Since it was early afternoon we set off for the Boardman River to do the first half of our paddle. Both options will be put in upstream and end at the Ranch. Maximum of 3 adults allowed per canoe. At the takeout we also had to struggle getting our gear and canoe up to the parking lot because the pond was low and the embankment, made up of collapsing sand and gravel, was steep. Boardman Brown Bridge Canoe Landing Take Garfield Road south of Traverse City to River Road (goes west) and Brownbridge Rd (goes east). If you are tubing you will be sitting in an open bottom tube-you will get wet. In other words, we do not make special trips just to do a private transport. Rarely do we spot vehicles as we do not have an extra staff member available to do this most times. We enjoy kayaking, gardening, hiking, and bird watching. People in northern Michigan have an appreciation for the Boardman River as it meanders through forests, fields and towns. Kayaking + Brewery Tours = KaBrew. Prices from $45-90 Half Day – Starting at $45 including Kayak, Paddle, Life vest, and Shuttle Half Day Route Boardman to Burkhardt Please note if you leave a canoe or kayak on the river we charge a $25 retrieval fee per unit. For the most part, you do not have to paddle to keep moving, the current will carry you along. Boardman River is a 11.9 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Traverse City, Michigan that features a river and is rated as moderate. In 2007, my California paddling buddy Don Potter and I took on the challenge of paddling the Manistee River from its source north of Grayling to its end on Lake Michigan, a distance of 165 miles. For all trips we transport you up river, as far as the Forks Campground, 1/4 mile off of Supply Road. ), Please note Ranch Rudolf is not a public launch site or landing site. Only if you have paid for a transport can you leave your vehicle on-site for when you return. Much of the river in the vicinity of the access site is wadable, and there is a canoe/kayak launch on site. The north and south branches of the river above the “Forks” consists of narrow channels, shallow riffles, overhanging brush and fallen trees which make these streams undesirable for recreational canoeing. Tubes: All of the tubes are open bottom single seaters. Whatever you decide to wear on the river, it is always a good idea to have a change of clothes when you return. Typically by about age 5 or 6 it is more comfortable for both the parent and the child to put the child in their own “child size” tube. The Boardman River runs westward from Kalkaska to Traverse City where it empties into Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. ... kayaking and canoeing; September was arguably more desirable because the summer vacation season was over and the parks were empty. With children the maximum number allowed per canoe is 4 (2 adults and 2 children. guest-paddler, A self-supported trip created by On Friday morning, after shuttling the vehicles, we paddled the second 12 mile leg of the Boardman. If interested in un-timed trips please see the Canoe and Kayak page for details. The trail is rated as moderate and is accessible year-round. The beautiful Boardman River, birthplace of the Adams fly, starts east and south of Traverse City and ends as it flows into the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan. We opted to skip this segment because we were going to change campsites to the vicinity of the Sturgeon and Pigeon Rivers. Most of the trail is in forested area on existing dirt paths and two-tracks. But please be advised that there is a tremendous amount of steering and navigation required for this river. Second, we have to have room on our trailer meaning we would never turn away a rental to do a private transport. This was the first of the challenges we would face in the following days. The river opened wide, bordered by reed beds, and we noticed signs advising boaters to stay within buoys marking a channel into the pond. For instance the 4-mile canoe trip averages 1.5 hours float time and we give you an extra one (1) hour on top of that. All deposits must be paid in cash and you get them back when you return all of your equipment and are within your time parameters. We made the trek during July when there was a good water level and the only annoyance was occasional biting flies (black and deer). Please remember this is not a public launch or landing site. Otherwise, it’s one person to a tube. This can be a great alternative to canoeing or kayaking, especially to those families with small children. It rises in the Mahan swamp in north central Kalkaska County and flows in a southwesterly direction for 40 miles. He was the namesake of the Boardman river, previously named Ottawa river. Our guide and the driver took us to the nature center where we began our paddle down the Boardman. Paddling experience is necessary for this fun and lively paddle. Consistent with our past experiences on open ponds, we had to paddle hard into a stiff headwind. After paddling between the two sets of buoys we headed for the center of the pond and paddled in the direction of the Dam house visible about 1/2 mile to the east. How Many People Per Canoe, Kayak, or Tube. There we saw a sign warning that the water level in the pond had been drastically reduced because of some unspecified danger. Logan's Landing. As for what to wear, the choice is yours. The nearly 300 square mile Boardman River watershed is located in Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties in northwest Michigan. For the most part the water averages knee to waist deep, but there are scattered deeper pockets throughout sometimes reaching 5-7 feet in depth. We then paddled in the narrow channel, barely as wide as the canoe, along the edge of the reed bed and around the pond until we finally reached deeper water. That night the camp was pleasantly quiet. According to Don, the 2010 paddling trek would be quite different. The Boardman's upper tributaries rise near Kalkaska, Michigan, and its watershed drains an area of 295 sq. Some people wear bathing suits and others wear shorts and t-shirts. This project was funded, in part, by the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program, Department of Environmental Quality Office of the Great Lakes and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Known for: Lay park. All of these arrangements must be set up with the general store beforehand. For sale: $69,900. We put in below Brown Bridge Dam and paddled to Cass Road Dam near the Traverse City limits. 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