Pine River Trip Details and Pricing
Welcome to the detailed guide for your Pine River adventure with Hoxeyville Outfitters! Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about our river trips, pricing, watercraft options, and the services we provide to make your paddling experience unforgettable.
Introduction to River Trips
Embark on an adventure through the Pine River, where each trip offers a unique experience of Michigan’s natural beauty. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced paddler, our river trips cater to all skill levels and preferences.
The Pine River is considered the fastest overall flowing river in the lower peninsula. It has areas of Class 1+ whitewater (mostly 1hr above Peterson to 2hrs below) and lots of tight turns with woody debris to navigate around throughout the whole river.
if you are padding in the whitewater areas please understand your own limitations and ask for a quick padding instructional course to help you know how to handle canoes or kayaks in this river.
Detailed Trip Information
Check out the area information tab for web links to the landings.
Here’s a breakdown of the trip segments along the Pine River, including the expected durations, between each landing. Please plan for additional time for breaks and consider that rafting trips may take approximately 30% longer due to their slower pace.
Popular Routes:
Dobson to Peterson Bridge: This 2-hour trip starts with milder waters in the first hour, leading into faster, more exciting rapids.
Peterson to Low Bridge: A thrilling 3-hour journey that begins with 2 hours of fast-moving water and concludes with a more relaxed pace, after the big sand hill.
Dobson to Low Bridge: Its a 5-hour trip that usually takes 7, starting off with an hour of slower water from Dobson it picks up pace for another hour to Peterson. After Peterson Bridge another two hours of swift moving water taking you to the sand hill, another hour of more mild water will bring you to low bridge.
Please call for single-day, or multi-day upstream route prices.
Pricing Details
Our pricing structure is designed to accommodate various preferences and group sizes. Below are the prices for different types of watercraft and trips. Prime time pricing applies on Saturdays in July and August
Canoes:
- 2 hours Dobson to Peterson Bridge: $47.00 / $52.00 prime time
- 3 hours Peterson to Low Bridge: $47.00 / $52.00 prime time
- 5 hours Dobson to Low Bridge: $52.00 / $57.00 prime time
- 2 hours Elm Flats to Dobson Bridge: $52.00 / $57.00 prime time
- 4 hours Elm Flats to Peterson Bridge: $52.00 / $57.00 prime time
- 5 hours Lincoln to Peterson Bridge: $55.00 / $60.00 prime time
Solo Kayaks:
- 2 hours Dobson to Peterson Bridge: $42.00 / $47.00 prime time
- 3 hours Peterson to Low Bridge: $42.00 / $47.00 prime time
- 5 hours Dobson to Low Bridge: $50.00 / $55.00 prime time
- 2 hours Elm Flats to Dobson Bridge: $50.00 / $55.00 prime time
- 4 hours Elm Flats to Peterson Bridge: $50.00 / $55.00 prime time
- 5 hours Lincoln to Peterson Bridge: $50.00 / $55.00 prime time
4-Person Rafts:
- All trips: $95.00 / $115.00 prime time
6-Person Rafts:
- All trips: $125.00 / $150.00 prime time
Please call for single-day or multi-day upstream route bookings.
Multi-Day Trips:
Canoes:
- 2-day Dobson to Low Bridge (5 hours): $70.00 / $85.00 prime time
- 2-day Elm Flats to Peterson (4 hours): $75.00 / $90.00 prime time
- 2-day Elm Flats to Low Bridge (7 hours): $80.00 / $95.00 prime time
- 2-day Lincoln to Low Bridge (8 hours): $85.00 / $100.00 prime time
- 2-day Skookum to Peterson (7 hours): $85.00 / $100.00 prime time
- 2-day Meadow Brook or Briar Patch to Peterson (10+ hours): $85.00 / $100.00 prime time
Solo Kayaks:
- 2-day Dobson to Low Bridge (5 hours): $60.00 / $75.00 prime time
- 2-day Elm Flats to Peterson (4 hours): $60.00 / $75.00 prime time
- 2-day Elm Flats to Low Bridge (7 hours): $60.00 / $75.00 prime time
- 2-day Lincoln to Low Bridge (8 hours): $60.00 / $75.00 prime time
- 2-day Skookum to Peterson (7 hours): $60.00 / $75.00 prime time
- 2-day Meadow Brook or Briar Patch to Peterson (10+ hours): $60.00 / $75.00 prime time
Three-Day Trips:
Canoes:
Any 3-day trip (13+ hours): $100.00 / $115.00 prime time
Solo Kayaks:
Any 3-day trip (13+ hours): $90.00 / $105.00 prime time
Manistee River Two-Day Trip: Hodenpyl to Norman Dixon (9 hours)
Canoes: $100.00 / $120.00 prime time
Solo Kayaks: $90.00 / $110.00 prime time
*Trip Minimum $150
Trip Minimums
The minimum cost for trips to Elm Flats is $100.00, with an additional $10.00 fee per landing upstream from Elm Flats, regardless of the watercraft rented. This policy ensures that operational and logistical costs are covered, making it feasible to offer these remote and scenic routes.
Car Spotting Rates
Permits not supplied for private watercraft. More Information…
The fees are $2.00/mile, calculated roundtrip from our office, and approximately $25.00 depending on the trip. This price is based on two people for the most popular trips.
Saturdays customers with their own boats and permits can drop their watercraft at their launch point and meet at the office for a shuttle.
Multi-Day Trip Planing
Most people who take overnight paddling trips rent canoes for their superior size and carrying capacity.
For folks that do not have equipment and gear consider renting a camping kit set up, this includes: dry bag, tent, 2 sleeping bags and sleeping pads, washable sleeping bag liners, water filter, camp stove and fuel, basic cooking and silverware set up, solar lantern, fire starter.
Consider purchasing campfire wood prior to your trip or staging it at a campsite where you intend to stop for the night. Please do not transport firewood more than 50 miles to prevent the spread of Arbor Diseases.
See our Area Information tab for campground and river access points
3-Day Pine River
Onsite CampingThe most popular two night, three day paddling trip on the Pine River is Briar Patch to Low Bridge.
Starting at Skookum drops the first day padding time to ~2hrs.
Typically the first night of the trip is spent 4.5hrs downstream at one of the canoe-in sites in Silver Creek State Forest Campground.
The second day is typically SCC to Coolwater Campground, another 4.5-5hrs, or to Peterson Bridge Campground 5-6hrs.
The third day of paddling gets a little faster with more of the class 1 whitewater that the Pine River is known for. Coolwater to Low Bridge is typically 4.5 hrs. Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge is approximately 3hrs.2-Day Pine River
Onsite CampingThe most popular overnight camping trip is Elm Flats to Coolwater Campground for the first day of padding approximately 3.5hrs. Starting from Lincoln Bridge adds 1hr to the first day for 4.5hr total.
The second day starts from Coolwater Campground and goes to Low Bridge for another ~4.5hrs.Other common trips are Elm Flats to Peterson Bridge Campground ~4hrs. With the second day being Peterson-Low Bridge ~3hrs. Starting at Dobson Bridge brings the first day total padding time down to ~2hrs
2-Day Manistee River
Designated Dispersed CampingThe Big Manistee River is much more forgiving that the Pine River due to its wider river channel and slower moving currents, making it ideal for beginners or novice canoeists.
Our offered trip starts at Woodpecker Creek near the suspension bridge at Hodenpyl Dam. About 4.5hrs downstream is Red Bridge with camping as well as 42 designated dispersed camping sites between Hodenpyl Dam and Tippy Dam.
After Red Bridge the padding is mostly flat water through the islands and coves of the Tippy Dam Backwaters. Norman Dixon Township Boat Launch is the take out on this trip generally 3-5hrs of canoeing from Red Bridge depending on padding speed and wind.2-Day Pine River
Off-Site CampingFor Pine River Enthusiasts that want to canoe, kayak, or raft multiple days but not necessarily stay at one of the campground on the Pine, there are options.
The most popular trip is Dobson-Low Bridge overnighting the watercraft at Peterson Bridge, you will park your vehicle at Peterson prior to starting your trip, and drive back to your cabin, campground, or AirBNB after your first day of padding, come back the second day and do Peterson to Low Bridge. This trip is 2hrs the first day and 3hrs the second, without stops or adding time for rafts. Extend your trip by starting at Elm Flats 4hrs day-one, 3hrs day-two.2-Day Pine River
Easy PaceAnother Trip Option that isn’t quite so popular is a two day trip from Skookum to Dobson Bridge. This trip avoids much of the faster flowing water that the Pine River is known for, opting for a more mild 3hrs float each day, overnighting at Lincoln Bridge State Forest Campground which is just a short walk from the access point, or finding a dispersed camping site along the river.