In 1978, sixty-six miles of the Pere Marquette were designated a National Scenic River. The Pere Marquette River is the longest unregulated (no dams or impoundments) river system in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The river is a nationally known, high-quality stream supporting large populations of resident trout, steelhead and salmon, as well as, being a popular canoeing and kayaking destination each summer.

A permit system, in place from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through Monday of Labor Day, protects the river’s values by limiting the number of people and non-motorized watercraft in the corridor. All watercraft, including tubes and stand up paddle boards, must have a permit during this time. The Pere Marquette, within the Forest’s boundary, has been divided into three segments for the purpose of managing watercraft during the summer season: Segment 1 - Forks to Bowman Bridge; Segment 2 - Bowman Bridge to Upper Branch Bridge; and Segment 3 - Upper Branch Bridge to Indian Bridge. The river’s characteristics and the setting vary by river segment. Someone wanting a recreation experience where there is a good chance of encountering others would enjoy Segment 1; those wanting the opportunity to experience more solitude would appreciate Segment 3. There are 11 river access sites with launches providing opportunities to plan a variety of floats including overnight trips with camping on the river.

Camping within the river corridor on National Forest lands is allowed only at designated sites, Bowman Bridge Campground and Gleason’s Landing Campground. Sites range from developed campgrounds to primitive, canoe-in only sites. Fees for camping and using river access sites are charged under the Recreation Fee Enhancement Act. Check the bulletin board at each site for fees and additional information.