Kayak Love

Michigan · river

Manistee River near Mesick

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Manistee River near Mesick
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Manistee River Trail - panoramio.jpg by CHRIS BROWN, CC BY 3.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

11 mph

gusting to 20 mph

Air temp

74°F

24% chance of rain

River flow

1,150 cfs

high for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Friday · 92

  • Today

    72

  • Thu

    89

  • Fri

    92

    Best

  • Sat

    64

  • Sun

    92

  • Mon

    45

  • Tue

    54

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
11a1120
12p918
1p1120
2p1119
3p1221
4p1220
5p1223
6p1226
7p1126
8p817
9p613
10p614

Is this flow normal for September 9?

Today's 1,150 cfs is 18% above the median for this date — which counts as high water here.

The median flow on this date is 978 cfs, across 28 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind11 mph — noticeable but manageable-11

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

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