Michigan /
Au Sable River
River in Michigan · near Au Sable, Babbits Resort, Fairview, Five Corners
The Au Sable River is a 138-mile river in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. It begins in Frederic Township, Crawford County, where Kolke and Bradford creeks meet. From there it flows south and then east through Grayling, where the East Branch joins it. The South and North branches join in eastern Crawford County. The river then crosses Oscoda, Alcona and Iosco counties and reaches Lake Huron at Au Sable and Oscoda. Six hydroelectric dams were built in its basin between 1911 and 1924. The ponds behind five of them are used for power boating, water skiing and sailing. Most of the main stem flows through or beside the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The 23 miles from Mio Pond to Alcona Pond were designated a National Scenic River on October 4, 1984.
The Michigan DNR and the USDA Forest Service run the public access sites. On the scenic stretch, the Forest Service operates Loud's Rest Stop, Davis Rest Stop, McKinley Landing and the 4001 Canoe Landing. The 4001 Canoe Landing is the last take-out on the scenic stretch. Below Alcona Dam, Bobcat Creek is a carry-in access with a steep bank. According to the Forest Service, the 65 miles from Grayling to Alcona Dam are unrestricted to canoeing and kayaking. State rules in Iosco County set slow-no wake speed on the lowest part of the river: from the mouth upstream about 2.5 miles to the Detroit and Mackinaw railroad bridge, and from that bridge up to Foote Dam.
The DNR has designated the river a blue ribbon trout stream. The nine-mile Holy Waters section, from Burtons Landing to Wakeley Bridge, is catch-and-release and fly-fishing-only all year. Trout Unlimited was founded on the river in 1959. Since 1947 the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon has run 120 miles from Grayling to Oscoda.
Boating rules
- Slow-no wake speed from the mouth at Lake Huron upstream about 2.5 miles to the Detroit and Mackinaw railroad bridge source
- Slow-no wake speed from the Detroit and Mackinac railroad bridge upstream to Foote Dam source
- National Scenic River: special use permit required for commercial, event or groups of 75 or more; none for 74 or fewer source
- National Scenic River: camping prohibited except at designated campgrounds or campsites source
- Recreation fee (day use) at 4001 Bridge Canoe Landing source
- Holy Waters (Burtons Landing to Wakeley Bridge): catch-and-release, fly fishing only, year-round source
Rules change; check with the agency or town before you go.
Launches
- 4001 Canoe Landing Access · Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · near Goodar
- Au Sable River Canoe Camp · Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · near Grayling
- Au Sable River Mouth · Boat ramp · near Au Sable
- Bobcat Creek Carry-in Access · Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · near Goodar · free
- Burtons Landing SFCG · Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · near Louis Cabin Landing
- Comins Flats · Boat ramp · near Mio
- Connors Flats · Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · near Luzerne
- Davis Rest Stop · Boat ramp · near Fairview · free
- Foote Dam · Boat ramp · near Foote Site Village
- Keystone Landing SFCG · Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · near Babbits Resort
- Loud's Rest Stop · Boat ramp · near Mio · free
- M33 Roadside Park · Boat ramp · near Mio
- McMasters Bridge · Boat ramp · near Luzerne
- Mckinley Landing Access · Boat ramp · near McKinley · free
- Parmalee Bridge SFCG · Boat ramp · near Luzerne
- Stephans Bridge · Boat ramp · near Grayling
- Thompsons Carry-in Access · Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · near Goodar
- Whirlpool · Carry-in (canoe and kayak) · near Luzerne
- Whirlpool Access · Boat ramp · near Foote Site Village
Community
Where people who fish, boat and paddle Au Sable River talk about it. Lake associations, clubs and local groups will be added as we find them.
- Anglers of the Au Sable Association
- Au Sable River Property Owners Alliance Association
- Au Sable National Scenic River - Huron-Manistee National Forests Agency
- The Anglers of the Au Sable (Facebook page) Facebook
- Au Sable River Property Owners Alliance (Facebook page) Facebook
- Au sable river report - Michigan Sportsman forum Forum
- Au Sable River Map: Access Points, Flows and Float Times Link
- Search Reddit: r/Michigan Reddit
- Search all of Reddit for Au Sable River, Michigan Reddit
Sources
- Au Sable River (Michigan) - Wikipedia
- Au Sable National Scenic River - USDA Forest Service
- Huron-Manistee National Forests: Water Activities - USDA Forest Service
- Special Local Watercraft Controls - Iosco County - Michigan DNR
- Au Sable River - Rivers.gov
Researched October 13, 2026 from the sources above. Written content CC BY 4.0. Something wrong? Corrections are welcome.
Wikidata: Q4818973