Rifle River

Rifle River
River
Country USA
State Michigan
Counties Ogemaw, Arenac
Cities Selkirk, Omer
Source
 - location Ogemaw County, Michigan, USA
 - coordinates 44°23′58″N 84°01′57″W / 44.39944°N 84.03250°W
Mouth Saginaw Bay
 - location Arenac County, Michigan, USA
 - elevation 577 ft (176 m)
 - coordinates 43°59′34″N 83°49′15″W / 43.99278°N 83.82083°WCoordinates: 43°59′34″N 83°49′15″W / 43.99278°N 83.82083°W
Length 60 mi (97 km)
Basin 385 sq mi (997 km2)
Discharge for Saginaw Bay
 - average 181 cu ft/s (5 m3/s)

Rifle River is a 60.3-mile-long (97.0 km)[1] river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises in northeastern Ogemaw County and flows through Arenac County to enter Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron.[2] Once a logging river during the Michigan forestry boom at the turn of the 20th century, the river is now primarily used for recreation, and is a state-designated natural river. It is a popular river for canoeing, with no portages or dams and an average depth of 18 inches, to 5 feet in downtown Omer. It is also known for having one of the best White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) runs in the state of Michigan, in the spring.

According to a historical map of Michigan published in 1831, the Rifle River may have previously been referred to as Grindstone Creek.[3]

Canoe liveries serving the Rifle River

Springs form small creeks - like this one - that run into and feed the Rifle River.

Several private canoe operators provide equipment rental and transportation for river trips along the Rifle River.

Sterling, MI (Central portion of the Rifle River - Most Popular)

Omer, MI (Lower portion of the Rifle River)

See also

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed November 7, 2011
  2. ↑ "Rifle River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. ↑ Michigan State University Map Library

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rifle River.