Close
We're Sorry
Canoe Trip on the Lower Platte River
Canoe Trip on the Lower Platte River
view website
5042 Scenic Hwy
Honor, MI 49640+9713
231-325-5622
Save to My Wishlist
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-K
School-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Canoe Trip on the Lower Platte River Description
The whole family will enjoy this canoe trip down a gentle, shallow river with no whitewater worries. With clear water at a depth of 2 to 3 feet, even rank amateurs can paddle this gentle ride from the outfitter to a landing just before the mouth of the Platte River. If you want to spot wildlife, arrive before 9 a.m. and you might glimpse deer, heron, otters, bald eagles, and the elusive mink along the way. The 6.5-mile trip takes about two hours to complete, and when you reach the gravel pull-out at the end, you'll have views of Lake Michigan, the sandy face of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and North and South Manitou Islands.
Canoeing
Kid Tips
Babies: Even with the gentle waters of the Lower Platte, you might want to skip this trip with a baby, though infants ages 3 months and up are welcome and will be outfitted with Coast-Guard approved life rafts.
Toddlers & Pre-K: Up to two little kids can ride in the middle of a canoe between their parents and will be outfitted with life vests. Have them try to spot wild birds along the way.
Pre-Teens & Teens: Older kids will definitely want to rent their own tubes and lazily make their way along the river near your canoe.
Planning Notes
- Easy to find. Riverside Canoe Trips is located in the southern portion of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, north of the Visitor Center.
- Reservations recommended. During busy summer months, call to reserve a spot for your family.
- Pick plum times to go. The most crowded times are between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Arriving early or late (just after they open at 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m.) will make for a more peaceful journey.
- Rent tubes, canoes, and rafts. If you prefer to travel the Lower Platte on your own, Riverside also rents watercraft.
- Lake crossing. You will cross Loon Lake on this trip, but sticking to the banks will allow crossing in the same shallow water as the rest of the journey.
Just the Facts
Hours: Open daily May to mid-October 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fees: $30 - $40
Recommended Time: 1 to 2 hours
 |
What's Nearby?
- Benzie Area Historical Museum 6941 Traverse Ave
Benzonia, MI 49616
231-882-5539 44.61755083333333 -86.09424194444445 - Crystal Falls Golf 1405 Michigan Ave
Benzonia, MI 49616
231-882-4039 44.61134694444444 -86.09914694444444
Related Vacations
Around the Bay by Bike or Kayak
Western MichiganTraverse City is a popular Midwestern destination for a reason: beache...
