CRWC Reveals Future of Water Trail

In 2016, the Clinton River Water Trail was still in the planning phases as Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) staff mapped out a plan for recreation opportunities on the river.

This plan was essential to the Clinton’s Water Trail designation by the State of Michigan in 2019. A Water Trail is a specific route on a lake, river, or coast for non-motorized boats. The designation helped to significantly boost use and awareness of the river as a paddling destination.

Now, 10 years later, CRWC is planning to launch the first update to the Water Trail plan, which contains even more improvements for the Clinton.

The process to update the plan began in 2025 and involved many stakeholders. CRWC worked with both paddlers and municipalities to get valuable feedback on the future of the Water Trail. The new plan will launch before CRWC’s Annual Meeting on March 19, 2026.

There are currently 23 access points to the Clinton River and improvements such as kayak racks, benches, lockers, and shelters are planned for many of these sites. Around three to five sites will be addressed per year. Some locations are more developed than others, and users can expect to see a more uniform experience when improvements are complete.