The Huron River Water Trail is a project of the Huron River Watershed Council. It will serve river recreationists for generations to come. Work on the Water Trail is focused in these areas:
- Making and maintaining trail markers and information signs at portages and access points
- Building well-constructed launches, landings, and portage paths that provide easy access to the Water Trail
- Creating top-quality tools such as the waterproof Paddler’s Companion, visitor’s guide, and web-based information
- Coordinating local communities, landowners, and trail users to appreciate the value of public access to the Huron River
Stewardship Opportunities
Help us take care of the trail! To learn about any of the opportunities below, contact Jason Frenzel, Huron River Watershed Council Stewardship Coordinator, at [email protected] or 734-769-5123.
- Adopt-A-Segment. Consider adopting a segment of the Water Trail. Trail stewards are needed to work in pairs or crews to provide ongoing oversight of trail conditions, report problems, and perform light maintenance.
- Maintain the Trail. We sometimes need help with installing way-finding signs along the river, or repairing or replacing damaged signs.
- Conduct a River Cleanup. Picking up trash in the river and along the shore helps keep the Huron and its tributaries healthy and safe for people and wildlife. You can do-it yourself, join a group organize an event or get involved in our specialized woody debris management program. Learn more from the Huron River Watershed Council.
- Become a Trail Ambassador. Safe and accessible paddling on the river is an “all-hands-on-deck” proposition. Ambassadors check river conditions in the early spring before most paddlers are out on the river, as well as at the end of the paddling season in the fall. Their efforts make the river more enjoyable, protect its health and scenic beauty, and assist HRWC and the water trail partners with prioritizing improvements. The Ambassadors cover most of the water trail with sections ranging in length from 3.5 to nearly 10 miles. Along their assigned section, Ambassadors make general observations about the conditions of water trail launches, signs and portages, the shoreline, woody debris, spills and how people are using the river. They represent HRWC by answering questions from the public, helping people out on the river, and teaching responsible river use. Ambassadors photograph areas of interest or concern, and submit information to HRWC. Ambassadors clean-up trash and, in some cases, measure water temperature and conductivity with HRWC equipment.
Partners of the Huron River Water Trail
A consortium of interested groups and communities participate in the Water Trail. Partners meet regularly to identify trail needs, seek funding for projects, track status of trail-building, and be with like-minded people who love paddling the river. Dates, times, locations and agendas are posted here as they become available.
To learn more or sign up for partner email announcements, contact the Water Trail Manager at the Huron River Watershed Council, Daniel Brown at [email protected] or 734-769-5123.
Partner Resources. Materials for Water Trail Partners and Trail Towns, password required.