Paddling Cadillac

Time to get back to nature and enjoy the beautiful waters of Northern Michigan. With three incredible inland lakes, and 200+ miles of river – your next floating adventure awaits in Cadillac! You can also relax at any of our area parks to enjoy the beautiful water views.

Cadillac is home to abundant access points to water allowing you to truly “explore your way.” There are so many family-friendly river and lake recreational opportunities to enjoy time with the entire family or a group of your closest friends. Spring, summer or fall, the area rivers meander and offer exceptional group entertainment, and beautiful views. When summer days come to a close, try a Fall Color Tour from a kayak or canoe for a different perspective of nature’s glory.

Several conveniently located liveries make it very easy for visitors to experience the pure paddling pleasure that awaits you here in the Cadillac area. Below find a list of related liveries, linked river map, and brief descriptions of the rivers.

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Local Rivers Cleanup Events

#ExploreCadillac Bucket List Item – The Walk Around Lake Cadillac

by CAVB Staff | October 15, 2020 | Hiking Trails, Self Guided Trips, Trails & Parks | 2 Comments

For years, I told my husband Mike that we should trek the 7+ mile walk around Lake Cadillac. We revisited the topic, picked a day where the weather looked great, and planned for it. Having it coincide with Michigan Trails Week was a nice addition, as the path...

A Quick Guide to Paddling 2 Cadillac Area Rivers

by CAVB Staff | April 25, 2018 | Cadillac Stories, Trails & Parks | 0 Comments

You don’t have to go north to Ontario or the Upper Peninsula to enjoy a wilderness-like paddling experience on 2 awesome rivers. In less than an hour’s drive from Cadillac, you can find stretches of the Pine and Big Manistee Rivers as well as the Tippy and Hodenpyl...

Lace Up Those Shoes for a Week’s Worth of Trails in Cadillac!

by CAVB Staff | May 19, 2025 | Biking, Cadillac Stories, Downtown, Hiking Trails, Out and About with Dave Foley, Self Guided Trips, Spring, Summer, Trails & Parks | 0 Comments

Tired of running the same old routes? If you're looking for different views of Cadillac here is a plan for your week - never run the same route twice and start each run within five miles of downtown!Sunday McKellop Walkway Probably the best known is the McKellop...