OT: Huron River Tubing

Submitted by Shaqsquatch on

So, this is way OT, but the Mgoboard has become one of my most trusted sources of AA-related information. Anyways, I was just wondering if any of you have tubed/canoed the Huron River, and if so, if you knew any good sites for launch and landing? I'm looking to lead a tubing trip next weekend, but I don't know any sites. Much appreciated.

Mustachioed Ge…

June 11th, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^

I went cabrewing (canoeing con beer) on the Huron and it was one of my favorite times I had this year. There is actually a rental place on the river and you launch right outside from where they are located.

somewittyname

June 11th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^

Tubing/direct contact with Huron River water not advised.

(Argo park is a good entry point for a shorter trip down to Gallup)

evenyoubrutus

June 11th, 2010 at 6:42 PM ^

If you're looking for something downstream from Ann Arbor, I definitely would not even attempt it (nothing against AA, it's just the most 'urban' area that the river goes through so there is a lot of city runoff from AA/Ypsi).  However if you are looking for something upstream from AA, I would suggest going through the Metroparks system.  If you're not familiar, it is a network of very nice parks along the Huron and Clinton rivers.  There is one service that will drive you from Delhi Park (off Huron River Dr in Dexter) up to a little boat launch just north of Hudson Mills, near Dexter-Pinckney Rd, and drop you off with your group and rented boats.  There are nice little places along the way in the Dexter area where you can stop and grab pizza or whatever for lunch.  The water is much cleaner up that way. 

Have fun

winged helmet

June 11th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^

I have often frequented the Huron for cabrewing (the best kind of canoeing) trips down the river. If you choose to canoe, check out Gallup Canoe Liveries. They have various trips that last from 2-6 hours i think and will drive you back at the end. I have had some great times cabrewing (think: naked chicks and mud-wresting), so bring some booze.

Enjoy!

Kal

June 11th, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^

Canoes are 22$ to rent.. you can fit three people comfortable in there if you bring a cooler for one person to sit on. There is no real time limit other then getting the canoe back before Gallup Park closes.

jvblaha

June 11th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^

Army ROTC does a canoe trip every year the Friday before school starts.  By September the water levels have gotten so low that the canoes often get stuck and have to be pushed over parts of the river where the water is too shallow.

ChiliDog

June 11th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^

A short drive up north (lower Michigan), you can hit the Pine river. Canoeing and tubing are awesome on this river, and coolers of beer are more than welcome for the ride.

RayMich

July 18th, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^

You definitely DO NOT want to tube in the Huron River.  The best rivers I've found for tubing are the Rifle River and the AuSable, but they are both a bit of a trek into middle/northern Michigan 

Cherylkayak

September 10th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^

When we tube it, we start at Argo Park!!  Walk past/behind the rental building, over the bridge & around the corner (bypassing stagnant water w/virtually no current & 1st cascade in tunnel), then walk on the rocks almost to the center opening of the 2nd Cascade, put tube in river (hold onto it!), sit in then go thru the Cascade. 

My teenagers roll off the tube after the cascade, swim or wade their tube up to the next one and hop on again.  If you just float you may circle around the pool between cascades several times...  Get out at the end of the cascades and walk your tube back up the 2nd one.  (Some people keep going down the river but a lot of it has little current...gotta get off & swim it.  We tried bringing a paddle but doesn't work).

Now it's a hotspot for everyone...tons of people know the secret!  If you kayak it, better know what you're doing so you can turn a lot and not crash into tubes.  ***Wear coastguard approved life jacket if not a great swimmer or are drinking too much!

Cherylkayak

September 10th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^

Someone else posted this:  The Ann Arbor Water board has published the 2010 water testing results and there are no health risks with swiming or drinking the huron river water between Delhi Metropark and Argo park.

They also did remediation of the soil on the west side of the Argo Cascades at the DTE site.