Trip Overview
Experience a winding waterway adventure on a 6-day canoeing trip along the Manistee River with Crystalaire Adventures!
The Manistee River is one of our most popular trips and fills quickly each season. This wide and clear river offers paddlers of all abilities a fun and exciting journey through beautiful forests, lowlands, and sandy bluffs.
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Campers will hone their paddling and current reading skills as we navigate our journey downstream. We'll stop to swim, hike, and explore along the way! At night, we'll camp along the riverside and fall asleep to the soothing sound of rippling water!
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Note: This trip can be done as a stand-alone program or paired with your camper's one- or two-week session at Camp Carvela or Camp Lookout as an "add-on" adventure.
Trip Type
Canoeing
Adventure
Group Size
10-12 Campers
2+ Guides
Grades
Middle School
Grades 6-8
Arrival/Departure
Crystalaire HQ
Traverse City, MI
Expedition Itinerary
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Day 1
Participants will meet at Moose Hall, aka "Crystalaire Adventures HQ," located at Camp Carvela.* Together, we'll pack up our gear and then travel to our boat launch along the Manistee River where we'll start our journey.
*Note: Campers joining this trip from Camp Lookout will be shuttled to Moose Hall via van by Project Foxwood staff.
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Days 2-5
In keeping with our choice-based learning and leadership philosophy, participants will collectively plan our trip itinerary. Together as a group, we'll choose our route and plan each day's activities, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that reflects the unique interests and personalities of our group. From swimming holes and rope swings to riverside hiking trails, there are countless ways to enjoy and explore the great Manistee! As we make our way downriver, we'll continue to learn about the land, each other, and ourselves.
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Day 6
On the final day of our trip, we'll paddle our final section of the river before pulling our boats from the river and heading back to Moose Lodge. Once back at the Lodge, we'll unload and clean our group gear and then say our final goodbyes to our new adventure buddies.
Camper pick-up will take place at Moose Lodge between 2-4 PM.
Trip Highlights
Here's what you can look forward to on your Manistee River adventure:
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Camper-led itinerary
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Small group size
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Leave-no-trace paddling
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Riverside camping
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Rope swinging
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and more!
Enroll
Enrollment for our 2025 Manistee River trips will OPEN SOON! Select your preferred trip date and then click "ENROLL" to complete your enrollment form.
Have questions? We'd love to chat! Please email us at info@crystalaireadventures for more information.
About the Manistee River
The Manistee River runs 190 miles through the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Thanks to its smooth, stable flow and clean, cold water, the Manistee is a popular destination for fishing, swimming, tubing, boating, and more!
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Learn more at rivers.gov.
More Trips to Consider
Looking for more adventures? Check out our lineup of upcoming trips and expeditions to find the one that's right for you!
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