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Paint River, Michigan

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Managing Agency:

U.S. Forest Service, Ottawa National Forest

Designated Reach:

March 3, 1992. The main stem from the confluence of the North and South Branches to the Ottawa National Forest boundary. The North Branch from its origin to its confluence with the South Branch. The South Branch from its origin to its confluence with the North Branch.

Classification/Mileage:

Recreational — 52.0 miles; Total — 52.0 miles.

RELATED LINKS

Paint River Management Plan (1.4 MB PDF)

Photo Credit: Tim Palmer

Paint River

The main branch of the Paint River is an excellent year-long canoe route. The brook and rainbow trout fishing is outstanding. The historical use of this river for log drives provides many interpretive opportunities. The river's outstanding remarkable values include recreation, fish and wildlife.

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Choose a river Choose A River Alagnak River Alatna River Allagash River Allegheny River Amargosa River American River (Lower) American River (North Fork) Andreafsky River Aniakchak River Au Sable River Battle Creek Bautista Creek Bear Creek Beaver Creek Big & Little Darby Creeks Big Jacks Creek Big Marsh Creek Big Piney Creek Big Sur River Birch Creek Black Creek Black River Black Butte River Bluestone River Bruneau River Bruneau River (West Fork) Buffalo River Cache la Poudre River Carp River Charley River Chattooga River Chetco River Chilikadrotna River Clackamas River Clackamas River (South Fork) Clarion River Clearwater River (Middle Fork) Collawash River Cossatot River Cottonwood Creek (California) Cottonwood Creek (Idaho) Crescent Creek Crooked River Crooked River (North Fork) Deep Creek (California) Deep Creek (Idaho) Delaware River (Lower) Delaware River (Middle) Delaware River (Upper) Delta River Deschutes River Dickshooter Creek Donner und Blitzen River Duncan Creek Eagle Creek (Mt. Hood National Forest) Eagle Creek (Wallowa-Whitman National Forest) East Rosebud Creek Eel River Eightmile River Eleven Point River Elk Creek Elk River Elkhorn Creek Farmington River (Lower) & Salmon Brook Farmington River (West Branch) Feather River Fifteenmile Creek Fish Creek Flathead River Fortymile River Fossil Creek Franklin Creek Fuller Mill Creek Grande Ronde River Great Egg Harbor River Green River Gulkana River Hood River (East Fork) Hood River (Middle Fork) Horsepasture River Hurricane Creek Illabot Creek Illinois River Imnaha River Indian River Ivishak River Jarbidge River Jemez River Jenny Creek John River John Day River John Day River (North Fork) John Day River (South Fork) Joseph Creek Kern River Kings River Klamath River (California) Klamath River (Oregon) Klickitat River Kobuk River Koyukuk River Lamprey River Little Beaver Creek Little Deschutes River Little Jacks Creek Little Miami River Little Missouri River Lobster Creek Lostine River Loxahatchee River Lumber River Malheur River Malheur River (North Fork) Manistee River Maurice River McKenzie River Merced River Metolius River Minam River Missisquoi River Missouri River (Montana) Missouri River (Nebraska/South Dakota) Molalla River Mulberry River Mulchatna River Musconetcong River Nashua River Nestucca River New River Niobrara River Noatak River North Powder River North Sylamore Creek North Umpqua River Nowitna River Obed River Ontonagon River Owens River Headwaters Owyhee River (Idaho) Owyhee River (Oregon) Owyhee River (North Fork)(Idaho) Owyhee River (North Fork)(Oregon) Owyhee River (South Fork)(Idaho) Paint River Palm Canyon Creek Pecos River Pere Marquette River Pine River Piru Creek Powder River Pratt River Presque Isle River Quartzville Creek Rapid River Red River Red Canyon Richland Creek River Styx Rio Chama Rio de la Mina Rio Grande (New Mexico) Rio Grande (Texas) Rio Icacos Rio Mameyes Roaring River Roaring River (South Fork) Rogue River Rogue River (Upper) St. Joe River Saline Bayou Salmon River (Alaska) Salmon River (Idaho) Salmon River (Middle Fork)(Idaho) Salmon River (Oregon) Sandy River San Jacinto River Selawik River Sespe Creek Sheenjek River Sheep Creek Silver Creek (North Fork) Sisquoc River Skagit River Smith River Smith River (North Fork) Snake River Snake River Headwaters Snoqualmie River (Middle Fork) Sprague River Spring Creek St. Croix River Sturgeon River (Hiawatha National Forest) Sturgeon River (Ottawa National Forest) (River) Styx Sudbury, Assabet, Concord Rivers Surprise Canyon Creek Sycan River Tahquamenon River Taunton River Tinayguk River Tlikakila River Trinity River Trout River Tuolumne River Unalakleet River Verde River Vermilion River Virgin River Walker Creek Wallowa River Wasson Creek Wekiva River Wenaha River West Fork River (Sipsey Fork) West Little Owyhee River Westfield River White River White Clay Creek White Salmon River Whitefish River Whitewater River Whychus Creek Wickahoney Creek Wildcat River Wildhorse & Kiger Creeks Willamette River (North Fork/Middle Fork) Wilson Creek Wind River Wolf River Wood & Pawcatuck Rivers Yellow Dog River Yellowstone River Zigzag River

Nourished by the fertile soils of the region, rivers of the Midwest explode with life, from great avian migrations to ancient fishes.