Benzie & Sleeping Bear · Small town
Glen Arbor
Your base for northern Sleeping Bear Dunes: a small town between Lake Michigan and Glen Lake, about 4 miles from the Dune Climb by trail.
About 2 miles away (straight line)
River · Benzie & Sleeping Bear
Crystal River
A gentle, clear, shallow float for families and first-time paddlers, winding from Glen Lake to Lake Michigan at Glen Arbor.
Photo: Jim Sorbie, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
The Crystal River is an easy paddle at Sleeping Bear: a gentle, clear, shallow float for families and first-timers. Rent a canoe or kayak in Glen Arbor and plan on two to three hours.
The water runs clear over sand and is rarely deeper than a foot. The river winds through curves in the northern part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and you may see deer, beaver and herons along the banks. The one thing to plan for is a large culvert under a road bridge, which you can run or portage around.
It is the outlet of Glen Lake. The river leaves Fisher Lake below a dam that holds the lake level and empties into Lake Michigan just north of Glen Arbor. The Glen Lake Association puts it at about 6.2 miles long and 15 to 20 feet wide.
Before you set off, check the posted water levels at the launch. Levels go up and down, and the habitat is fragile. The map pin marks the national lakeshore’s Crystal River access.
On the water
Public access
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has a Crystal River access with a launch for canoes, kayaks and small boats. A wayside sign there shows current water levels and paddler instructions. Entrance fees may apply in the park.
Paddling
Expect gentle current, meandering curves and very clear water rarely more than a foot deep, which makes this a good river for families and beginners. At a large culvert under a road bridge you can ride through (take the middle of the three tubes, with your life vest fastened, and sit low) or carry around. The park's suggested trip runs from M-22 north of Glen Arbor to County Road 675 and on to Fisher Road, and outfitters in Glen Arbor rent canoes and kayaks.
Fishing
Look for bass, sunfish and pike in the river's warm water. The Crystal is also a designated cold-water trout stream. Check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
In winter
The occasional steelhead turns up in winter; the DNR noted a few in the Crystal River in February 2021.
Public boat launches
Crystal River access (Sleeping Bear Dunes)
Canoe, kayak and small-boat launch near Glen Arbor. Read the wayside sign for current water levels before you set off, and clean, drain and dry your boat afterward.
Boat, kayak and paddleboard rentals
- Crystal River Outfitters
Kayak and canoe trips of 2 to 3 hours on the Crystal River that finish back at the Glen Arbor shop. Also delivers paddleboards.
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.
Through the seasons
Location
Map of Crystal 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 Crystal River
Riverfront homes and cabins are listed by the local rental managers and booking sites below.
Hotels and inns
Upscale
The HomesteadListed by the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau · Listed by the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce
Search all hotels in Glen Arbor: 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 Glen Arbor
- The Sylvan Inn · An 1885 inn in the village of Glen Arbor with 14 guest rooms, a short walk from shops and on the route of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.
- Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce places to stay · The local chamber's listings of lodges, resorts, B&Bs, private homes, campgrounds and rental companies around Glen Arbor and Glen Lake.
Vacation rentals
- Left Coast Vacation Rentals · leftcoastvacationrentals.com
A Leelanau County rental and property management company with homes on and near Big and Little Glen Lake and elsewhere on the peninsula.
- 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.
- 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.
National park
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Dunes, high bluffs, beaches, inland lakes and two islands along 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in Benzie and Leelanau counties.
About 8 miles away (straight line)
More lakes and rivers nearby
Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear
Glen Lake
A clear two-basin lake at Glen Arbor: ski and cruise deep Big Glen from the marina, swim and paddle sandy Little Glen, ice fish for perch in winter.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch
- Rentals
Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear
Lake Leelanau
A long, clear, all-sports lake down the Leelanau Peninsula: walleye in both basins, lake trout in the deep north, township beaches and winter ice fishing.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch
River · Benzie & Sleeping Bear
Platte River
An easy, clear, shallow river for tubing and paddling through Sleeping Bear Dunes to Platte Bay, with fall salmon and steelhead in fall and spring.
- Swim beach
- Public launch
- Rentals