01
AuSable High Banks
Tea-colored water through a sandstone canyon. The classic Sunrise Coast paddle — go in mid-morning when the fog burns off.
On water · All levels · 3 regions
Season · May – September
Kayaking.
The AuSable for current, Thunder Bay for clear cold lake water, and a long calm shoreline for everything in between. Outfitters in three towns rent by the hour or the day.
AuSable River · early morning fog
Best stretch
High Banks
AuSable · 22 mi scenic
Outfitters
6 along US-23
Tawas, Oscoda, Alpena
Level
I–II
Calm water + Class I river
Rental
$40 / day
Boat, PFD, paddle, shuttle
Where to paddle · 6 routes
Six paddles, south to north.
Curated by Sunrise Coast Council editors. Routes, sites, and pull-offs from south to north along US-23.
02
Tawas Bay calm-water tour
Hug the curve of the bay from East Tawas pier to Tawas Point. Bathwater-warm by August. Bring a swimsuit; you will jump in.
03
Thunder Bay to Middle Island
A long calm-water crossing to an offshore lighthouse and three visible shipwrecks. Intermediate; not for windy days.
04
Negwegon shoreline paddle
Launch from the unmaintained beach access at Negwegon. Seven miles of empty coast with no road in.
05
Rockport sinkhole pond
A 70-ft-deep karst pond in a former limestone quarry. Cold spring water; the bottom is visible from the surface on a clear day.
06
Thunder Bay River from town
Put in at the Maritime Heritage Center, paddle upstream under the bridges, and float back through downtown.
The High Banks
A Michigan canyon of slow brown water.
The AuSable rises in jack pine country near Grayling and runs east, slow and tea-colored, picking up volume from a dozen cedar swamps before it reaches the Highbanks above Oscoda. There the river has cut a hundred-and-seventy-five-foot canyon through sandstone — the only feature of its kind in lower Michigan.
Outfitters in Oscoda will rent you a canoe or a kayak with a shuttle. Put in below Whirlpool Bridge, take out at Foote Pond. You will see eagles, herons, the lumberman's monument from below, and almost no other people if you go on a Tuesday.
22 mi
Scenic byway above
175 ft
Highest bank
Class I
Current rating
Kayaking · the high banks
"There is no current like a Michigan trout river current. It moves like it has someplace to be."— Michigan Canoe Atlas
Gear & know before you go
What to bring, what's provided.
You need to bring
- Layers — the river is colder than the air
- Water shoes that can get wet
- Dry bag for phone, snacks, sunscreen
- A whistle (Coast Guard requirement on the lake)
They supply
- Boat — canoe, kayak, or SUP
- PFD (you must wear it)
- Paddle
- Shuttle to the put-in
Cost guide
- $40 — kayak, half day
- $55 — canoe, full day with shuttle
- $70 — SUP, full day
- $200+ — guided tour with snacks
Questions · 4 answers
Kayaking on the coast — questions.
Quick answers to what travelers ask most.
Q.01
Is kayaking good on Michigan's Sunrise Coast?
Yes — The AuSable for current, Thunder Bay for clear cold lake water, and a long calm shoreline for everything in between. Outfitters in three towns rent by the hour or the day.
Q.02
When is the best time of year for kayaking on the Sunrise Coast?
The recommended season for kayaking on Michigan's Sunrise Coast is May – September. Best stretch: High Banks — AuSable · 22 mi scenic.
Q.03
Where can I kayaking on the Sunrise Coast?
6 routes along the 200-mile coast. A standout option: AuSable High Banks — Oscoda · 8 mi · Class I · 4 hr. Tea-colored water through a sandstone canyon. The classic Sunrise Coast paddle — go in mid-morning when the fog burns off.
Q.04
What gear or preparation do I need for kayaking on the Sunrise Coast?
You need to bring: Layers — the river is colder than the air; Water shoes that can get wet; Dry bag for phone, snacks, sunscreen; A whistle (Coast Guard requirement on the lake).