Au Sable River Kayak Camping - Michigan - From Chase Bridge to 4001 Bridge Landing

In September 2021, Will, Justin, Tony, and I took a long paddle starting on the south branch of the Au Sable River at Chase Bridge in Roscommon, Michigan. We finished at 4001 bridge landing on the main Au Sable River. This three day, two night adventure took us through some of Michigan’s pristine national forests along a National Wild and Scenic Waterway. The Au Sable River is an extremely pleasant and easy ride with tons of information on the internet, perfect for inexperienced or beginner paddlers. I can not recommend this ride enough to everyone. I can not wait to get back and paddle it again some day!!
Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free...

[@bossandbellamoss]

Yall have to come to Rocka dock 2023!! Its a kayak and camping trip in Florida for a bunch of paddlers

[@BRUjank]

Oh I’m looking into this for sure haha thanks!

[@D_2387]

Been going down the AuSable my whole life. Glad to see that it continues to get the recognition it deserves.

[@BRUjank]

It deserves everything. That river is amazingly beautiful.

[@centurion726]

I spent every summer growing up in Higgins lake/Roscommon and this was a yearly canoe trip back in the 70's

[@D_2387]

@@centurion726 it was pretty much a weekly thing for my parents and their friends back in the 80's/90's. I've been doing the same thing myself. I always love the opportunity to show it to new people

[@-BUGZ-]

My Dads family is from Oscoda and Tawas, all lived on the beach of Huron, so I grew up on this river and still have so many pictures from the early to mid 90s going down in canoes. I remember my first few trips were rough because I was so little and used to the smaller Rifle river near my Grandparents cabin on my moms side and it’s a really small river compared to the Mighty AuSable. I like it because I don’t get as hung up on trees in the side where almost the giant wolf spiders build massive nests and love to hitch rides with you and bite you a few times. It’s been about 15 years since I went and my brother and I are planning a trip for next summer.

[@motivemachineworks6890]

Gearing up to do the whole Au sable from Grayling to Oscoda In a little over a month. Getting very exited. I'm going to make a video of my own on a new channel eventually as well. Really Nice video you made. I can't wait!

[@BRUjank]

SO MUCH FUN! I look forward to watching the video and re-living some memories for myself! Just remember when you finish up to reflect on the fact that the canoe marathon people do that entire stretch in about 14 hours 🤣😂🤣 I would recommend taking it a bit slower than that.. your going to have a blast!

[@motivemachineworks6890]

@@BRUjank That literally blows my mind that people do that in 14 hours! lol. I have done 50 mile trips before and based off of that, I am going to give myself 6 days to do this, but I am going to allot for 7 days just to be safe. I want to enjoy it and not just paddle as fast as possible too. I'll be sure to post a comment once I get the video done!

[@curlyrooster118]

Yes, indeed my back yard is nice. My extended back yard, that is.

[@BRUjank]

It’s honestly the best..

[@mattachtemeier5296]

nice! im might check that out next season!

[@BRUjank]

Highly recommended it!!

[@steven_k117]

I've camped at Meadow Springs a few times. Best section of the river is between Mio and Glennie.

[@BRUjank]

Everything in that section beyond Mio is great.. such a great stretch for overnighters!!

[@joshhartmann3854]

Good content !!!

[@BRUjank]

Thanks!

[@charlesnorthruo4221]

Guys that was an amazing video man that looks like so much fun thank you for sharing man that is awesome

[@BRUjank]

I really appreciate the comment! We had so much fun.

[@mackjenkins7721]

Man this was a nice video. you guys had a nice kayak camping trip. I love kayak camping especially when you have a group this size or bigger. It look like you had very nice weather to besides the wind. I like how all you guys was kayaking barefooted 👣 Style. I have to kayak Barefooted 👣 Style because i have big very very extremely wide feet with very chubby fat wide toes that are equally straight across making my foot very very wide at 6 1/2 inches wide from my big toe to my lil toe. There's no shoes , socks , or boot that's wide enough to fit my foot. Good video thank you for sharing.

[@TheKds9999]

Looks like a great trip

[@BRUjank]

It was an awesome time!

[@Fishaholicboy]

Looked like such an awesome kayak/camping trip!

[@BRUjank]

It was an absolute blast fishaholic!! Highly recommend it.

[@fisherbryan381]

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a cool place.

[@Tastewithnewdrinks]

Amazing adventure, keep going.👍😍

[@billmitchell7731]

Greatest state in the nation 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@BRUjank]

Michigan is top notch..

[@billmitchell7731]

@@BRUjank 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@JustTheBob]

I did the muskegon river a few years ago from Houghton lake to the muskegon lake. it was an awesome journey.

[@BRUjank]

The Muskegon from croton to newaygo is my go-to float!! I love it.

[@rkw4565]

Man, what a fun trip. Great birding, too!

[@BRUjank]

Great nature everywhere up there!

[@ahilbilyredneksopinion]

Hay man,thanks for taking me along,what a nice trip.wish I could do it myself,but you almost took me there anyways.....thanks again.

[@BRUjank]

Thanks for your comment!

[@brymanley]

I go camping along the river at Smith's Bridge all the time!

[@BRUjank]

I loved it there, I don’t blame ya!!

[@Njennings42]

Great times man. I live in Mio! It's pronounce like My-Oh, I totally hear what you're talking about with the challenge of the retention pond though haha. I just did Mio to Alcona this last fall and those backwater ponds are rough. I hope you enjoyed floating our river, I plan on doing a manistee river trip this spring!

[@BRUjank]

Me - oh - my - oh that part of the state is gorgeous haha the Manistee and the au sable are 🙌 beautiful rivers. You will have a blast floating the Manistee!

[@nickchernoby1508]

Now I must gear up and go😊

[@BRUjank]

Love this… I hope you do!

[@letsgoracing745]

How cool! I've done a 24 hour trip and slept in that very chapel overnight! I'm gonna be heading back for a trip all the way out to Oscoda, great video.

[@BRUjank]

I think about that chapel often.. awesome spot.

[@deepwoodguy2]

When you get to Oscoda, say HI for me to the former Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda...thanks

[@letsgoracing745]

@@deepwoodguy2 I've already done it! Five Channels was beautiful!!! Sorry for your luck with the pleasantries 🤣

[@deepwoodguy2]

@@letsgoracing745 👍

[@nancyhainline2517]

Nice float. No kinks or scary snags. Was surprised you packed so much for just a 2 nite camp out?! Would love to do a similar trek. MO has neat rivers, too. Bought kayak this year, but have only been once. (bummer). Thanks for sharing.

[@BRUjank]

Yea we packed way too much! Haha lessons learned. I have heard great things about the rivers in MO! I would definitely check them out!

[@dalevodden1359]

That one guy in your group if he puts any more weight on the back of that kayak he'll sink he is definitely sitting way low in the water although I prefer canoe cuz you can hold ahead and a lot more in a canoe than you can a kayak

[@BRUjank]

Yea if a bird landed on that thing it could have been a disaster.. definitely too much weight!

[@campfireaddict6417]

Used to live in Oscoda. It's beautiful up there.

[@BRUjank]

It’s so beautiful…

[@thedude5342]

Did this as a kid in a canoe

[@BRUjank]

I’ll bet it was the best! It’s a special river.

[@dbowtech6737]

Have you guys made the starting of the Ausable Canoe Martathon? It begins at 9pm every last Saturday in July starting at Grayling to Oscoda. Quite a spectacle to follow all night long rooting for your paddlers at the bridges along the river. They start arriving in Oscoda between 11am and noon on Sunday.

[@BRUjank]

Funny story.. while we were paddling on this trip we were talking about forming a team and joining the canoe marathon. We thought, “how hard can it be? We can paddle all night..” Then I actually looked up a KZbin video of the actual marathon… those people go HARD!! Haha there is no way we would’ve been able to compete 😂😂 I would love to go watch that live sometime. Maybe I will see you up there this summer!! 👍

[@barrywalker9557]

Great video, we are planning a trip there in July. I am looking for camp sites, can you just camp on state land anywhere along the river? Or do you have to go to Camps like Rainbow Bend? I am also looking for somewhere around Mio Pond/Dam.

[@BRUjank]

There are some dispersed camps along the river, but there is plenty of private property too so you can’t exactly camp anywhere. If you are camping downstream from mio dam you will be in the National Forest and there is camping all along that stretch! You are going to have a blast! Enjoy.

[@johnthomson8332]

We always start right after the Mio damn pond, best scenery is found from there on down river. Also I think those are sandhill cranes not blue Herons.

[@BRUjank]

That section of river was amazing. I wish everyone could experience it!

[@johnthomson8332]

@@BRUjank I just did a day trip today, that's why I was watching you're vids the other day. What is you're favorite river in MI?

[@atheaterguysadventureswith7351]

Couple camp questions along Au Sable. In the camp grounds - did you have to pay a fee? I saw a hammock. I have a group of four that kayak camp and we all use hamocks. Would there be enough trees for multiple hammocks?

[@BRUjank]

During the summer season the sites are actually reservable and they are ten dollars. We went in September so they were first come first serve. The campgrounds are variable, but most are wooded enough for multiple hammocks I would say! The section of river below Mio dam has all national forest campgrounds that are reasonably spaced apart. So if your first choice isn’t fitting you, it’s usually not too far till the next camp.. you really shouldn’t have a problem though!! Land of the pine trees up there, hammock heaven!!

[@flushot6513]

Who says money doesn't but happiness is full of shit to have a place along there

[@Eric-rr3zd]

Has anybody done the north branch and Grayling? I am wondering what people think is the nicest one. This looks pretty awesome at the start.

[@BRUjank]

Yes, both are well travelled I believe. I remember seeing some info online about the north branch.. grayling to the south branch is “the holy waters” for fly fisherman so that area is well traveled and well liked!!

[@el9206]

I'm a big fan of the manistee, but always looking for wide, calm water. My biggest concern though, is camping. Can you camp anywhere that isn't a back yard?

[@BRUjank]

There are different rules for dispersed camping depending on if you are in state or National Forest, or wilderness/game area etc... It’s helpful to read up a bit on them if you are looking to have that kind of experience. The Manistee runs through a ton of state and national forest, I think there are lots of options for riverside camping along the upper Manistee, but I have not done this portion myself… as for the portion of Manistee below Hodenpyl dam, the camping is all marked in designated areas, but it’s abundant! So, depending on what kind of experience you want, camping shouldn’t be a problem for you along the Manistee! If you were looking to just camp anywhere along the river it helps to have an app telling you ownership of the parcel of land you are on, but these cost money.. otherwise make sure you have some idea where you are going before you embark on the adventure!! If you’re trying to make it all the way to Lake Michigan, there is not a ton of camping along the lower portions of the river, I do know that from experience..

[@RATTTSOvertheHillGaming]

How many miles di you go ? Looks like a very nice & easy River

[@BRUjank]

I’m not positive about the mileage but I would guess around 40ish. It is one of the nicest and easiest rivers you could ask for. Highly recommend for people looking for a pleasant float!

[@anotherbrandedlawrence]

Such a perfect river for pretty much any kayaking adventure. Cannot wait to revisit!!

[@mdmurray550]

What time of day did u first start at Chase Bridge?

[@BRUjank]

If my memory is correct, I want to say we were on the river by like 10 am.

[@wmurray23]

You pronounced Mio incorrectly, also those pine trees aren’t groomed

[@BRUjank]

Thanks

[@tom1966mac]

Pronounced, Awe-Saw-ble

[@BRUjank]

Thanks

[@judypeeklueer5484]

I hope that dude wasn’t throwing his cigarette butts in the river. 🤢

[@BRUjank]

We take leave no trace principle pretty seriously when we are out in nature, including collecting all the butts in a receptacle if you smoke! No cigs in the water with this group..

[@judypeeklueer5484]

@@BRUjank Great! I pick up as much as I can when camping/hiking. Especially, little pieces of plastic and balloons.

[@Jason-gt6ko]

Most don't care. They think the river is just for them. I find beer cans and trash all along the banks. I watched some little asshole empty his canoe of trash in the water.

[@dalevodden1359]

And if that dude puts one more bag on that kayak he's going to sink