Au Sable River (Michigan)
| Au Sable River Beauais River, Rivière au sable | |
|---|---|
 The Au Sable River in Alcona County | |
 Map of the Au Sable River | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Frederic Township, Crawford County, Michigan |
| Mouth | |
• location | Lake Huron at Au Sable, Michigan |
• elevation | 581 ft (177 m)[1] |
| Length | 138 miles (222 km) |
| Type | Scenic |
| Designated | October 4, 1984 |
The Au Sable River (/ɔː ˈsɑːbəl/ aw SAH-bəl) is a 138-mile-long (222 km)[2] river in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Rising in the Northern Lower Peninsula, the river flows in a generally southeasterly direction to its mouth at Lake Huron at the communities of Au Sable and Oscoda. Like the nearby Manistee River, it is regarded as a premier brown trout fishery east of the Rockies[3] and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has designated it a blue ribbon trout stream.[4] A map from 1795 located in the United States Gazetteer calls it the Beauais River.[5] In French, the river is called the Rivière au sable, literally "Sand River".
Description
[edit]The main stream of the river is formed at 44°48′21″N 84°45′29″W / 44.80583°N 84.75806°W[1] in Frederic Township in Crawford County by the confluence of Kolke[6] and Bradford Creeks,[7] which both rise in Otsego County. The river flows south then turns east through Grayling, where it is joined by the East Branch Au Sable River at 44°39′55″N 84°42′13″W / 44.66528°N 84.70361°W. The East Branch rises in Lovells Township, Crawford County at 44°49′46″N 84°35′59″W / 44.82944°N 84.59972°W.[8]
The Au Sable continues eastward and is joined by the South Branch Au Sable River at 44°39′23″N 84°28′06″W / 44.65639°N 84.46833°W in South Branch Township. The South Branch rises out of Lake St. Helen in Richfield Township, Roscommon County at 44°22′54″N 84°26′38″W / 44.38167°N 84.44389°W[9] and flows northwest into Roscommon then northeast to the main branch of the Au Sable. The North Branch Au Sable River joins within approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) in eastern Crawford County at 44°40′14″N 84°22′51″W / 44.67056°N 84.38083°W near the boundary with Oscoda County. The North Branch rises in Bagley Township, Otsego County, near Lake Otsego.[10]
The Au Sable then flows mostly east through Oscoda County, then south and east through Alcona County and Iosco County. The river's watershed also drains portions of Montmorency County and Ogemaw County.
Most of the main branch of the Au Sable flows through or adjacent to the Huron-Manistee National Forest. 23 miles (37 km) of the river, from the Mio Pond downstream to the Alcona Pond, was designated as a National Wild and Scenic River on October 4, 1984. The watershed provides habitat for bald eagles and the endangered Kirtland's warbler. Five percent of the land in the watershed is National Forest and 29% is state forest.
Grayling
[edit]The Grayling species of fish was once abundant in the Au Sable River, although the species has been extirpated in Michigan since 1936.[11][12] Brook trout were released into the river in the 1880s and proved stronger than the Grayling. There have been many attempts to bring the Grayling back to the area, but none have been successful. The city of Grayling, Michigan was named after the once plentiful fish. Brown trout is the current main catch.
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Holy waters
[edit]The nine-mile section of the Au Sable River main branch from Burtons Landing to Wakeley Bridge is called the Holy Waters[13][14] due to the frequent insect hatches, abundance of trout, and wading is not challenging.[15] The section is regulated year-round as catch and release and limited to fly fishing only (no live bait). The river flows through scenic woodlands where the ecosystem supports dozens of species of birds and other wildlife including deer, rabbit, muskrat, otter, mink, fox, squirrel, chipmonk, skunk and turtle.[16]
Recreation
[edit]It is a designated trout stream, and many canoe liveries exist along the river, which offer canoe trips from a few hours to as long as a week.
River valley attractions and events
[edit]
- The Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad is located in Fairview. It is a 1/4 scale, 16 in (406 mm) gauge ridable miniature railway, which offers rides on a passenger train through the scenic Northern Michigan landscape. It operates in jack pine country during the summer months. Riders travel through parts of the Huron National Forest and overlook the Comins Creek Valley.[17]
- The Au Sable River Canoe Marathon starts in Grayling and ends in Oscoda 120 miles (190 km) down the river. It is one of three annual marathon races that constitute canoe racing's Triple Crown. The race begins at 9:00p.m. on the last Saturday in July and runs through the night into the next day. Winning times have ranged from 14 to 21 hours. The race was first run in 1947.[18]
- First Dam Canoe Race (MCRA - Canoe Race) is a yearly event.[19]
- The Au Sable River Queen is a paddle boat that offers river excursions six miles west of Oscoda on the River Road Scenic Byway.[20]
- Within this area is Kirtland's warbler habitat, established to bring the songbird back from near extinction.
- The Lumberman's Monument is adjacent to the river, about 15 miles (24 km) west of Oscoda. The 14-foot bronze monument stands on a high bank with the Au Sable River providing a scenic backdrop since 1932. Lumbering along the river began in the 1860s and was finished by the 1910s.[21]
- River Road, on the north bank and running parallel to the river, is a designated National Scenic Byway for the 23 miles that go into Oscoda.[22]
- There are six dams and hydro-electric plants in the basin of the Au Sable, with a total capacity of 41MW and an average annual output of 500 GJ. The six facilities were constructed between 1911 and 1924.[23]
- The Grayling Fish Hatchery on the Au Sable was founded in 1914 by timber baron Rasmus Hanson with assistance from Henry & Edsel Ford. Although unsuccessful in restoring the grayling, the hatchery raised and released millions of rainbow and brown trout. The State of Michigan purchased it in 1926, then the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, finally to the non-profit Grayling Hatchery Incorporated in 2017.[24]
- Canoer's Memorial: The inscription on the memorial says "The crossed paddles are a canoeist’s salute. These paddles are erected as a tribute to those professional members of the Michigan Canoe Racing Association who were once active in the promotion and participation of canoe racing in Michigan. As you view the waters of the AuSable or watch canoes racing on our Michigan streams, remember these departed members and their dedication to the sport of canoe racing.” The first casualty happened in 1953 claiming the life of Jerry Curley, and the river has claimed over 100 racers in its murky depths since then. The Curley family spearheaded the efforts to erect the monument, and it is now maintained by volunteers and the U.S. Forest Service.[25]
- The Wolf Creek Trail system is a beautiful trail and boardwalk along the Au Sable River and around Wolf Creek. This trail does not have any mandatory fees for use making it free for everyone. The non-motorized trail is open to all hikers, mountain bikers, cross country skiers, snowshoers, with loops designed as long as 4.2 miles and as short as 1.8 miles. The Wolf Creek Trail, part of the Huron National Forest, has four separate loops with a total of 4.8 miles of walking paths with 3 of these miles running adjacent to the Au Sable River. This trail system is a popular hiking, walking, and cross-country skiing spot for locals and tourists alike. Many hikers will use the main trailhead at the bustling Department of Natural Resources canoe launch and park, right off of M-72/33 on the east side of the bridge that crosses the Au Sable River. The park also has toilets, picnic tables, grills, a source for drinking water, and plenty of parking. Most cross-country skiers will use the trailhead off of South River Road approximately 2 miles east of Mio. Skiers will encounter a few downhill slopes, but nothing too difficult, making for an overall easy ski trail.[26]
- Iargo Springs are natural springs near Oscoda that flow for nearly 1000 feet to the Au Sable River. Boardwalks provide scenic views of waterfalls and ponds.
Drainage basin
[edit]The Au Sable has a drainage basin of 1,932 square miles (5,000 km2)[27] and an average flow of 1,100 ft3/s (31 m3/s) at its mouth.[28] The river drops 650 feet (200 m) from its source at the junction of the Bradford and Kolka Creeks[28] and drains land in the following counties:[29]
Towns along river
[edit]River dams
[edit]
Ordered from upriver to downriver, all belonging to the power company Consumers Energy:[23]
Historical markers
[edit].jpg)
The river has five historical markers on it:
- Cooke Hydroelectric Plant
- Five Channels Dam Workers Camp
- The Louis Chevalier Claim
- Mio Hydroelectric Plant[30]
- Chief Shoppenagon
Bridges
[edit]
See also
[edit]- Ausable River (Lake Huron), an Ontario tributary of Lake Huron
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Au Sable River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 7, 2011
- ^ Card, James (January 24, 2017). "In Michigan, a Fight Over the Future of a Fabled Trout River". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ "Blue Ribbon Trout Streams".
- ^ "Au Sable River Natural River Plan" (PDF). July 1987. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kolke Creek
- ^ "Bradford Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "East Branch Au Sable River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "South Branch Au Sable River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "North Branch Au Sable River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Michigan Grayling Only a Memory". Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
- ^ Goble, C. W.; Auer, N. A.; Huckins, C. J.; Danhoff, B. M.; Holtgren, J. M.; Ogren, S. A. (2018). "Fish Distributions and Habitat Associations in Manistee River, Michigan, Tributaries: Implications for Arctic Grayling Restoration". North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 38 (2): 469–486. doi:10.1002/nafm.10049.
- ^ "Borchers Outfitters". canoeborchers.com. Borchers AuSable Canoe Livery & Bed and Breakfast. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- ^ "The Rivers". Oldausable.com. Old Au Sable Fly Shop. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- ^ Zapoli, Julie. "Holy Water". anglersjournal.com. Active Interest Media. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ "AuSable River". grayling-mi.com. Grayling Visitors Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- ^ "MAVRR". mavrailroad.com.
- ^ "AuSable River Canoe Marathon". ausablecanoemarathon.org. ARICM, Inc. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ "Mio Race Info". www.miracing.com.
- ^ "Au Sable River Queen". Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
- ^ “Lumberman's Monument Visitor Center.” Huron-Manistee National Forests - Lumberman3As Monument Visitor Center, www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/hmnf/recarea/?recid=18538
- ^ "River Road Scenic Byway at America's Byways". Archived from the original on February 3, 2007. Retrieved December 6, 2007.
- ^ a b "AuSable River Tour". Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "Spawning an Origin". graylingfishhatchery.org. Grayling Fish Hatchery. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ “Canoer's Memorial Monument.” AuSable River Canoe Marathon, www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/race-history-items/canoers-memorial-monument/
- ^ "Wolf Creek Trail". Michigan Trail Maps.
- ^ Au Sable River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
- ^ a b Au Sable River Natural River Plan, Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
- ^ "The Au Sable River Watershed". River Restoration in Northern Michigan. Northern Michigan Streams. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ "Mio electric Plant historical marker". Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
External links
[edit]
- Map of Au Sable River watershed
- Anglers of the Au Sable
- Au Sable Canoe Marathon
- Huron-Manistee National Forest
- Lumberman's Monument
- Lumberman's Monument at the U.S. Forest Service
- River Road Scenic Byway at America's Byways.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Rivers of Michigan
- Rivers of Roscommon County, Michigan
- Rivers of Otsego County, Michigan
- Rivers of Oscoda County, Michigan
- Rivers of Alcona County, Michigan
- Rivers of Iosco County, Michigan
- Rivers of Crawford County, Michigan
- Huron-Manistee National Forests
- Tributaries of Lake Huron
- Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States