Au Sable River
About
The Ojibwe called it Ziibiiwiing—the river—and it sustained them across millennia before white pine log drives sent 300 million board feet annually downstream from the 1850s through 1895. The Au Sable stretches 140 miles through Crawford and Oscoda counties as riffles and mild current, averaging 410 CFS (optimal 200–800) with no significant drops. Grayling to Mio covers 50 miles of popular family floats. Mio to Oscoda extends 70 miles for multi-day trips. The South Branch offers 20 miles of solitary, undeveloped water. National Wild & Scenic designation came in 1984, cementing protection that Michigan Natural River status reinforces. Trout Unlimited was founded on the Au Sable in 1959 and maintains conservation work here. Carlisle Canoe Livery runs shuttles and boats from the upper sections. USGS gauge 04137500 tracks flows year-round.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.