The River Wild: The Sturgeon runs fast & feisty By Mike Terrell With a whoop and shout, one-by-one, six paddlers took turns easing over a two-foot drop on the Sturgeon River. It was an old dam site that had been removed years ago. Sizeable standing waves, which you had to negotiate, waited at the bottom of the drop. This occurs within the first half-hour down the river after launching from Lumbermen’s Park in downtown Wolverine. A fast, feisty river, the Sturgeon quickly establishes its character with the dam drop. The Sturgeon is one of the fastest – if not the fastest – flowing streams in the Lower Peninsula. Lots of tight bends with fallen trees and sweepers, occasional narrow passages between bushel-basket-sized boulders, submerged trees and fast riffles with standing waves, make it one of the most challenging paddles in Northern Michigan. It drops on the average 14 feet per mile from beginning to end as it flows north to Burt Lake. It’s one of the few north-flowing rivers in the state. It’s more than a handful for novice paddlers. You need at least basic paddling skills to negotiate the many hazards you encounter. The liveries that service the river clear a path through downed trees, but the swift current tries to sweep you into the obstacles and leaves you precious little time to decide on a course.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS Jerry Dennis, in his book, “Canoeing Michigan Rivers,” says, “The swift current combined with tight turns, leaning trees and occasional obstructions make it a river not recommended for absolute beginners.” That doesn’t mean the river doesn’t draw its share of beginning paddlers, according to Jon Henley, owner of Henley’s Canoe and Kayak Livery, located in Wolverine. “It’s a popular river, especially on hot summer weekends, and we get our share of people that probably shouldn’t be paddling that want to do it anyway. They want to have fun and don’t mind getting wet. We warn them about the hazards, but still they want to go.” The stretch of river south of Wolverine, from Trowbridge Road access north to the village park, is an easier section of river to paddle, according to Henley. “That’s a nice stretch of river below Wolverine, and it isn’t as hard or fast as the river north of town. It’s about a two-hour trip back to the livery. That’s where I try to send the real beginners.” Henley does routine cleanups along the river, because the frequent dumping of canoes and kayaks during a downstream trip can leave refuse strewn along river banks and stuck in streamers. “It’s part of the cost of doing business,” he laughed. “I moved up here with my family years ago because of the clean environment. I want to make sure it stays that way. This is one of the most beautiful rivers that I’ve seen. It’s so pristine.”
WINDING WATERWAY The Sturgeon, also considered a premier trout stream, is as beautiful as it is challenging. But, sometimes it’s hard to see the beauty, because you have to pay such close attention to the river and your course. It remains about 30 to 50 feet wide through most of the river north of Wolverine. Quick, narrow passages around and through obstacles can be thrown at you on a moments notice as you round a bend in the river. It keeps it fun and exciting. The river alternates winding through dark cedar forests and bright, open meadows with waving grasses and wildflowers. Much of the river meanders through state forest. There are few obtrusive cottages along the way until you get near the town of Indian River. The spring-fed river, whose headwaters begin near Gaylord, is a little over 40 miles in length, but only the last 16 or so miles – from Trowbridge Road where it crosses below I-75 to Burt Lake – are considered navigable. Our small group of Traverse Area Paddle Club paddlers did an 11-mile section north from the township park to the Fisher Woods Road access site. It took us a little over four hours with a stop for lunch along the river. It was a fun day spent on a feisty little river that likes to give as much as it takes. Weekends can be busy with tubers, especially from the White Road Bridge access north to Indian River. One of our group said they had encountered as many as 75 tubes through this two-mile stretch a few summers ago. It was a group an Indian River outfitter had put into the river; talk about a log – er, tube – jam. Henley’s will spot your vehicle if you have your own watercraft. For more information on canoe and kayak rental rates and trips, call 231-525-9994 or log onto www.henleysrentals.com. Big Bear Adventures, located in Indian River, is another outfitter servicing the Sturgeon River. They can be reached at 231-238-8181 or by logging onto www.bigbearadventures.com.
If you are looking for like-minded people that love to do river floats, the Traverse Area Paddle Club, on average, will have over 150 trips scheduled on area rivers and lakes throughout the paddling months of April through October. Check them out at www.traverseareapaddleclub.org. Membership is only $15 individual or $25 for a family.
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