Little Manistee River Michigan Kayak Camping Finale!

Part three of a three part series showcasing my experience on the beautiful 48 mile Little Manistee River in early October from the very beginning of navigable water at Spencer Bridge Public Access on N. Peacock Rd, all the way to Lake Michigan.
It may be possible to begin at the Old Grade Campground on Rt. 37 approx. three more miles up river from Spencer Bridge Public Access but the campground was closed at the time of my thru-paddle.
Gaia GPS Files:
Day 1: www.gaiagps.com/public/R7yB1j...
Day 2: www.gaiagps.com/public/OmbhSu...
Day 3: www.gaiagps.com/public/os09Go...
Starting location at Spencer Bridge: maps.app.goo.gl/7rSX5qvXme8ha...
Night one: maps.app.goo.gl/3BJtmoMgCT3C6...
Several good stealth camping areas on river right before Driftwood Rec area:
maps.app.goo.gl/ZMTS3pvQvWJD9...
Bear Track Campground: maps.app.goo.gl/GEP3oxEuLTSuP...
Little Manistee Weir (with camping, maybe?) maps.app.goo.gl/AkGWt9KEbJeTM...
Night two, somewhere just beyond this private property here: maps.app.goo.gl/BA5uwLvJLvz8M...
0:00-1:20 intro
1:20-3:30 breakfast over the fire
3:30-10:09 finishing the Little Manistee River
10:09-16:11 paddling across Lake Manistee
16:11-18:20 paddling through the channel towards Lake Michigan
18:20-21:02 entering Lake Michigan and drone shots
21:02-22:09 final comments and outro
Other Michigan kayaking trips mentioned:
Big Manistee River
• The Big Manistee River...
Pine River
• Pine River Kayaking Ad...
Ausable River
• Kayak Camping Adventur...

[@FjHenderson]

It's a little late but I believe those tubes on the hill are the tubes they use to dredge the river entrance up into Manistee lake. They have to dredge it every few years because of all the sand that comes down the rivers. Ot would make sense to drag them up the hill so the water would drain out. And the main plants aling the shore of Manistee lake is a cardboard producer, and morton sakt on the east side. There are lots of salt brine wells all over the area.

[@jasonwish-]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing that!

[@thomasc7332]

Another Cool video. The ending with the drone was cool and a fitting closure to your epic journey!

[@jasonwish-]

Man that was fun trip! I will be back there again someday to get some of those salmon! Thanks!

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

What an amazing paddle Jason! I would love to make a trip like this! Thanks for letting me live vicariously through your videos! Congrats on the accomplishment!

[@jasonwish-]

Hey Chris! Always glad to hear that others are ablle to live vicariouly through my vids! It definitely felt like quite an accomplishment to paddle out into Lake Michigan....so fun!

[@billmitchell7731]

Hey brother Chris. Long time . My notifications have been crazy. You will see me soon. Hey this is a great channel. I was born and raised in Michigan. Live in Arkansas now. 👍🏻👍🏻🙏

[@Steve-ji9rj]

What a finish to that trip!! Great video. That’s why we do it….beautiful scenery and the take out on the beach was awesome!!

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Steve! It was certainly one of my most memorable kayaking trips!

[@aslidjoko8538]

Good and I am enjoyed your kayaking trip...god bless you

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@billmitchell7731]

Like number 92. You made it. Lake manatee has some great fishing 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! That was a great trip, planning on going back next October with my brothers to catch some salmon!

[@billmitchell7731]

​@@jasonwish- There in their👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@paulluthman799]

Great videos. And thank you for always being so detailed, has really helped my friends and I recreate some of your trips.

[@jasonwish-]

So glad to hear that they have been helpful, it really keeps me motivated to put the extra time into filming and editing...I appreciate the kind words!

[@anthony_privett]

Another great video. Thanks for sharing your adventure with everyone.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Anthony, glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for watching!

[@Dan-kb9dr]

There's Morton salt, PCA and Martin Marietta. 3 factories along manistee lake. Also thats a train bridge toward the channel

[@jasonwish-]

appreciate the info!

[@swilliams2575]

Awesome trip! Thanks for taking us along.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Very fun and relaxing trip!

[@weekendwithbevoblog2171]

Jason, thanks for making such a wonderful video and good luck with your endeavours over the next few months 👍

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@nickbates4554]

Love the drone footage. Awesome series.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Nick! I always struggle to take the time to get the drone out but when I see the footage after the trip I'm always glad I did and often wish I had done more.

[@HillOrStream]

Pretty cool, the sections no one does! I have been tempted to do part of this down to the city just before the lake where there is a little access w/parking.

[@jasonwish-]

I know exactly where you are talking about, that's a great spot to park and pull out.

[@jamesosborne5950]

When I see a Jason wish video notification. All I can do is smile . Great video and the red and yellows on the trees were beautiful.

[@jasonwish-]

Comments like these make me smile as well! So glad to hear that you still enjoy them! I certainly picked a great time to go in the fall, often the weather can be nasty that time of year.

[@SinchuwusOutside]

Awesome ending Jason!! Thanks for sharing. -dave

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Dave! The drone really did great at showing off that beautiful Michigan water!

[@ssheldon3042]

Looks like a cement plant to me! Awesome trip, I am feeling inspired !

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! Someone else said it was a box/packaging plant.

[@markogletree2790]

Wow what a great adventure! My wife and I kayak the big Manistee every year. Watching these three videos makes me want to do the little Manistee. But anyway great videos.

[@jasonwish-]

Definitely worth considering, if you do just plan your camping spots a little better than I did 😉 thanks!

[@talldude5841]

Same with all of your videos, I have to watch them nonstop. They seem to get better and better. Just thought you would like to know.

[@jasonwish-]

I really appreciate you mentioning that...it makes me want to get better at videography and editing and story telling...glad you enjoy them!

[@JoeNajorFishing]

What an amazing series of videos. Great float man! I just came across your channel. New sub from Michigan! 🙌🎣🛶

[@jasonwish-]

Glad you enjoyed the series and thanks so much for the sub, I got many more Michigan trips planned, i will definitely be back there again this fall, love Michigan!

[@bethballein3073]

Great video!! I was waiting to see if you got your coffee! 😂

[@jasonwish-]

I never did! Once I got near the end I kinda forgot about it and just wanted to make sure I didn't forget to film a good ending. I wish I would have been offered some along the river...that would have been awesome!

[@JourneyontheTrail]

Man what an awesome trip!! And that ending filming was sweet! Fun to follow along on this one. I feel for you on the lake sections though…I feel like that a lot here in southern Ohio….most of the water down here gets so slow in the Summer. Thanks as always for sharing bud!

[@jasonwish-]

So many rivers in Michigan to exlpore...if I could make a living at kayaking and hiking I would be changing careers right now, lol! Yep, I'll pass on lakes and stagnent rivers but sometimes that's all we get in Ohio. Thanks AJ!

[@JourneyontheTrail]

@@jasonwish- with you there bud! Were you able to get that coffee pretty soon after getting off the water?

[@jasonwish-]

@@JourneyontheTrail never did...i was so focused on getting good footage of my finish that I forgot and by then I was on the lookout for lunch!

[@7Thunders777]

If You had stopped in front of a house and yelled. Hey You in the house I forgot to pack My coffee ! HELP ! Someone would have brought You some. I would after stopping laughing.

[@jasonwish-]

Believe me, I thought about it but unfortunately, I saw a very few people out in the morning. I still should’ve tried it though, it would’ve made for some good footage ha ha!

[@TheVikingSasquatch]

Those wide lake paddles SUCK! 😂 We do Lake Ouachita in Arkansas periodically (you should check it out). May have a trolling motor on my next trip. 🤣🤣

[@jasonwish-]

That would be awesome! We've even joked about taking a leaf blower lol. This fall we might be taking an RV trip to the Ozarks, any must see areas?

[@TheVikingSasquatch]

@jasonwish- Lake Ouachita is awesome. Mark Twain national forest has a lot of hiking trails. Around Eminence you have 3 great rivers to float with a TON of beautiful springs (Current,Jacks Fork, Eleven Point). A lot of nice trails and floats at Devils Den and on the Buffalo River.

[@DMSAdventures]

But did you get your COFFEE? Haha i was telling Mister how you lost your drone on the mad river and so you probably weren't going to send it up while on the river! We looked at the end of the paddle on Google maps... ya that is quite a haul across the Manistee lake! Took us a while but we finally got to watching the rest of the series! That food DID look amazing. Benefit of kayaking multiday vs backpacking! Great adventure Mr. Wish!!

[@jasonwish-]

I don't think I ever ended up getting a coffee until at a gas station an hour after I was on the road to home, and of course it was a crappy cup, lol. Glad you guys finally got through the series! Cooking over the fire on a kayak trip is the best! Thanks so much for watching!

[@dennybeehler741]

That Factory is PCA. Packaging corporation of America. Basically they make cardboard if I’m not mistaken.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks for the info…pretty big factory.

[@codychase-zw8ek]

Jason great trip I have a family cabin just across 37 about a mile from old grade and my grandmother has a cottage at Johnsons bridge if your every up in these woods let me know if ya need a partner; btw the Old Grade Campground park manager is my neighbor

[@jasonwish-]

Dang I'm jealous! We hope to go back up there this Oct to try our luck at some salmon fishing. I sure wish I could have started at Old Grade, then I would have felt like i started at the pretty much very beginning of navigable water. Thanks Cody!

[@rosesmith6208]

that drone footage make s you look tiny, that water s alot bigger when you use sky footage.

[@jasonwish-]

Sure did! Lake Michigan is a beast! I need to try to fly the drone more often in my videos to give perspective.

[@darkspruce]

The make cardboard boxes there.

[@jasonwish-]

interesting, thanks

[@darrenroberts1713]

Another job well done, really appreciate it when you have vidz of our Great State of Michigan....! Saginaw Bay Basin river system might be fun for ya, maybe not, but it would be an adventure for ya tho if ur interested ..... GOBLUE!

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Darren! I love Michigan, so many beautiful rivers and lakes! But I love my Buckeyes too…looks like the rivalry will remain strong…after 20 years of winning at home it was loosing its luster a bit for me, go bucks! 😁

[@darrenroberts1713]

Ya buddy, keep the vidz rollin!!!〽️