Southern Gateway · Small town
Whitehall and Montague
Twin towns on White Lake for a mix of lighthouse, beach and bike trail, with Duck Lake State Park nearby and the start of the Hart-Montague Trail.
About 15 miles away (straight line)
River · Southern Gateway
White River
An easy Natural River float by tube, canoe or kayak near Hesperia, with Montague liveries, fall salmon, spring steelhead and quiet winter trout fishing.
Photo: Browermd, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
The White River is an easy, low-key float. Camp at Pines Point near Hesperia, drift an hour-long loop by tube, canoe or kayak, and fish for trout and salmon. For a longer trip, Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery near Montague rents canoes, kayaks, tubes and rafts and handles the shuttle.
Anglers time it to the runs below the dam at Hesperia: salmon in September, steelhead from October into spring, with April usually the peak. Winter is quiet, with trout and a few steelhead for those who go.
It rises in the Oxford Swamp of north-central Newaygo County and flows southwest through Oceana and Muskegon counties into White Lake, then on to Lake Michigan near Whitehall and Montague. It is one of Michigan’s 16 designated Natural Rivers, a program that uses zoning to protect the river’s natural character. The system drains about 300,000 acres and includes some 253 miles of streams.
Pines Point is the easy place to meet the river: a campground in the Huron-Manistee National Forests on the riverbank near Hesperia, with that loop float around the point. The coordinates on this page mark Pines Point.
Downstream, the river ends in White Lake at Whitehall and Montague, which connects through a navigation channel to Lake Michigan.
On the water
Motorboats and rules
Slow no-wake from the Hesperia village limit downstream to the East Garfield Road bridge.
Paddling
At the Forest Service's Pines Point site near Hesperia, you can float the river by canoe, kayak or tube on a leisurely loop of about an hour around the point. The canoe landing is walk-in.
Fishing
Trout, salmon and sucker are among the fish caught at Pines Point. Check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
Stocking
Rainbow trout (steelhead) in the Oceana County stretch most years from 2016 to 2026, and brown trout every year from 2016 to 2026 in Newaygo County.
In winter
Salmon run in September and steelhead follow in October and November below the Hesperia dam, with the best steelhead run usually in April. Winter is quiet, a time for brown and brook trout and a few steelhead. Check current DNR rules before you fish.
Public boat launches
Sengs boating access site
Carry-down launch on the South Branch with a small lot. You need a Recreation Passport for vehicles at state boating access sites.
Boat, kayak and paddleboard rentals
- Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery
Canoe, kayak, tube and raft rentals on the White River near Montague, with transportation, paddles and life jackets included.
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
Summer
Pines Point Campground, on the riverbank in the Huron-Manistee National Forests, has family and group sites along the river, with tubing, canoeing and kayaking right there.
Location
Map of White 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 White River
Riverfront homes and cabins are listed by the local rental managers and booking sites below.
Hotels and inns
Upscale
Michillinda LodgeListed by the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau · Listed by Pure Michigan, the state travel bureau
Confirm details before booking.
Budget
The Weathervane InnListed by the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau · Listed by Pure Michigan, the state travel bureau
Search all hotels in Whitehall and Montague: 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.
Nearby towns
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances from the map point.
Historic site
The Playhouse at White Lake (Howmet Playhouse)
Whitehall's 1916 theater, renovated and renamed the Playhouse at White Lake, with summer theater, Michigan music, films and youth theater.
About 15 miles away (straight line)
Trail
Hart-Montague Trail
A 22-mile rail trail state park between Montague and Hart, through woods, orchards, farms and the village of New Era.
About 15 miles away (straight line)
Lighthouse
White River Light Station
An 1875 brick lighthouse at the White Lake channel, now a maritime museum, with a 38-foot tower you can climb in season.
About 20 miles away (straight line)
More lakes and rivers nearby
Lake · Southern Gateway
White Lake
An all-sports lake between Whitehall and Montague: ski, tube and cruise, with marinas, pontoon and kayak rentals and a channel out to Lake Michigan.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch
- Rentals
Lake · Southern Gateway
Muskegon Lake
A big all-sports harbor lake at Muskegon: ski, tube and sail, with full-service marinas, five launches, a channel to Lake Michigan and winter perch.
- All-sports
- Public launch
Lake · Ludington & Manistee
Pentwater Lake
An all-sports harbor lake at Pentwater with two marinas and a channel to Lake Michigan. Swim at Mears State Park; ice fish the lake in winter.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch