The Big Manistee River Kayak Camping Adventure | Seaton Creek to Tippy Dam Boat Ramp

Join us for two nights of camping and kayaking on the beautiful Big Manistee River starting at Seaton Creek Campground just above Hodenpyle Dam and ending at Tippy Dam Pond boat ramp aka Norman’s Landing in Tippy Dam. This short trip was the prelude to our main event of thru-paddling the 42 mile Pine River.
Pine River Thru-Paddle: • Pine River Kayaking Ad...

[@jamesosborne5950]

Here I am 3 years later in 2024 watching this video again I love it so much

[@jasonwish-]

That was a really fun trip, will definitely be on that section again someday!

[@dabeev]

I watch these series every single year, like a month out from my yearly trip to Tippy. Love these videos, hope he makes more of the Manistee area.

[@jasonwish-]

@@dabeev glad to hear that you enjoy them and don’t worry, I have many many kayaking trips in the works. If it wasn’t for my busy farming operation, I would be putting out a new kayak series every other month.

[@brandysears3546]

Sending support, love, and kindness from Lexington, MI, USA.

[@jasonwish-]

I appreciate it!

[@AdventureChasing]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I just found your channel and am a new subscriber👊

[@jasonwish-]

Hey thanks so much for the sub, So glad you enjoyed the video! Lots of new adventures coming down the pipeline soon!

[@EraOneSamael]

Always love your videos. But there's something special about buddy videos. Shug and Hickery, Frozen and Gary, and Jason Wish and the Colonel. Great video!

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! Haven’t watched much of Shug and Hickory but certainly enjoy Frozen and Gary. I actually did a through hike of the Laurel Highlands hiking trail with Frozen and Gary two years ago, had a great time hiking with those two.

[@kirbyrobertson1255]

I stayed at that exact Seaton Creak site in 2018... Great spot!

[@jasonwish-]

Love that site! I also stayed at the same one another time but just inside the woods in my hammock.

[@jamesosborne5950]

I watched this over a year ago and still love it today as much as I did then .

[@jasonwish-]

That was a pretty fun trip, definitely have a lot of great memories from that one!

[@ericwest128]

This is so awesome what you guys do but for me it would eat me alive doing this without having my fishing rod tag along. Great video .

[@jasonwish-]

I fished so much as a kid I got burnt out on it...but i'm sure i'll get back into it someday! Thanks!

[@jeremymalatt317]

Hey brother, just want to say I love your kayaking videos. I came across your channel a few weekends ago. Very cool. I'm new to kayaking and back on the winter time my wife baught me a kayak and when I came across your channel I came to find out that I have the same kayak as you do. I'm loving it so far. I'm having a blast with it. I'm also into backpacking and hiking and camping myself. I live in Maryland. You should come down here and do a paddle on the Potomac River there is plenty of campsites along the river on the C&O Canal. I can't wait to do a kayak/camping trip this summer. We'll brother, take it easy and can't wait to see a new kayaking video. 😁

[@jasonwish-]

Hey there thanks for the great comment! Sounds like a really cool area to kayak camp! The Perception Hook has been treating me well!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

boom! Very nice!! One day soon, I hope to have you and the Colonel grace my cameras! You guys would absolutely love the Namekagon/St Croix!

[@jasonwish-]

We will definitely grace your cameras someday! Thanks Pete!

[@brianpacer4245]

I'm from Ohio also. My wife's family has a cabin in Mesick... love that area. I've done the Black River goes into Black Lake.. look that up. Great Yakin and fishing

[@jasonwish-]

Boy, I would love to have a cabin up in that area, one of my favorite places in Michigan! I will definitely check out the black river, thanks!

[@brianpacer4245]

@jasonwish- me and my buddy are talking about doing a 4 day trip on a river.. not sure which one yet.

[@jasonwish-]

@@brianpacer4245 The Pine River might just be my favorite!

[@kenlodge3399]

Absolutely, you hit the nail on the head when it comes to the Manistee vs the Au Sable. The Manistee ain't got no houses, not like Au Sable and all those Ponds... referred to 'em as Backwater back in my day, days. And excellent camp sites galore. Though I gotta admit that after Red Bridge it is one big lake all the way to, Lake Michigan. Anyway I really enjoyed seeing the Manistee being floated, is the only river I did more then just once. Great video, great times.

[@jasonwish-]

Tippy Pond campsites were amazing too...I just love that whole area!

[@jamesosborne5950]

I have watched this 10x I bet . i cant wait for my trip here in 20 days .

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks for all the watch time James! Colonel and I actually might be heading back up there to tippy dam pond for two nights the week after July 4. We will be on his small motor boat this time instead of kayaks.

[@jamesosborne5950]

@@jasonwish- cant wait for the video. Good luck

[@jasonwish-]

@@jamesosborne5950 It was an epic trip! Video will be out in early August hopefully!

[@jailen461]

Jason I've watched this video two times. I'd just like to say that you and the colonell are good together. Both have great attitudes toward camping and enjoying things as they come. I'm next door in Indiana and have gone to both the Pine and the Manistee rivers. Both several times and well worth it. Thanks for sharing.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Denny! Those are some great Michigan rivers for sure. I will definitely be on them again in the future. Still nearly 200 miles of the Manistee to yet explore!

[@dbharby832]

Loving this series with the Colonel! Just keeps getting better! Thanks for the awesome content Jason!

[@jasonwish-]

I appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoy them! We love filming our adventures and I love editing them!

[@cgriggsiv]

Nothing like having some late summer beginning of fall fun with a kayaking camp

[@jasonwish-]

For sure! It was so fun!

[@deanhunt5344]

The big Manistee is excellent but the little Manistee is just as good hope you have a great time

[@jasonwish-]

I definitely want to hit the little Manistee in the next year or two!

[@jasonwish-]

Hey Dean, Heading up to do the little manistee this weekend, already have my shuttle and car spot taken care of but not sure how far up the river I should start, I’m going to scout out a little before I begin. Hoping to start all the way up at Peacock also considered irons or N. Johnson. Any knowledge you could share?

[@WealthandTravelonaDime]

An overall epic trip you guys lucked out on weather after rain . Look like tons fun on water and fun camps.

[@jasonwish-]

An absolutely beautiful place for a kayak camping trip for sure! And we definitely lucked out on the weather over all...thanks Tony!

[@dennybeehler741]

This is my home river. I live about 3 miles from Tippy Damn. Love your videos! just found your channel, now i have some watching to do.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Denny! I love the Manistee river, I’ve been on it three times so far can’t wait to thru paddle the entire thing!

[@dennybeehler741]

@@jasonwish- Through paddle from Deward to Lake Michigan?

[@jasonwish-]

Denny Beehler yes, it was supposed to happen last fall but plans fell through. I think it’s approximately 220 miles and will probably take me nine or 10 days I’m guessing.

[@dennybeehler741]

@@jasonwish- it is a long paddle! If you make it back up this way and have time for a good day paddle I recommend the Platte River in Benzie County fun river that empties out into Lake Michigan. Happy Paddling!

[@jasonwish-]

Denny Beehler I have heard of that river and that sounds great, any river that ends in Lake Michigan is a good ending!

[@ssheldon3042]

A Awesome trip!

[@JourneyontheTrail]

Love these kayak trips man!!

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you! I love making them!

[@captseamus]

Northern Michigan hills are all sand. I live in the mitt and a backhoe dug down for a hole to bury old tree branches. The backhoe dug down as far as the bucket could reach about 15ft... PURE BEACH SAND!

[@jasonwish-]

Wow, that is amazing!

[@brandon21g]

Looking forward to the pine river video. I like these longer running videos you’ve been putting out.

[@jasonwish-]

I know many don't like the longer videos but I'm glad some do! I hate to leave out so many memories of the trip by keeping the vids short. Working on the Pine edit now.

[@TheAverageAdventurer]

Awesome video, really enjoyed it! Take care.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

Man what an awesome kayaking trip! I would give anything for all those camping options on my home rivers down here. Looking forward to the Pine River Video. Thanks for sharing!

[@jasonwish-]

That had to be the most beautiful camping options i've ever seen! Working on the pine edit now! Thanks Chris!

[@YankeeTankerOutdoors]

so awesome - I have been wanting to do something like this in my kayak..

[@jasonwish-]

Fall kayaking would be amazing with the leaf color right now!

[@jamesosborne5950]

I went out on a sit in today for the first time ever and 5 min I was swimming lol then I tried a sit on and had no issues at all . I love kayaking im hooked after just one time . thanks in part to your videos . in 11 days ill be on the Manistee .cant wait

[@jasonwish-]

Glad to hear that the sit on top worked out for you. You’re gonna have an awesome time on the Manistee River!

[@jamesosborne5950]

Me my daughter and a couple of friends are kayak camping on the big Manistee in July 2021 cant wait .its my first kayak trip .you guys made me want to go even more . awesome video . were all from Ohio to

[@jasonwish-]

I'm confident you guys will have an amazing time! It was our favorite kayak trip ever! What section are you planning to paddle?

[@jamesosborne5950]

@@jasonwish- from hodenpyle dam to tippie dam I believe

[@dougr2279]

Awesome thanks.

[@jasonwish-]

thanks for watching!

[@happycamper8895]

45 degrees. Good sleeping weather. Great video. Hey congrats. You finally pronounced Ausabe correctly.

[@jasonwish-]

I’m finally learning lol, we had near perfect temps for a thru paddle!

[@dez3332]

Thanks for the great video of your river trip. Being a BWCA veteran I'm DYING for a wilderness-type canoe camping adventure. I've been searching for something and this might be it. Big Manistee is about 5hrs from my location so it looks like a great place for a 4-5 day solo paddle if I can't get a buddy to go. Lots of campsite choices. I'll need to find a good river map w/campsite designations first. Thanks again. 👍

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! Yes it is amazing river with even more amazing camping. You may need to go up river further or take the river all the way to Lake Michigan if you want to extend your trip a little. Or you can do what we did and do the pine river as well, video link should be at the end of the Manistee video. We also have a four part video series of the Au Sable river which flows the other direction to Lake Huron. There are several great websites that will show you were all the camping locations are along the river and they can be booked ahead of time at recreation.gov.

[@dez3332]

@@jasonwish- thanks, Jason.

[@cgriggsiv]

The odd part is with your broomsticks is that trucking poles are usually 48 in anyways for maximum performance for the tents that you have at least that's what I've always seen And that is one awesome little peninsula you are on

[@jasonwish-]

I kept thinking they were supposed to be 44 in but 48 turned out to be just right! Peninsula camping is great in cooler weather but not in the heat and humidity!

[@66bigbuds]

Sunday morning there was frost out there. I was on the beautiful manistee river trail. By the way there is free dispersed camping on the river and river trail. I also hike a lot on the NCT that goes through there. The longest National trail. 4600 miles from Vermont to North Dakota. Our cougar don't bother hikers but they chase runners, they can't help it its a natural instinct. But there are so many people there the animals aren't there. But there is a lot of wildlife on the NCT. On the river trail this last weekend there must have been 200 tents and hammocks. Down below tipi damn the river is full of salmon right now.

[@theportaprivy7426]

I parked at red Bridge this weekend and hiked 33 miles south and i didn't see any other hikers.

[@jasonwish-]

Love that trail! And yes, we are aware of all the free dispersed camping, that's one of the things I love about that Manistee section. But the sites in Tippy are the reservable sites on rec.gov, but we still saw many stealth sites there as well. I've been on several sections of the NCT in several states and yes it is an awesome trail system. There are cougar in Michigan??? I've never heard of that! I would love to catch a salmon on a kayak trip...that would be some great campfire dinner!

[@jasonwish-]

@@theportaprivy7426 Sounds like that's the direction to go!

[@colonel1979ab]

Oh yeah

[@All_Things_Out_Doors]

Just started watching but I have to ask....are you doing a full review of your dollar general trekking poles? Hahaha! Very creative!

[@jasonwish-]

I just might🤣🤣 Much easier that fashioning some sticks lol

[@All_Things_Out_Doors]

@@jasonwish-lol agreed ...thought it was brilliant

[@ChrisfromGeorgia]

Very Nice👍🏻 New sub here

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Chris!

[@TheKB24la]

Hey Jason! Thanks for all the great videos. My friends and I have gotten a lot of great info from watching them before we head out for our own hike at Porcupine and Pictured Rocks. We actually met you at MRT a few years ago. Then saw you again at Pictured Rocks the following year. Anyways we are planning a kayak trip in just a couple weeks on the Manistee and were curious how many miles a day is realistic to cover on the river in a kayak? Thanks! -Cory

[@jasonwish-]

Hey Corey, glad you guys were able to find my videos helpful! Since we only did a 14 mile section of the Manistee river I can’t speak of the other sections other than the section along the MRT. You could easily float that section in a half day but I wouldn’t count on doing 30 mile days if you’re wanting to enjoy the river and camp time. I like planning 15 to 20 mile days for relaxing trips, of course that depends on water levels and current. Hope that helps, just let me know if you have any other questions. My buddy and I really want to through paddle the entire Manistee one of these days.

[@TheKB24la]

@@jasonwish- Thank you for the reply!

[@adamschmidt7307]

I have tech question for you Jason. First I’ve wanted to tell you that I really love your content! My question is, what drone do you carry with you when you are kayaking/backpacking?

[@jasonwish-]

I currently use a DJI Mavic Mini. Before that I used the DJI Spark. Thanks Adam!

[@adamschmidt7307]

@@jasonwish- very cool! I’ve been debating about getting the mini 2. Do you like the mini?

[@jasonwish-]

@@adamschmidt7307 I love it except for when its windy out...it really struggles with over a 15 mph breeze, but when you need a small, compact drone for backpacking and kayaking I don't think it can be beat. It's so quick and easy to get up in the air. I would definitely get the mini 2 if I was needing one right now.

[@agilegold]

I'm still laughing about the broomstick trekking poles....

[@jasonwish-]

Man that was a great trip! Thank goodness for the Dollar General LOL!

[@richardreimers1301]

Um yea! Every time ya go to Seton creek campground, it rains.

[@jasonwish-]

Rain or not it’s still a very beautiful place! Hopefully next time I’m there it’s dry!

[@roberthall843]

Just curious why you don't use wheels transport your kayak?

[@jasonwish-]

I do. I used them on 6 portages on the Au Sable River the year prior but the Manistee section we did only had one and I didn’t mind not having them for that…one less thing to bring 😁

[@chrisgostek4019]

What is Norton’s Landing at ending point? Video title refers to Tippy Dam Pond - are you referring to the Tippy Dam campground boat ramp, or is this the ramp in Norman Township?

[@jasonwish-]

On Google maps it’s called tippy dam pond boat ramp but Jim from Horinas was calling it Norman’s Landing which I believe is in Norman Township, I think that was the old name back in the day.

[@jamesosborne5950]

Jason what camera mount is that and does the pole come with it?

[@jasonwish-]

I don’t recall what it was. It came with the GoPro I bought from someone. It was great, flexible with a quick clamp, I loved it but sadly it is in the bottom of the big Darby river now😢

[@davidt.3673]

Has there been a trip where you didn't forget something?

[@jasonwish-]

hahaha! Normally I don't forget anything too critical....but sometimes on short car camping getaways I pack in like ten minutes and hit the road...easy to miss something!

[@michaelnicholson2113]

If your ever looking for someone else to join you on the river I have a few kayaks and a couple coneos and always up for a adventure lol

[@jasonwish-]

Where are you located? I’m sure we will make it up to Michigan again eventually, but also plan to kayak camp in Ohio and Pennsylvania as well.

[@MrHolsapple]

I am planning a overnight trip from Bellefontaine to Dayton. On the mad river any tips?

[@jasonwish-]

West Liberty is the upper most navigable section to start on. Even though the headwaters are just outside of Bellefontaine, it is only a small creek at the beginning. If you start at Liond Park on SR 245 you will drag bottom a few times and have a few down trees to portage around. If your not concerned about starting that far up then the next logical starting point is Lipponcot Road just a few miles south of West Liberty. That is where most people begin as well as the nearby livery. From there I believe its about 50 miles or so to reach the confluence of the Great Miami River at Deeds Park in Dayton. Camping options along the river are very limited and if the water happens to be high it will be even harder. It's definitely not known for its great camping along its 50 miles, but its not bad enough for me to not try a thru paddle of it again in the future because the water is pretty clear and fast in most sections. Let me know if you have any other specific questions.

[@MrHolsapple]

@@jasonwish- thanks! I really like your video I'm from darke County and your one of the only people videos around ohio.

[@jacobpoucher]

Find some sticks to use instead of trekking poles common!

[@jasonwish-]

Yeah yeah I know....I've used sticks many times on the hammock tarp but didn't feel like making any for the duplex...guess I was being lazy, lol.

[@Roadkill750]

Second video I watched...why do you call him the Colonel?

[@jasonwish-]

In high school he raised chickens for 4H and his close friends started calling him Colonel Sanders and he’s been The Colonel ever since.🐔

[@bakewithshake1969]

That's the weirdest looking 200ft I've ever seen

[@jasonwish-]

Not sure what you are referring too??

[@JTLM_48442]

Broke back Michigan

[@jasonwish-]

What??? I’ve definitely never received a comment like that one…just two buddies enjoying the river together, and that’s what 18,000 other people saw as well.

[@JaySmith-xs4ki]

Ohio🤦‍♂️

[@jasonwish-]

Michigan