Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Traverse City
A bayfront city at the head of Grand Traverse Bay, with a walkable Front Street downtown, bay beaches, cherry orchards and two wine peninsulas close by.
Under a mile away (straight line)
River · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Boardman River
Traverse City's trout river, with three old dams now removed, paddling on the middle river and steelhead from winter into spring below the last dam in town.
The Boardman is the river to know in Traverse City if you fish or paddle. The Watershed Center ranks it among Michigan’s top ten trout streams, and it is one of the state’s 16 designated Natural Rivers. Between paddlers, anglers and hikers, estimates run up to two million user days a year.
It is a river in the middle of a comeback. Three dams came out in a restoration project: Brown Bridge in 2012, Boardman in 2017 and Sabin in 2018. That work reconnected more than 160 miles of river and tributaries and restored more than 250 acres of wetland and floodplain, by the Conservation Resource Alliance’s count. The Union Street Dam in Traverse City is the only original dam still standing.
For a paddle, look to the middle river, with landings from Brown Bridge down to the Boardman Valley Nature Preserve. Know your limits: the stretch from Beitner to Jack’s Landing, through the Keystone Rapids, is for experienced paddlers only.
Anglers find brown trout along much of the river, with steelhead, Chinook salmon and yellow perch below the Union Street Dam. Steelhead fishing runs from winter, on the open stretches, into spring. In town the river flows through Boardman Lake, ringed by the Boardman Lake Loop trail, which connects to the Boardman/Ottaway River Trail. The map pin marks downtown Traverse City, where the river meets the bay.
The river rises in the Mahan Swamp in north-central Kalkaska County. It flows southwest for about 40 miles, then turns north for nine more to reach Grand Traverse Bay. The whole system drains about 186,000 acres and includes some 130 miles of stream. Conservation groups, including The Watershed Center and the Conservation Resource Alliance, now call it the Boardman-Ottaway River, recalling Ottaway, the name the Anishinaabe used for it.
On the water
Paddling
Paddling, fishing and hiking are the main reasons people come to the river, with estimates of up to two million user days a year. On the middle river, the stretch from Beitner to Jack's Landing, including the Keystone Rapids, is for experienced paddlers only. Wear a life jacket, expect downed trees, and stay off the fragile banks of the old impoundments now being restored.
Fishing
Where you fish decides what you fish for. On the Michigan DNR's list of better fishing waters, the river below the Union Street Dam is good for brown trout, Chinook salmon, steelhead and yellow perch, the stretch between the old Sabin and Brown Bridge dam sites for brown trout and steelhead, and the river above the old Boardman Dam site for brown trout. The river holds self-sustaining brown, brook and resident rainbow trout and 36 miles of Blue Ribbon trout water. Check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
Stocking
The DNR stocked coho salmon every year from 2016 through 2026, rainbow trout from 2016 to 2020 and 2022 to 2026, Chinook salmon in 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024 and 2026, and lake sturgeon in 2024 and 2025. Arctic grayling went into the North Branch in Kalkaska County in 2025.
In winter
Open stretches stay fishable in winter for trout and steelhead, though some access areas, including Sheck's and the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, close for the season. The DNR has reported steelhead caught on the river in January and through the spring, including near the mouth.
Public boat launches
Brown Bridge Landing
On Brown Bridge Road east of Garfield Road. Platform launch, dirt and grass parking, seasonal vault toilet. About 7 river miles (roughly 2.5 hours) to Shumsky.
Shumsky Canoe Launch
On Shumsky Road off River Road. Primitive launch with a large gravel lot and a vault toilet. About 1.5 hours to Beitner.
Beitner Park Landing
Near Beitner and Keystone roads. Platform launch down a few steps, very limited parking, seasonal vault toilet. The rapids below here are for experienced paddlers.
Jack's Landing at Cass Road
Just upstream of the Cass Road bridge. Gravel landing, parking and a vault toilet; you can drive to the river only to load and unload.
Boardman Valley Nature Preserve Landing
Off Racquet Club Drive from South Airport Road. Accessible landing with paved parking and a vault toilet, for taking out only, not launching.
Boat, kayak and paddleboard rentals
- Ranch Rudolf
Canoe and single kayak rentals with a shuttle upriver (trips end at the ranch), plus 2-mile and 4-mile tube floats, as listed on its site.
Listed because their own sites say they rent on this water. Not an endorsement, and we have no ties to them. Check with them for what is available.
Fishing, launching at a state site or parking at a state park? See licenses and passes for what you need before you go.
Anything not listed here is unverified. Do not assume public access across private riverbanks. Check the Michigan DNR boating access listings and the current fishing regulations.
Location
Map of Boardman River
2 places on an OpenStreetMap map
The pin marks one well-known point on the river, not its full course.
Places to stay near Boardman River
Riverfront homes and cabins are listed by the local rental managers and booking sites below.
Hotels and inns
Upscale
Delamar Traverse CityAAA Three Diamond · Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026 · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Mid-range
Park Place HotelAAA Three Diamond · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Budget
Cherry Tree Inn & SuitesTripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026 · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Search all hotels in Traverse City: Booking.com · Expedia · Hotels.com · Google Hotels
We don’t take bookings or earn anything from these links. Rates, availability and any booking problems are handled by the booking site.
More places to stay in Traverse City
- Old Mission Inn · An inn on the Old Mission Peninsula that dates to 1869 and is described as Michigan's oldest historic hotel, with rooms facing East Grand Traverse Bay.
- Antiquities' Wellington Inn · A bed and breakfast in a restored 1905 neoclassical mansion built for one of Traverse City's lumber barons, a short walk from downtown.
- Traverse City Tourism places to stay · The tourism bureau's directory of hotels, resorts, B&Bs, condos, cottages, campgrounds and vacation rentals in the Traverse City area.
Vacation rentals
- Golden Swan Management · goldenswanmgt.com
A Traverse City company that rents and manages vacation properties across northwest Michigan.
- Northland Vacation Rentals · northlandvacationrentals.com
A Traverse City rental company tied to Century 21 Northland, with cottages and homes in places such as Frankfort and Glen Arbor.
- Unsalted Vacations · unsaltedvacations.com
A West Michigan rental company with homes, cottages and cabins in areas including Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Manistee and Traverse City.
- Visit Up North Vacation Rentals · visitupnorth.com
A Traverse City rental company with homes, cottages and condos across Leelanau, Glen Arbor, the Benzie area and nearby Arcadia and Bear Lake.
Nearby towns
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances from the map point.
Trail
TART Trails
Traverse City's trail network, built around the 10.5-mile paved TART along the bay and linked to the Leelanau Trail, Boardman Lake Loop and VASA Pathway.
Under a mile away (straight line)
More lakes and rivers nearby
Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Boardman Lake
Traverse City's in-town lake, open to all boating but built for a kayak, a cast or a walk around the 4-mile Boardman Lake Loop just south of downtown.
- All-sports
- Public launch
Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Long Lake
An all-sports island lake near Traverse City: ski and tube, swim at two township beaches, picnic on four day-use islands, ice fish for walleye and pike.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch
Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Duck Lake
The state park lake at Interlochen: all-sports water up to 98 feet deep, with a beach, launches, summer paddleboard rentals, lake trout and ice fishing.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch
- Rentals