Sturgeon Creek in Michigan

Trip Overview

We had a good soaking of rain the previous weekend, so my friend and I decided to tackle the Sturgeon Creek in Midland. We put in at the ball diamonds just north of Sturgeon and Airport, and took out at the boat launch off Currie Parkway on the Tittabawassee River (south of Main St, over the bridge take the first left).

This stream is impassable during dry spells but had plenty of water for kayaking this time. There are numerous log jams to portage around. There is a low pipe under Saginaw Rd (4th bridge) that is challenging to get under, and the culvert is blocked at Sugnet Rd (5th "bridge") requiring portaging across the street.

Just past Sugnet there is a small dam that requires a portage. Smooth going past the dam. Current depends on water levels. Took us about 4 hours. Not for the faint of heart due to all the obstacles, but a fun afternoon trip. We had 9.5' kayaks, and I wouldn't recommend trying it with anything larger.