As we left Lake Hills, the foggy morning made our road trip a rather mundane event. Shortly before arriving in Baldwin, however, the fog lifted and we could begin to see hints of autumn all around us. We enjoyed apple cider and donuts at the Chittenden cabin before we headed to the canoe livery.

The Pere Marquette is considered to be Michigan's clearest and cleanest free flowing river, offering you new opportunities around each bend to enjoy the wildlife and peaceful beauty of Northern Michigan. The river follows a winding course through a mixture of National, State, and private forests.

 

The 15-canoe convoy witnessed hundreds of salmon and trout in the Pere Marquette's moderately fast current. We passed many men and women fly fishing the scenic river, which has an average depth between two and four feet with deeper holes on the river bends.

For several adults and students, it was the first time in a canoe. The end result: great memories of an autumn excursion with friends and family.