NRT Database

Location: The Shiawassee River water trail is located in southeast Michigan, beginning 50 miles north of Detroit and proceeding west-northwest towards the City of Saginaw.
State(s): Michigan
Counties: Oakland, Genesee, Shiawassee, Saginaw
Longitude: -84.0451774
Latitude: 42.88464339992195

Driving Directions

There are numerous access sites to the Shiawassee River along the 88 mile water trail. The trail begins in Holly, Michigan and travels through the towns of Fenton, Linden, Byron, Vernon, Corunna, Owosso, and ends in Chesaning, MI.

Description

The Shiawassee River Water Trail is an 88-mile navigable water trail beginning in Holly, MI and ending in Chesaning, MI. It is one of Michigan’s favorite waterways with an engaging variety of riverine characteristics, 28 well-spaced public access sites with paddler amenities, relatively high water quality, and Mid-West class small mouth bass fishery.

The Trail is an inclusive and convenient to a vast regional population that can experience a predominantly natural environment that is more often associated with the sparsely settled river systems of northern Michigan. The river is becoming recognized as a recreational asset due to the work of three non-profit organizations focused on improving water quality and community improvements along the Water Trail.

Natural features unique to the water trail include high quality fens and forested wetlands, and scenic rural vistas. Water Trail users will experience the opportunity to view abundant wildlife including beavers, bald eagles, and the powesheik skipperling butterfly. The rare cardinal flower can also be seen growing along the banks. Conservation is primarily promoted by HeadwatersTrails, Inc. and the DeVries Nature Conservancy.

The water trail character can be described as country scenic, wooded wetland, rural residential, or trail town. This provides a diversity of paddling experiences along one water trail, offering opportunities for isolation, wildlife viewing, group paddles, or multi-modal trips. Paddling skills required are either classified as ‘beginner’ or ‘intermediate’ providing a great destination for family outings as well as challenge and excitement for the seasoned paddler.

The variety of experiences is due largely to the geology and glacial history of the area. The land surfaces from Holly to Byron are generally low lying and slightly undulating till plains with a consistent series of lakes and wetlands formed as the glacier stalled and built the east-west moraine wall south of the Shiawassee River. Tributaries for the river enter mostly from the south; the watershed divide on the north side yields in relatively short distances to the Flint River watershed. After Byron, the slightly undulating till plains are interspersed with rolling moraine country up to 40 feet above river level. At Shiatown meltwaters of the glacial Lake Erie flowed east to west in what geologists call a glacial spillway—now the Maple River and mile-wide Valley west of today’s course of the Shiawassee River. Sands and gravels including the streambed materials supply evidence. In Owosso the retreating glacier and land uplift from glacier removal allowed a lower outlet to the developing Saginaw River. The Henderson to Chesaning segment enters into the former lake bed of Lake Huron. There are still sections of valley walls near Oakley and the intriguing “Kentucky holler” character of Six Mile Creek (with an abandoned coal mine too). The farmland is level with no undulations. The agricultural drains are deeply incised entry points to the River. Former sand dunes from the Lake shore glacial period abut a few bank sections.
Recreation on the water trail includes kayak, canoeing, and paddleboarding along with motorized boats and jetskis on the impoundments in Fenton, Linden and Byron, Lake Ponemah and Tupper Lake. Several local and county parks are along the water trail and offer opportunities for picnicking, fishing, and connections to nonmotorized trails. The water trail features a paddle-up restaurant in Fenton, two paddle-up campgrounds, regularly scheduled group paddles, education classes, thirteen public parks, and eight trail towns offering amenities to travelers. Impoundments in Fenton, Linden, and Byron offer opportunities for beginner paddling experiences and safety classes.

The water trail features many historic towns. The Village of Holly, Fenton, Linden, Corunna and Owosso are all along historic Native American trading routes, and became river-based trading towns from the early to mid-1800’s water power mills. Other historic features include Fenton’s Historical Museum, Linden Historical Museum, Knagg’s bridge trading post, Corunna’s Historic Village, Owosso’s 1223 Steam Locomotive Rail Museum, Curwood Castle, and Comstock Cabin.

The trail towns feature access to a commercial canoe livery near Byron, two outfitters in Fenton, and overnight lodging at campgrounds, bed-and-breakfasts, and hotels. Numerous restaurants, and a variety of shopping experiences are also present.

Additional Details

Primary Surface: Not Available
Secondary Surface: Rock, boulders
Rock, smooth
Snow or ice
Water, still

Elevation Low Point: Not Available
Elevation High Point: Not Available
Elevation Gain (cumulative): Not Available

Year Designated: 2020

Supporting Webpages and Documents

Contact Information

For more information and current conditions, contact the trail manager (listed below). For questions, suggestions, and corrections to information listed on the website, contact American Trails.

Public Contact:
Tom Cook
President, Friends of the Shiawassee River
Shiawassee River Water Trail Coalition
PO Box 402
Owosso, MI 48867
(989) 723-9062
[email protected]