Pine River Paddlesports Center

05/28/2026

A beautiful gathering of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails was at Dobson yesterday. Turn up your volume and listen to the peaceful sounds of the Pine!
This behavior by the swallowtails is called "puddling" (I had to look it up because I didn't know!). The damp soil and sand along riverbanks is rich in dissolved minerals, salts, and amino acids that adult butterflies simply can't get from flower nectar alone. Males in particular are enthusiastic puddlers; they absorb these nutrients and pass them on to females during mating as part of a nutritional gift that helps improve the survival odds of their eggs.

05/25/2026

As usual, our Memorial weekend wasn't without some rain. The sunshine is out now, though, and the forecast is looking like SUMMER this week with highs in the 80's!
The Pine is running about average for this time of year around 275 CFS. Just a reminder that Skookum to Low is clear of portages, but we have not yet cleared Briar Patch to Skookum.
We are open 7 days a week for camping and paddling - let us know if we can help you have a summer experience!

05/22/2026

The official kick off to camping season is here and we are busy getting everything ready! Even Quinn is hard at work 😅
We’re here 7 days a week - come check out our fully stocked gift shop, rent a boat for a trip down the river, or book a stay in our clean and quiet campground. Excited for another summer!

05/20/2026

One week ago, Jacob got the opportunity to speak before the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism in Lansing. Alaney, Quinn and Marrik all made the drive down to watch him.
Jacob was there to represent MAPP (Michigan Association of Paddlesport Providers). He shared with the committee what services and value paddlesport providers in Michigan offer the state as well as the public. He also shared some of the challenges we face as livery owners in Michigan. He did an excellent job and it was very well received! If you'd like to watch his presentation (including Quinn falling asleep on camera! lol!), click on the link and go to the 59 minute mark.

Subscribe and never miss a livestream.0:00 Agenda9:41 Start10:20 Testimony HB 5707 (Bierlein, sponsor): Provides for an exemption to permitting requirements ...

05/18/2026

Another river cutting update! Skookum to Walker is now cleared, as is Lincoln to Low Bridge (the pictures are from Josh and Drew when they cut Skookum to Walker last week). That leaves Briar Patch to Skookum, as well as Walker to Lincoln left to clear. We aren't sure when we will get to those last two remaining sections, but will keep you updated when we do. The Pine is now running just about average for this time of year at 275 CFS.
The weather is looking gorgeous for this upcoming holiday weekend - let us know if we can help you kick off summer with a camping and/or paddling trip!

05/15/2026

Happy FRIDAY! The weather is FINALLY warming up and it is actually starting to feel like summer! The highs for this weekend are even in the 70's & 80's☀
We are OPEN all weekend and are ready to help you enjoy a day on the Pine - come on in and get some Vitamin D!

05/14/2026

After all of the footage we have been posting of the guys clearing log jams, we have had a lot of people asking if they can donate to the cause. If you'd like to donate money for chainsaw repairs, gas, oil, and wages to support these guys, we've put together a GoFundMe to make it easy.
Andrew and Josh are currently on the river clearing between Skookum and Walker. We are hopeful to get the white pine between High School Bridge and Peterson cleared today or tomorrow as well.

Our group is dedicated to keeping the Pine River safe and accessible by clearing haza… Jacob Miltner needs your support for Support Pine River Logjam Recovery

05/13/2026

Enjoy this video of the mad skills required to make the Pine safe and navigable for users. Both the guy wielding the chainsaw and the guy controlling the canoe are masters of their craft (literally a master of the watercraft 😂).

05/11/2026

The river clearing progress continues! Lincoln to Low Bridge is now navigable, except for one massive white pine that's down between Dobson and Peterson. There is still more low water safety work that needs to happen, but at least there is a passage now cleared.
The Pine has come down to 280 CFS - just about average for this time of year. The weather is looking gorgeous for this coming weekend! Sunshine and highs in the 70's. It'll be a great time to come out and paddle the Pine and check out how the floods changed the landscape. We should be fully open this weekend - paddlecraft rentals, campground, and gift shop! Stop in and say hello!

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mothers out there. You hold an irreplaceable role!

05/09/2026

After seeing some of this footage, I (Alaney) am feeling particularly grateful for men that see an impossible looking task and do it anyway. I think if I would have come across this portage, I would have given up and gone home🤣
This footage is from yesterday when four guys (Jake, Rylie, Josh, & Andrew) went out and beat themselves up to clear Lincoln to Dobson. So as of right now, there is one portage left between Dobson to Peterson and some safety work to finish between Peterson and Low Bridge. They have made great progress over the last two weeks! We will continue to post updates as the river clearing continues.