the USGS Sterling Heights gauge and publishes a low-water warning at 8 ft and high-water warning at 10 ft.
- Route character Moderate urban water-trail corridor
Macomb County describes downtown Utica to Rotary Park as an accessible moderate paddle where conditions vary; CRWC warns that high, fast water after rain can move woody debris and create blocked passages.
Verify it yourself Check the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Clinton River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Clinton River?
Paddle Today watches Clinton River at Sterling Heights, MI and treats 8.00 ft to 10.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Clinton River route start and end?
This route starts at North Clinton River Park accessible launch and ends at Rotary Park accessible launch, about About 6.0 mi on the water.
Is this Clinton River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.