Michigan Paddlesports

Kayaking solo. River-rafting with our friends. In a romantic canoe for two. In the State of Michigan we're never more than six miles from an inland lake or river, and always within a quick drive of one of the four Great Lakes. Kayaking and canoeing in Michigan allow us to explore our surroundings. So let's pack up our gear and go. Because nothing is more cleansing than canoeing or kayaking the waters of Pure Michigan.

Kayaking in Ludington, Michigan

For quiet escapes on the water, there are numerous Michigan parks where you can launch your canoe or kayak. Of the 120 major rivers in Michigan, 16 are designated "Natural Rivers" because of their ecological significance.

Photo courtesy of Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Canoeing in Michigan on the Huron River

Of Michigan's 120 major rivers, the Huron River is one of 16 designated "Natural Rivers" by the Department of Natural Resources. The Michigan Natural Rivers Program helps preserve, protect and enhance Michigan's finest river systems.

Photo courtesy of Thomas A. Schneider

Canoeing in Crooked Lake - Petoskey, Michigan

From Michigan's many protected inland lakes to the Great Lakes, Michigan presents endless variety for the paddlesports fan. Michigan’s beautiful rivers and lakes attract canoeing, kayaking, rafting and tubing enthusiasts from all over the world.

Photo courtesy of Ed Wargin

Pictured Rocks Sea Kayaking - Pure Michigan Minute

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Kayaking the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. There may be no better way to view the pictured rocks than by kayak. Paddle the sea caves, let the waterfalls spatter your face as you pass beneath. What a sensory experience! Join Michigan's adventure travel expert Byron Goggin as he shows you how to get involved in the sport of sea kayaking, a Pure Michigan Minute.

Canoeing the Chippewa River - Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Enjoy the quiet splendor of canoeing in Michigan with a canoe trip down the scenic Chippewa River in Mt. Pleasant. The fun in Mt. Pleasant doesn't stop there - from fast-paced casino games at a four-diamond casino and resort (Soaring Eagle) to 15 championship golf courses to 110 species of birds at Florence Maxwell Sanctuary, you'll be WOWED in Mt. Pleasant.

Photo courtesy of Mount Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Winter Rafting - Pure Michigan Minute

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Michigan's adventure travel expert, Byron Goggin visits the Jordan River near Boyne City to check out the sport of winter rafting--and points out the unique beauty of paddling this time of the year. Pure Michigan minute.

Kayaking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan

Enjoy kayaking in Michigan at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising and let Michigan's natural wonders amaze you. Sheer bluffs, grand sand dunes and old-growth forests reach for the sky along Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Photo courtesy of Midwest Living

Explore Michigan Paddlesports at Michigan.org