Class I Pere Marquette River, MI

The Pere Marquette River is located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The river system begins east of Baldwin and empties into Lake Michigan at Ludington and is the longest unregulated (no dams or impoundments) river system in the Lower Peninsula. The river is a nationally known, high-quality fishing stream which supports large populations of resident trout, steelhead, and salmon. From M-37 to Gleason’s Landing, the state has designated the river as quality fishing water requiring catch and release with flies only.

In 1978, 66 miles of the Pere Marquette were designated as a Wild and Scenic River. In that same year, the state designated the entire Pere Marquette and its major tributaries a Michigan Natural River.

Watercraft permits are required from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend for launching and retrieving watercraft from Forest Service access sites. Watercraft permit numbers vary by river segment and the day of the week, with permits divided between one permitted livery and the Forest Service. During this time period, watercraft hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Watercraft permits are available online at recreation.gov.

Camping within the river corridor on National Forest System lands is allowed only at designated sites. Sites range in experience from campgrounds to canoe-in only camps; fees for camping and using access sites are charged. Forest Service access sites are plowed in the winter providing year-round access.

 

For More Information Visit:

Pere Marquette River - rivers.gov