New Conservation Park Offers Improved Access to Pere Marquette River

Calling all anglers and boating enthusiasts: You can now enjoy improved access to the Pere Marquette River in Pure Ludington! A new boardwalk and boat launch have been opened at 1107 South Pere Marquette Highway, as part of a comprehensive plan to both preserve natural resources and make them more accessible for recreation. 

This new riverbank park also includes a handicapped-accessible fish-cleaning station, restrooms, and a shaded picnic zone. Asphalt driveways and concrete sidewalks are featured throughout, making the park barrier-free for users.

The tranquil Pere Marquette National Scenic River is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, providing recreation from steelhead and salmon fishing to canoeing and kayaking, as it winds through the Manistee National Forest.

The watercourse is open for all seasons and flows into PM Lake in Ludington, which has always been known as a hotspot for fishing. The cool river waters are the perfect environment for steelhead, salmon and trout making their way upriver to spawn. The waterway is over 60 miles long without any man-made dams, making it one of the best fisheries in the state.

From mid-October to May, steelhead migrate upstream and then back to Lake Michigan. Spring is the main spawning run. King salmon run up the entire river and head into small tributaries from mid-August to October, and Coho salmon from mid-October to December. 

The new 6-foot-wide boardwalk at PM River Community Access meanders along the river’s edge. The walkway provides multiple fishing opportunities with space for tackle boxes.  

The boat launch allows easy loading and unloading, and the parking lot has ample space for your vehicle and boat trailer.

The PM River is also the perfect place for boating adventures. It has just enough current to keep a canoe or kayak moving but not so much that it would overwhelm an inexperienced boater. 

Canoers and kayakers can use a natural 3-mile, north-south loop from the boat launch and back again. The loop takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete.

Need to buy a fishing license or rent a kayak? Visit Pere Marquette Expeditions, just south of this river access point. 

Following your adventure on the Pere Marquette, unwind at the nearby picnic area and savor a well-deserved meal. Four picnic tables are available under a gazebo, perfect for an al-fresco snack in the shade.

There is no fee to use Pere Marquette River Community Access, and no parking pass is required.

About Pere Marquette Conservation Park

PM Township is continuing work on a master plan to convert more than 300 acres of property into a public park. The land was acquired from Dow Chemical and is owned by Pere Marquette Township. Grant funding from local, state and federal sources has been awarded to develop the completed phases. Sketches for future projects call for bicycle trails, hiking paths, wildlife preserves, picnic areas, and a winter sports activity center. 

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