Tin Can Boat Launch

This is a carry-in/drag-in access point on the Manistee, not a concrete ramp. There are no lanes — you're sliding canoes, kayaks, or tubes down a riverbank. Don't show up expecting to back a trailer with a 18-footer down to the water.

Smithville Landing livery runs out of here and has for decades. They handle tube, canoe, and kayak rentals plus shuttle service. It's a family business, and if you're just looking to drop your own boat in and go, be aware the access is intertwined with their operation — respect the flow.

Labor Day weekend and peak summer Saturdays turn this stretch into a parade of tubes and canoes. The five trailer spots fill fast and the riverbank gets crowded. Weekdays after school starts back up are a completely different experience — practically have the river to yourself.

The Manistee through here has downed trees and overhanging branches that will knock you right out of a canoe if you're not paying attention. Some sections get mucky and shallow later in summer too. It's not whitewater, but it's not a pond — keep your eyes up, especially on the bends.

There are coin-operated showers on site, so toss some quarters in the console before you head up. Also a small camp store with ice and basics if you forgot something, priced reasonably for a middle-of-nowhere spot in Kalkaska County.