See all 6 routes on Clinton River
Michigan | Southeast Michigan
Clinton River
Rotary Park to Budd Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Clinton River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
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 Rotary Park and take out at Budd Park for a short lower Clinton River connector. Use the Sterling Heights USGS stage as a warning check, then verify the river visually because wood, rain, and urban runoff can change this corridor quickly.
Put-in
Rotary Park accessible launch Open mapRotary Park is a City of Sterling Heights accessible launch and Budd Park is listed by CRWC, Michigan Water Trails, and Outdoor Michigan as a Clinton River access point.
Take-out
Budd Park carry-in launch Open mapBudd Park has historically been a carry-in / informal launch area, so inspect the take-out before launching and respect posted parking or construction limits.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats
- Rotary Park is a City of Sterling Heights accessible launch and Budd Park is listed by CRWC, Michigan Water Trails, and Outdoor Michigan as a Clinton River access point.
- Budd Park has historically been a carry-in / informal launch area, so inspect the take-out before launching and respect posted parking or construction limits.
- 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.
- Blind bends, bridge approaches, and changing wood between the Sterling Heights park corridor and Clinton Township.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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 Rotary Park RM 17.2 to Budd Park RM 13.6
The 2024 CRWC water-trail map lists Rotary Park and Budd Park as Clinton River launch sites, with 3.6 miles from Rotary Park to Budd Park.
- Endpoint coordinates 42.570595, -82.971459 to 42.586506, -82.927598
The CRWC map table gives source coordinates for Rotary Park and Budd Park.
- Public launch support Water-trail access points
Michigan Water Trails lists Rotary Park and Budd Park as Clinton River Water Trail assets, the City of Sterling Heights confirms Rotary Park has a public accessible EZDock launch, and Outdoor Michigan lists Budd Park as a Clinton River carry-in boat launch.
- 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 Short lower Clinton connector
Macomb County describes the middle river from downtown Utica to Rotary Park as moderate and the lower river around Budd Park to Mount Clemens as the best beginner stretch; this route bridges those areas and keeps urban-river cautions prominent.
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.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
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 Rotary Park accessible launch and ends at Budd Park carry-in launch, about 3.6 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.