Michigan | Northern Lower Michigan

Pine River

Edgetts to Lincoln Bridge

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Today

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Today's conditions

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Quick facts

On-water distance About 13.1 mi Edgetts to Lincoln Bridge

Difficulty moderate American Whitewater rates Edgetts to Lincoln Bridge Class I-II and describes shallow fast current, tight turns, occasional low Class II spots, and logs or stumps piled into bends. It is a skilled moving-water route, not a casual tube float.

Shuttle Car shuttle Use a two-car upper Pine shuttle from Lincoln Bridge back to Edgetts. Meadow Brook Bridge, Skookum, and Walker Bridge are intermediate Pine River access landmarks, but plan the route as a committed moving-water day unless you have confirmed shorter access and parking.

Permits Check posted rules American Whitewater says Edgetts to Lincoln Bridge does not require the downstream Pine National Scenic River permit. Still check current Michigan DNR, Forest Service, and local access signage before launch, especially if continuing below Lincoln.

Camping Day trip Treat this as a day trip unless you have separately confirmed a legal campground or designated site. American Whitewater notes Silver Creek State Forest Campground just upstream of Lincoln Bridge, but do not assume riverbank camping or private-shore stops.

Season Apr-Oct Spring through fall is the main practical window. This upper Pine section is less permit-crowded than the Scenic River corridor downstream, but rain can quickly make the fast wooded turns, sweepers, and logjams more consequential.

Plan

Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.

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Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Edgetts and take out at Lincoln Bridge for the upper Pine River moving-water reach above the federal permit corridor. Use the Hoxeyville USGS gauge as a conservative low-water check, then make same-day decisions from access signage, wood, and weather.

Directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

Start

Put-in

Edgetts Pine River launch Open map

Edgetts is mapped and coordinate-backed by the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau / Forest Service Pine River map and named by American Whitewater, but it is not as cleanly documented as Lincoln in Outdoor Michigan. Follow current signs and do not use private land if access has changed.

Finish

Take-out

Lincoln Bridge Campground Boat Launch Open map

Lincoln Bridge is a Michigan DNR carry-in launch with limited parking in Outdoor Michigan. Stage the take-out first so the exit and parking are clear before launch.

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Access caveats

Edgetts is mapped and coordinate-backed by the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau / Forest Service Pine River map and named by American Whitewater, but it is not as cleanly documented as Lincoln in Outdoor Michigan. Follow current signs and do not use private land if access has changed.
Lincoln Bridge is a Michigan DNR carry-in launch with limited parking in Outdoor Michigan. Stage the take-out first so the exit and parking are clear before launch.
The Hoxeyville gauge is downstream on the same Pine River corridor. American Whitewater says it may vary slightly from the upper reach, so treat 170 cfs as a low-water screen rather than a full quality guarantee.

Watch for

Shallow fast current, tight bends, occasional low Class II spots, and logs or stumps piled into turns.
Scraping and harder boat control when the Hoxeyville gauge falls below the 170 cfs floor used by the app.
Sweepers, logjams, cold water, storm damage, and limited legal stops away from named public access points.
Do not continue below Lincoln without checking the downstream Pine Scenic River permit rules and route plan.

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Sources

Check the data behind today's call.

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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.

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Outlook Tomorrow and weekend

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Data behind the score Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge site	Pine River at High School Bridge near Hoxeyville, MI
Discharge	Checking
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Ideal range	Needs paddler reports
Known low-water floor	170 cfs
High threshold	Not calibrated yet
Data confidence behind the range	Local route guidance
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Main source behind this score	American Whitewater Pine River flow correlation for the Hoxeyville gauge
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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.

Exact AW reach Edgetts to Lincoln Bridge

American Whitewater documents the Pine River Edgetts-to-Lincoln Bridge reach, rates it Class I-II, lists it at 13.1 miles, and says this upper section does not require the downstream permit.

Source
Map coordinates Edgetts 44.062496, -85.583206; Lincoln 44.133377, -85.695248

The Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau / Forest Service Pine River map names Edgetts, Meadow Brook, Skookum, Walker, and Lincoln Bridge and provides GPS coordinates for each launch location.

Source
Public take-out Lincoln Bridge DNR carry-in launch

Outdoor Michigan identifies Lincoln Bridge Campground Boat Launch as a Michigan DNR carry-in boat launch on the Pine River with parking.

Source
Gauge and threshold 170 cfs low floor

American Whitewater ties Pine River conditions to USGS 04125460 and lists 170 cfs as the lower runnable floor. The gauge is downstream of this reach and may vary slightly, so the app uses only a conservative minimum floor.

Source
Route character Fast shallow turns and wood

AW describes this section as shallow fast current with many tight turns, a sand/clay bottom with occasional rock, and logs or stumps jammed into bends that can be hazardous for paddlers with little moving-water experience.

Source
Downstream context Scenic River corridor begins at Lincoln

Rivers.gov says the federally designated Pine River reach begins at Lincoln Bridge and describes Forest Service permit, access-fee, and designated-camping controls downstream. This route ends at Lincoln before entering that managed downstream corridor.

Source

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Quick answers

Pine River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Pine River?

Paddle Today watches Pine River at High School Bridge near Hoxeyville, MI and uses 170 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does this Pine River route start and end?

This route starts at Edgetts Pine River launch and ends at Lincoln Bridge Campground Boat Launch, about About 13.1 mi on the water.

Is this Pine 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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