Webster Bridge Boat Launch

There's no real boat ramp here — zero lanes, and just one trailer spot. This is a kayak/canoe access point, plain and simple. If you're putting in at Graves Crossing, Webster Bridge is your takeout after about 6 miles of the best whitewater the Jordan has to offer.

That Graves-to-Webster stretch is the most technical and exciting section of the Jordan River. After Webster Bridge, the river mellows out considerably. If you only have time for one paddle on the Jordan, that's the run to do.

Despite having only one designated trailer spot, there's a sizable gravel lot that handles kayak shuttle vehicles without much trouble. You're not competing with powerboat trailers here, so even on a summer Saturday you'll find a place to park.

The Jordan Valley in October is one of the prettiest corridors in northern Lower Michigan. Webster Bridge sits right in it — the colors along the river are ridiculous. Plan a mid-week paddle in early October and you'll basically have it to yourself.

Administered by Young State Park, so it gets some maintenance — there's a toilet on-site and the carry-down access to the river is easy. Don't expect anything fancy, but for a little DNR site acquired back in 1956 for $800, it does exactly what it needs to do.