Highlights: During a mid-May paddle on the Little Muskegon River, trillium dotted the shoreline, and a bald eagle soared high overhead. Turtles sunned themselves on boulders, slipping into the river as Keith and I approached them. About a dozen birds erupted from their nests, holes drilled into a steep, sandy hill, and soon afterward, I floated by a teepee in the forest. As we entered the Croton Dam Pond, an osprey nest rested on a platform, and it occurred to me that the Little Muskegon River is simply a delight. Although the bike ride doesn’t boast the same idyllic sights, it does offer a pleasant ramble on rural roads, particularly dirt Cypress Avenue/62nd Street.
Distance: Paddle and pedal are both 8-9 miles.
Difficulty: Biking: Mostly easy on paved and dirt roads with two climbs. Kayaking: Intermediate with several runs of riffles and small rapids. Boulders are sometimes hard to avoid, and during low water, getting stuck on the riverbed is a strong possibility.
Location: Leave kayaks at the bridge that crosses the Little Muskegon River on Newcosta Avene/County Line Road. Drive to Al Du Chemin Jr. Park on S. Swan Avenue in Croton, where you’ll find ample parking and restrooms. Park here and bike back to your boats. Both the put-in and takeout should be easy to find on any GPS/mapping system.
(Car shuttle: Using the directions above, park one car at the takeout and then drive the second car to the put-in.)
Route finding: Biking: Retrace your tracks to S. Swan Avenue. Turn left onto Croton Drive and cross the bridge. Almost immediately turn left onto The Edge paved bike path. Follow this into Croton, where the bike path merges with Croton Drive. Stay with the bike path/Croton Drive as it crosses the pond. Follow this for another few miles and turn right onto 56th Street. Cycle uphill and take a right onto dirt Cypress Avenue, which turns into 62nd Street. After a few miles, turn right onto Newcosta Avenue/County Line Road and cycle downhill to your boats. Kayaking: The paddle is straight forward until the river approaches the Croton and Little Muskegon River Ponds. Several channels develop with some being quite shallow; however, all options should take you out to the ponds. Stay to the left and cross underneath the bridge. Look for the ramp/takeout on the left.
Map: PDF map available here.
N. Michigan River Paddling 