Kayak Notes 8/27/25 (Kayak Grand River Project)

Notes from keep from a previous outing on 8/14/25

Kayak Deploy list
1. Kayak!
2. Oar
3. Life Vest
4. Headphones
5. Sunglasses w/ strap
6. Towel
7. Water Bottle
8. Phone
9. Kayak wheels
10. Bike Lock
11. Bike Lock key
12. Waterproof case
13. water pump
14. Foot Pad
15. Seat Cushion
16. GoPro (optional)

First run roughly 3600 ft (1.1km) in 18min time
around 10 min walk to launch and back
5280 ft in a mile, to Grand Woods is roughly 3 miles
Tacumseh park is roughly 4.5 miles
Need to investigate Grand Woods park otherwise we’ll need to plan going all the way to Tacumseh park

On 8/15, checked out Grand Woods park and found that there was a poorly maintained canoe launch. But it would work for our purposes. Also checked out Willow Kayak launch and Fitzgerald park. Willow kayak launch will also work for our purposes and is well maintained. Fitzgerald park would be quite tricky.

May need to do a more complex solution with the Kayak Launch at Jaycee park (which still needs to be investigated.

Kayak Outing 8/27/25

Had the kayak in the water by 5:15 and was heading upstream. Had no issue at the island merge now that I know how to deal with it. Everything went very well and I reached the canoe launch at Grand Woods Park by 6:20 with a stop on the second island for a pee brake that took only around 5 minutes. I was able to be back down the river to the launch by 7:15 and home around 7:25 PM. Ordered a Pizza as my arms are just spent and I don’t have any energy to do anything else.

So far, planned legs are:

1. Delta Mills Park Kayak Launch to Grand Woods Canoe Launch (completed 8/27/25)
2. Grand Woods Canoe Launch to Tacumseh Park kayak launch (Est. 1. 9 Miles)
3. Willow Kayak Launch to Delta Mills Park Launch (Est. 3.9 Miles)
4. Jaycee Park Launch to Willow Kayak Launch (need to inspect) (Est. 2.3 Miles)
5. Jaycee Park Launch to Fitzgerald park / Dam (need to inspect, may need to be hybrid due to no river access to park upstream of dam)

Potential locations to investigate

1. Dietrich Park (Josephine Drive, Lansing, MI 48906) Needs investigation and distance eval
2. Burchard Park (220 E Maple St, Lansing, MI 48906) basically Old Town Parking Lot. Note: Need to negotiate the dam/fish ladder at this location
3. Lansing River Trail (305 Riverfront Dr, Lansing, MI 48912) basically downtown Lansing where the Shuffle is. Note: There is a kayak launch here per google Maps
4. Sweeney’s Landing (702 River St, Lansing, MI 48933) Boat Launch. (Sweeney’s Landing to River Trailer is less than a mile)
5. Moore’s Park (420 Moores River Dr, Lansing, MI 48910) Has Launch per google maps. Has dam that would need to be negotiated. (Sweeney’s Landing to Moors is 1.1 miles, likely do from River Trail to Moore’s Park as this is just around 2 miles)
6. Riverside Park (1248 Moores River Dr, Lansing, MI 48910) doesn’t look to having anything or even parking
7. Grand River Park (Grand River Park, 3205 Lansing Rd, Lansing, MI 48911) This looks to be the location of Rowing Crew location and some boat docks as well. Also the Michigan Princess River boat
8. After this there is a significant drop off of available parks. Rose Garden / Frances Park (Moores River Dr, Lansing, MI 48911) has parking that would potentially allow access to River View Park (3498-3798 Moores River Dr, Lansing, MI 48911)
9. Then there is nothing until Hunters Ridge Park (4099-3927 Hunters Ridge Dr, Lansing, MI 48911) keeping in mind none of these parks really have river access or launches. Then it is nothing again till
10. Fulton Overlook Park (3812 Seaway Dr, Lansing, MI 48911) and
11. Fine Park (4500 Glenburne Blvd, Lansing, MI 48911) also with no river access. And there is really nothing and a long distance until
12. Dimondale Canoe and Kayak (9995 Billwood Hwy, Dimondale, MI 48821) then it is again a significantly long stretch of nothing until
13. Danford Island Park (201 W Washington St, Dimondale, MI 48821) which has some rock dams near it. But on a very bright note, Danford does have a launch upstream of the rock dams. Sadly, there is nothing at all until the
14. Burchfield Park Canoe and Kayak livery (Burchfield Park, Holt, MI 48842) then another round of nothing other than possibly the
15. Riverbend Natural Area (6200 Nichols Rd, Holt, MI 48842) that may have some type of river access. Beyond that there is the
16. McNamara Canoe Landing (6450 W Columbia Rd, Mason, MI 48854) then another supper far run to the
17. Bunker Road Canoe Landing (11000 Bunker Hwy, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827)
18. City Lot #7 Canoe and Kayak Launch (Mill St, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827) Note: The Eaton Rapids dam would be something that would need to be negotiated
19. Smithville Park (4759 Smithville Rd, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827) where the smithville dam is located
20. Gale Road State Game Area (3483 Gale Rd, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827) possible access
21. The Grand Riverhouse (5795 Stimson Rd, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827) potentially https://thegrandriverhouse.com/
22. Baldwin Park / Onondaga (4957 S Onondaga Rd #4801, Onondaga, MI 49264)
23. Tompkin’s Boat Launch (10596 Tompkins Rd, Onondaga, MI 49264)
24. Trestle Bridge Boat Launch (11256 Dixon Rd, Rives Junction, MI 49277) There is then nothing at all for 10’s of miles all the way to Jackson.
25. Lion’s Park (Adams St, Jackson, MI 49202)
26. Grand River Memorial Park (114 W Pearl St, Jackson, MI 49201)
27. Wellworth Park (2393 Research Dr, Jackson, MI 49203) but no access or parking
28. Michigan Center Park (570 5th St, Michigan Center, MI 49254) Which is at the end of Center Lake. Essentially the beginning of the Grand River. Center lake is a part of a chain of lakes: Price Lake, Dollar Lake, Little Olcott Lake, Olcott Lake, Wolf Lake, Little Wolf Lake, and Mellen Camp Lake.
29. Little Wolf Lake County Park (4925 Wolf Lake Rd, Grass Lake, MI 49240) is a possible start location.
30. A side quest may be Willow Creek off the north east part of Wolf Lake. The ultimate goal being to find the shortest portage to the Huron River (through Ann Arbor to Lake Erie)

Going the other direction

1. Lincoln Brick Park (13991 Tallman Rd, Grand Ledge, MI 48837) no visible access
2. Grand Kayak (13920 W State Rd, Grand Ledge, MI 48837) https://grandledgekayak.com/ Note: Per Grand Ledge Kayak, the season ends September 10th. The good news is that it reports a known portage around the dam on the site at Fitzgerald park. So that wouldn’t be a surprise work around. Doesn’t address the use of it as a start/end point. Note, absolutely nothing downstream until
3. Charlotte Hwy Kayak Launch (R484+32 Portland, Michigan)
4. Grave of Chief Okemos (Portland, MI 48875) no access or real indication of anything. Just part of the
5. Portland State Game Area (Sunfield, MI 48890) A far run to the next stop
6. Two Rivers Park (Portland Riverwalk, Portland, MI 48875)
7. Grand River Conservation Club (7345 Lyons Rd, Portland, MI 48875) there is a dam and potential portage near here. Parking and access is a bit sus. It is worth noting that the river starts getting significantly wider and “juicy” after this dam. This is very likely due to
8. Webber Dam (2999 Webber Rd, Lyons, MI 48851) Has an exit point and parking. Not sure about a downstream access point.
9. At a private location (1598 Roshowa Terrace, Lyons, MI 48851) there is a dam and some strange house that looks to be utilizing the river for power or something? This is very curious. Doesn’t look to be access or portage around said dam
10. General location (112-168 E Bridge St, Lyons, MI 48851) there is rapids / rock dam with no visible access or portage. This is upstream to
11. Hazel Devore Park (Lyons, MI 48851). There looks to be some level of parking and access. Possibly a launch. Low grade imagery from Google Maps.
12. Ionia River Trail near Ionia Nature Area (Unnamed Road, Ionia, MI 48846) Doesn’t looks to be any access or parking except possibly through Quarry road.
13. Ionia Grand River Boat Ramp (485 S Dexter St, Ionia, MI 48846)
14. Ionia State Recreation Area (Unnamed Road, Ionia, MI 48846) No visible access but potential nearby parking. Near Ionia County Infirmary Burials Riverside Drive Site
15. Grand River Public Boat Launch (147 North Bridge St, Saranac, MI 48881)
16. Lowell Grand River Boat Ramp (WMG5+99 Lowell, Michigan)
17. Grand River Riverfront Park (12570 Grand River Dr SE, Lowell, MI 49331) has parking and kayak launch per Google Maps
18. Fulton Hills Boat House (Grand River Nature Trail, Ada, MI 49301) looks like parking and docks
19. Chief Hazy Cloud County Park (150 Pettis Ave NE, Ada, MI 49301) Possible parking, not sure on access, no launch
20. Roselle Park (1010 Grand River Dr NE, Ada, MI 49301) No access, trails and maybe could get to the river.
21. Knapp Street Bridge Boat Access (2F45+67 Ada, Ada Township, MI)
22. Grand Valley Boat Club (4200 Grand River Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525) not sure really what all is going on here. Looks like a dock and maybe a road with parking. Not sure on the public access. Not sure what is going on across the river. Looks like a park but nothing listed on the map and access unclear.
23. Boat Launch Grand River at west river drive and Northland Drive (3C77+8V Grand Rapids, Michigan)
24. Jupiter Boathouse (4200 Grand River Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525) no real information here either other than it is a place with parking and a dock. https://northviewrowing.com/ Independent rowing club. May allow for outside use?
25. Donald Lamoreaux Park (801 Bailey Park Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525) No visible launch or parking
26. Grand Rapids Rowing Club Boathouse (291 N Park St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544) again, private rowing location http://www.grandrapidsrowing.com/ but maybe ask for a favor when expressing the project?
27. American Legion Boat And Canoe Club (401 N Park St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525) May need to be a member to use.
28. Riverside Park Boat Ramp (North) (White Pine Trail, Grand Rapids, MI 49505)
29. Riverside Park Boat Launch Lot (Riverside Park Dr NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49505)
30. Sixth Street Park (647 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503) not sure on access but at this point there would be a dam that would need to be negotiated.
31. Grand River Edges Trail West (534-630 Scribner Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) May have some level of access and portage for dam (other side of Sixth Street Park) Note: There is a series of dams and step downs along here so greater planning would probably be needed
32. Fulton St Parking (Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) parking next to river but not sure on access
33. Regan Boat Launch 3 (943 Market Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)
34. Hopewell Indian Mounds Park / Possible access somewhere here or
35. The Meadows at Millennium Park (1415 Maynard Ave SW, Walker, MI 49534) But nothing visible via google maps
36. Johnson Park (2600 Wilson Ave SW, Walker, MI 49534) also may have access
37. Grandville Boat Launch (4745 Jenison St SW, Grandville, MI 49418)
38. Steamboat Park Campground (825 Taylor St, Georgetown Township, MI 49428)
39. Grand River Park (9473 28th Ave, Jenison, MI 49428) Launches and parking
40. GVSU Boat House (Campus Access Dr, Allendale, MI 49401) again, a crew team, this time with the university. Likely would not be able to get access
41. Deer Creek County Park (13426 60th Ave, Coopersville, MI 49404) not much here but dirt road and potential parking / access.
42. Boat Dock at Bass River Recreation area (Bass River-Multi-Use Trail, Coopersville, MI 49404) Can’t tell much from google maps
43. Riverside County Park Boat Launch (10317 N Cedar Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417)
44. River Haven Marina Inc (15006 120th Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417) or
45. Grand Marina (15078 120th Ave, Nunica, MI 49448)
46. Hacklander? Boat Ramp near Grand Kayak Adventures (14610 144th Ave, Spring Lake, MI 49456)
47. Safe Harbor Grand Isle (1 Grand Isle Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417) Thankfully, I have a membership. heheh