It was early November and the forecast called for seventy degrees and sunny! My friend, Dan, is a enthusiastic paddler and he agreed that it was time for another river trip.
We decided on a stretch of the Kalamazoo River that flows through Allegan State Game Area, more commonly known as Allegan Forest. I think that you will enjoy this trip because of its remote location. There are only a few trails that penetrate the forest for river access. Even though the trees had lost their leaves, the scenery did not lose its beauty.
We started our voyage at Allegan Dam, also known as the Calkins Dam. The MDNR Access Site has a large parking lot, a vault toilet, and a boat ramp. Take Allegan Dam Road west from highway M89. That intersection is northwest of the city of Allegan. The dam is three miles from M89. The access site is on the east side of the river. The lake created by the dam is Lake Allegan.
The river is wide and flows basically northwest from the dam. The current is slow to moderate. This trip is suitable for all kayakers, regardless of skill level.
The first portion of this trip, between Allegan Dam and the M89 bridge, is bordered by large marshes on the west side of the river. M89 is also called 124th Avenue.
There is a wooded corridor between the marshes and the river along most of this stretch.
The first marsh downstream from the dam is the Koopman Marsh. Farther downriver, Swan Creek flows into the river from the southwest. Once you pass the creek mouth, you will notice a dike on the west side of the river that runs all the way to M89.
The dike was built to create the Swan Creek Marsh, better known as the Highbanks Marsh. A portion of Swan Creek is diverted to the marsh. Highway M89 serves as a dike on the north end of the marsh and is also the site of the marsh spillway. Steep hills mark the west side of the marsh. You will not be able to see the Highbanks Marsh from your kayak because of the height of the dike. The dike is posted: Wildlife Refuge, Do Not Enter. The MDNR keeps an eye on the dike and the marsh. On a previous trip, I was bold enough to get out of my boat, climb the dike, and view the marsh. It was a impressive sight, but I was in plain view and I was a little nervous about getting caught. We decided to stay in our kayaks.
The east side of this portion of the river, opposite the marshes, is wooded lowland. There are some scenic hills on the east side of the river as you get close to M89.
Sand Creek flows into the river from the north, just before the bridge.
The next portion of the trip, from the M89 bridge to the Pipeline Landing, is wooded lowland punctuated by tall hills. After you pass under the M89 bridge, you will come to a tall, steep sand hill that rises up from the water’s edge.
Just before you get to the sand hill, on the same side of the river, there is a bayou to explore.
Downstream from the sand hill, on the south side of the river, is another bayou to explore. The Palmer Bayou flows north from the Highbanks Marsh dam to the Kalamazoo River. We paddled up the bayou almost all the way to the dam at M89. We were stopped by fallen trees.
We headed back down the bayou to the river.
Heading downriver, we encountered a second sand hill. It wasn’t as high as the first one, but it was longer and just as steep.
Just like the last sand hill, there was a bayou to explore.
After passing this second sand hill, Bear Creek flows into the river from the north.
The river continues to meander through the forest. It was late afternoon and the shadows were getting long.
Soon, you will arrive at a petroleum pipeline that crosses under the river. The pipeline is marked by dilapidated signs on the shore. Past the pipeline and two river bends is the MDNR Pipeline Landing, on the south side of the river. The landing is at the beginning of a long straight stretch of the river. It marks the end of your trip.
These are views from the landing during June.
The Pipeline Landing is easy to find by vehicle. Turn north on 46th Street from highway M89. That intersection is a half mile west of the M89 bridge over the Kalamazoo River and nine miles east of the village of Fennville. When you come to a petroleum pipeline, the road curves to the west and is called 126th Avenue. Two hundred yards west of the pipeline, there is a unimproved trail that heads north from 126th Avenue to the primitive landing. 46th Street and 126th Avenue are seasonal county roads.
This remote section of the Kalamazoo River and its bayous rewards kayakers with solitude and beautiful scenery.
KAYAKING SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN 