See all 6 routes on Clinton River
Michigan | Southeast Michigan
Clinton River
Shadyside Park to MacArthur 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 Shadyside Park and take out at the Neil Dempsey launch in MacArthur Park for a short Mount Clemens lower Clinton River link. Use the Sterling Heights USGS stage as a warning check, then verify the lower river visually because wood, rain, urban runoff, and weir signage can change the trip quickly.
Put-in
Shadyside Park boat and canoe launch Open mapCRWC maps Shadyside Park and Neil Dempsey at MacArthur Park as Clinton River Water Trail access points with coordinates and a 2.0-mile access spacing.
Take-out
Neil Dempsey Launch at MacArthur Park Open mapThe City of Mount Clemens confirms Shadyside Park has a boat and canoe launch and MacArthur Park has a universally accessible kayak launch, but park events, construction, or shoreline conditions can still affect landing space.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats
- CRWC maps Shadyside Park and Neil Dempsey at MacArthur Park as Clinton River Water Trail access points with coordinates and a 2.0-mile access spacing.
- The City of Mount Clemens confirms Shadyside Park has a boat and canoe launch and MacArthur Park has a universally accessible kayak launch, but park events, construction, or shoreline conditions can still affect landing space.
- 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.
- CRWC map panels flag a dam/weir hazard in the Mount Clemens lower-river corridor. Identify the safe line, obey posted portage or warning signs, and do not enter dam or weir structures.
- Do not continue toward Harley Ensign or Lake St. Clair without separate planning for motorboat traffic, wind, waves, and open-water exposure.
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.
- Water-trail extension Shadyside Park to MacArthur Park, about 45 min
CRWC lists Budd Park to Shadyside Park as a slow/beginner suggested route and says paddlers can add about 45 minutes by continuing downriver to MacArthur Park in downtown Mount Clemens.
- Access map Shadyside Park RM 9.2 to Neil Dempsey Launch RM 7.2
The 2024 CRWC water-trail map lists Shadyside Park and Neil Dempsey at MacArthur Park as launch sites, with 2.0 miles from Shadyside to Neil Dempsey.
- Endpoint coordinates 42.582529, -82.880104 to 42.597338, -82.871104
The 2024 CRWC water-trail map table gives coordinates for Shadyside Park and Neil Dempsey at MacArthur Park.
- Public launch support Mount Clemens park launches
Mount Clemens describes Shadyside Park as having a boat and canoe launch and MacArthur Park as having a universally accessible kayak launch installed along the Clinton River.
- MacArthur launch confirmation Mount Clemens-owned ADA carry-in
Outdoor Michigan lists Clinton River - MacArthur Park / Dempsey Boat Launch as a Mount Clemens-owned carry-in with an ADA kayak 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. The app uses this as a conservative proxy warning window for this downstream lower-river route.
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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More routes to check next
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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 Shadyside Park boat and canoe launch and ends at Neil Dempsey Launch at MacArthur Park, about About 2.0 mi on the water.
Is this Clinton River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.