Paddling in the UP: Manistique and Au Train Rivers

On Wednesday August 14 we paddled the Manistique River. It was a great day for paddling, sunny and mild. The Manistique passes through the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and there is no development along the river.  We put in at a highway roadside park at the MI 77 bridge near Germfask and took out at Mead Creek Campground in the Michigan State Forest.

The put-in for the Manistique is about 45 miles east of our camp in Christmas. We doubled back east on MI 28 and enjoyed a fine breakfast buffet at Dogpatch Restaurant in Munising before continuing to the river.

I have the least best view of the river than anyone in our boat

Lynda making a fine draw around a stump

Taking a stretch on the Manistique

White-tailed deer on the Manistique

What are you looking at?

Trumpeter swan at Seney NWR

Checking out the visitor center Seney NWR

The next day we paddled on the Au Train River, only about 6 miles west of camp. The Au Train is unique in that you can paddle an 8 mile section of river, but the road shuttle is only 1.2 miles, because of the way the river meanders.  A few years ago we paddled this river and were by ourselves, and Dorcas walked the shuttle with Matilda.   Today we put in at the bridge just below Au Train Lake and took out at the mouth of the river on Lake Superior.

Put-in on the Au Train River

Passing a beaver hut

Ducks on the river

Checking out the lilies

Lunch break

Approaching the take-out at Lake Superior

Tomorrow we continue westward into Wisconsin.