The Paw Paw River has been on my radar for quite some time. I finally made a trip happen in early September of 2025. I teamed up with my friend Dan on this trip and we provided our own car spotting. Dan is a veteran kayaker.
This trip begins at the Maple Lake Dam in Paw Paw Township, north of the village of Paw Paw.
Head east on 51st Avenue from Highway M40. The road travels over the dam. Parking and unloading are on the south side of the road, east of the dam. The path to the river is on the north side of the road, east of the dam. The downhill path is in pretty good shape except the last ten feet. We took our time and arrived at the water’s edge without incident.
A view of the pool below the dam, looking downstream:
The water level was low at the time of our voyage. If conditions are the same when you make your trip, then keep your eyes peeled at all times for shallow water. Running aground frequently is not much fun.
The current in this section varies between slow and moderate. The river averages twenty to forty feet in width. The bottom is mostly sand and gravel with very few rocks.
The many fallen trees in the river will challenge kayakers.
Fortunately for paddlers, volunteers provide river maintenance periodically. A thank you goes out to those volunteers for their hard work in keeping the river open for kayakers. Pathways through the trees have been cleared, but be prepared to do a lot of maneuvering. We made it through our trip without portaging.
It’s not all work. Some stretches of the river are free of downed trees.
Places to get out of your kayak to take a break are plentiful.
The character of the river will change during periods of higher water levels.
The trip ends at the CR665 bridge, between Fisk Road and 44th Avenue. Parking and river access are on the east side of the road, on the south side of the river. When approaching the bridge by kayak, the access is between the bridge and a fallen tree. At first glance, it looks difficult to reach the access. It’s easy. The downed tree breaks the current, allowing you to glide right into the riverbank. The steep bank at the water’s edge means kayakers will have to disembark in the river. A narrow uphill path leads to the road. The first ten feet of the path isn’t in very good condition. Take your time.
We enjoyed the challenge of the Paw Paw River. Kayaking a new water trail is always special.
KAYAKING SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN 