When I think of canoeing, I envision paddling on a quiet river in the middle of a forest far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. But what if you could enjoy canoeing right in the heart of the city, just a few minutes from home? Clinton River Canoe and Kayak offers a fantastic canoeing experience in Sterling Heights, MI, one of the largest cities in suburban Detroit. Our experience on their 2 hour Adventure River Tour was the ideal escape but without the long road trip!
Our group gathered outside near the parking lot where we selected life jackets (we brought Caitlin’s) and received a safety briefing and other instructions. The fun begins with a school bus ride to the launch spot which was just a few miles away at Heritage Park. We loaded the bus with coolers packed full of cold beverages and yummy snacks and set off on our urban, outdoor adventure!
Launching the canoe was not too difficult. We were dropped off at Heritage Park and it was a short walk from the parking lot to the river on a partially paved and packed dirt walkway. With the help of other’s in our group, Scott selected a canoe and oars and dragged everything down to the water. We settled Caitlin in the middle seat, I took the front seat, and then Scott was able to push us off and jump in the back.
We were with a large group of friends totaling 15 people. 11 of us were in 5 canoes and the teenage girls opted for 4 single kayaks. Clinton River Kayak had no problem accommodating our large group however, reservations are highly recommended.
The trees enveloped us from both sides of the riverbank and it really did feel like you were secluded deep in a forest, most of the time. However, there were many reminders of the city as we passed towering electrical wires, large drainage pipes and busy roadways.
It was an unusually hot and sunny day for September in Michigan and I’m so glad we brought our sunscreen. Caitlin discovered that she could keep the others cooled off by splashing water at them with her oar!
The river flows through Dodge Park which is a large park in the middle of the city. It was just by coincidence that our friends were walking their dog on one of the paths near the river just as we were passing by! We chatted for a little while as we rowed and they walked, until the path and river parted ways.
The river was mostly calm and slow with some rocks and branches to maneuver around. We had to duck from some low hanging branches along the sides of the river but thankfully nothing too bad that would tangle you up. The river was wide most of the time and not too twisty which made navigating fairly easy. The river banks were mostly tree-lined and there were several sandy spots ideal for stopping to take a break.
Disembarking was not quite as easy when we arrived at our ending point. The area was extremely muddy all the way from the river to the parking lot. Dragging the canoe out of the water and walking thru the mud was very difficult. From what I understand, they are going to have that area paved or graveled for the next season. I really hope so as that was the only downside of the whole experience. I’m excited to see the improvements next time we visit.
There were a few take-aways from this experience that could make our next trip even better:
- Bring some kind of seat support for Caitlin. It would have been nice for her to have something to lean up against.
- I was glad to have brought Caitlin’s personal life jacket. It was a much more comfortable fit than the standard jackets that were offered.
- Bring a squirt gun! I think this would have been a ton of fun on a hot day!
- Inquire ahead of time on the condition of the path to and from the river.
Overall, it was a relaxing, leisurely time with family and friends! The weather was great and the time spent together was so fun and memorable. We can’t wait to go back next season!
JoAnn’s journey as a parent and caregiver to an individual with disabilities started when her daughter was born pre-maturely with multiple health issues resulting in cognitive, physical and speech disabilities. Over the years, JoAnn discovered that recreation, travel and social experiences can bring happiness and relief to a life that is often stressful and frustrating. She loves to seek out adaptive, accessible and fun activities for her daughter and the whole family to enjoy. She started the blog www.OurSpecialFunOasis.com to share her uplifting stories and positive ideas to help and to inspire others.