Michigan | Northern Lower Michigan

Pine River

Lincoln Bridge to Peterson Bridge

Check current paddling conditions for this Pine River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. This usually takes a few seconds.

Checking live data

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

Level Checking Checking

Trend Checking Checking 24h change

Weather Loading Air: No reading

Rain Loading Recent rain: Checking

Gauge

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

Weather

Best window today

Checking weather.

Today by hour

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.

-- -- Loading --

Quick facts

On-water distance 15.8 mi Lincoln Bridge to Peterson Bridge

Difficulty moderate This is a long fast-current Pine River day, not a casual flatwater float. American Whitewater describes the broader reach as Class I-II, and local/federal sources emphasize swift current, light rapids, tight turns, logjams, and an experienced-paddler posture.

Shuttle Car shuttle Use a two-car Pine River shuttle from Peterson Bridge back to Lincoln Bridge. This is a long forest-road day with intermediate access at Elm Flats and Dobson Bridge if the group needs shorter options.

Permits Check posted rules Check current Pine National Scenic River permit and day-use rules before launch. Rivers.gov describes a Forest Service watercraft permit system and access fees in the corridor, and Recreation.gov/Forest Service rules can change by season and access point.

Camping Day trip Treat this as a long day trip unless you have separately confirmed legal camping. Rivers.gov says camping on National Forest lands within the corridor is allowed only at designated sites, and access/campground fees may apply.

Season Apr-Oct Spring through fall is the main practical window. Summer permit traffic is managed in the National Scenic River corridor, while rain can quickly make the Pine faster and less forgiving around wood, sharp bends, and narrow passages.

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 Lincoln Bridge Campground Boat Launch and take out at Peterson Bridge Boat Launch for the upper half of the managed Pine Scenic River corridor. Use the Hoxeyville USGS gauge as a conservative low-water check and plan around fast current, wood, and a long shuttle.

Directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

Start

Put-in

Lincoln Bridge Campground Boat Launch Open map

Lincoln Bridge is a Michigan DNR carry-in launch with limited parking; Peterson Bridge is a U.S. Forest Service carry-in launch with larger parking, restroom, and fee details in Outdoor Michigan.

Finish

Take-out

Peterson Bridge Boat Launch Open map

Elm Flats and Dobson Bridge are official U.S. Forest Service carry-in launches between the endpoints and can be used to shorten the day if permits, parking, and group logistics allow.

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

Access caveats

Lincoln Bridge is a Michigan DNR carry-in launch with limited parking; Peterson Bridge is a U.S. Forest Service carry-in launch with larger parking, restroom, and fee details in Outdoor Michigan.
Elm Flats and Dobson Bridge are official U.S. Forest Service carry-in launches between the endpoints and can be used to shorten the day if permits, parking, and group logistics allow.
The Hoxeyville gauge is downstream on the same Pine River corridor. It is useful for same-day flow, but storm damage, wood, and landing congestion still need a same-day local check.

Watch for

Fast current, tight bends, shallow riffles, sweepers, logjams, and stumps piled into outside turns.
Scraping and more technical boat control when the Hoxeyville gauge falls below the 170 cfs floor used by the app.
Busy summer permit traffic, cold water, narrow passages, limited quick exits, and private land away from designated access points.
Do not launch without checking current Forest Service / Recreation.gov rules, access fees, and recent Pine River hazard reports.

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.

No approved route photos yet

Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.

Share photos or report conditions

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.

Why

Checking data confidence notes.

Outlook Tomorrow and weekend

This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.

Tomorrow Checking

Waiting on forecast.

Weekend Checking

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	Pine River at High School Bridge near Hoxeyville, MI
Discharge	Checking
Gauge height	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
Ideal range	Needs paddler reports
Known low-water floor	170 cfs
High threshold	Not calibrated yet
Data confidence behind the range	Local route guidance
Gauge observed	Checking
Paddle Today updated	Checking
Main source behind this score	American Whitewater Pine River flow correlation for the Hoxeyville gauge
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 route shape 15.8 river miles

The Pine Scenic River map lists Lincoln Bridge to Elm Flats at 3.3 miles, Elm Flats to Dobson Bridge at 6.3 miles, and Dobson Bridge to Peterson Bridge at 6.2 miles, for a 15.8-mile Lincoln-to-Peterson day.

Source
Public access records Lincoln, Elm Flats, Dobson, Peterson

Outdoor Michigan identifies Lincoln Bridge Campground, Elm Flats, Dobson Bridge, and Peterson Bridge as Pine River boat launches. Lincoln Bridge is Michigan DNR carry-in access; the downstream three are U.S. Forest Service carry-in launches with listed parking and fee/restroom details where applicable.

Source
Endpoint coordinates 44.13303, -85.69622 to 44.20708, -85.80027

Outdoor Michigan gives coordinates for the Lincoln Bridge Campground Boat Launch and Peterson Bridge Boat Launch, with Peterson also listed as a U.S. Forest Service website-linked access.

Source
Gauge and threshold 170 cfs low floor

American Whitewater publishes Pine River gauge guidance for USGS 04125460, with 170 cfs as the lower runnable floor. The app uses only that conservative floor for this exact day-route implementation.

Source
Scenic River management Designated reach starts at Lincoln Bridge

Rivers.gov says the Pine River designated reach begins at Lincoln Bridge and describes canoeing as a key recreation use, with Forest Service permits, access fees, designated camping limits, and year-round plowed access sites.

Source

Verify it yourself Check the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

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

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

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 Lincoln Bridge Campground Boat Launch and ends at Peterson Bridge Boat Launch, about 15.8 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.

Flag a change

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.

Report a change Email update

Pine River

Email me when this route improves