Bear Creek Scenic River

There is only 3.5 miles of Bear Creek located on the National Forest. The remainder is on private property. This river is a designated national scenic study river and is great for cold water fishing. Bear Creek was added as a Scenic River in 1996, at the same time the Manistee River was designated a National Scenic River. The only Forest Service access for the river is at Bear Creek.

Bear Creek contains many unique wetland communities, floodplain marshes, swamp forested bottomlands, braided channels and large amounts of natural woody debris.  Many wildlife species, such as,  wood turtles, hawks, waterfowl, and many species of songbirds, find fairly isolated nesting habitat along Bear Creek.  What makes Bear Creek unique to recreationists is the rare opportunity to experience solitude and challenge in an undeveloped river setting.  Many paddlers who seek a leisurely trip through meandering narrows and broad flat wetlands will appreciate this area.  Fishing is particularly heavy at the junction with the Manistee River.  The corridor for the river provides a peaceful experience in a natural, densely vegetated river setting.  Vegetation overhangs the shoreline, contributing to a feeling of seclusion, a rare commodity in rivers in the Lower Peninsula.  The stream meanders through many types of landscapes and riverine ecosystems.  Around every bend, visitors are treated to a wide variety of sights and sounds, swamps, marshes and a sinuous river channels that combine to offer visitors a glance of an unmodified river.

Click here for additional information on our Wild and Scenic Rivers.

At a Glance