Trowbridge Road Boat Launch

This is not a traditional boat ramp — there are zero lanes and no trailer parking. It's a paddle-craft access point on the Sturgeon River, primarily used as a put-in or take-out for kayaks, canoes, and rafts. Don't show up here expecting to back a bass boat down.

The Sturgeon moves quick with tight bends, riffles, and shallow rocky stretches. This isn't lazy river tubing water — you'll want solid water shoes and should expect to scrape bottom in spots. Anything with a motor or deep draft is a non-starter here.

Sturgeon River Paddlesports operates right here and handles shuttles, rentals, and drop-offs. They'll drive you to the put-in and you paddle back to your car. If you're bringing your own kayak, you can still use their shuttle service for a fee. Makes logistics painless.

This spot runs winter guided raft trips through the snow-covered corridor, which is unusual for Michigan paddle launches. The river doesn't freeze solid enough to shut things down, and the winter scenery — bald eagles, snow-laced trees — is legitimately stunning. Summer weekends get busier, but winter trips are uncrowded.

Multiple trip lengths are available — roughly 5-mile and 11-mile options. The longer route has more technical sections with sharper turns and faster current that can spin an inexperienced paddler sideways. If it's your first time on moving water, stick with the shorter run.