June on South Branch Ausable

The June trip is scheduled for Saturday, June 26.  Our destination is the South Branch of the mighty AuSable River outside Roscommon.

Confirmed for the June Trip (as of 6/15):
From Ohio/Kentucky:  Matt Kline, Stephanie Fancher, and two friends.
From Michigan:  Matt Perrine, Scott Borchelt, Todd Swenson, Darin Braska, David Capona , Little John, and Mike Eberle

Schedule:
Friday night -- those that can make it up on Friday will set up camp. We will camp at the Paddle Brave Canoe Livery. ToddS will be arriving early in the evening to begin to begin setting up camp.  This campground is located a few miles outside of downtown Roscommon and is right on the river.  I suspect most people will arrive between 8:30 and 9:30.  Our friends from Southern Ohio will probably arrive closer to midnight.

Saturday Morning -- Those people that are coming Saturday can meet the rest of us at 8:30 AM in Roscommon for breakfast.  I will include directions later. We need to be back at camp by 10:00 so we can be on the water by 10:30.

Canoeing -- Our trip leaves right from the camp.  We will literally be able to walk out of our tents and climb into our canoes.  Barb from Paddle Brave described the trip is as a five hour wilderness trip.  She told me it was 23 miles... but I doubt that is accurate.  I think it is closer to 13...  This stretch of the water is absolutely beautiful.  I have canoed this stretch before and it remains one of my favorites.  Since we are sure to slack on the river if its a beautiful day, I expect we will pull out after 5 PM around the Smith Bridge landing.  30 to 60 minutes later, we will be back at camp.

Saturday Night -- This campground has nice (clean) showers and real bathrooms so you can clean up before dinner if you want.  I am still deciding what to do about dinner.  I will probably put it to a vote... a) Cook up a feast over an open fire (chicken, fish, burgers, brawts, corn on cobs (no cobbettes), grilled fresh veggies,  baked potatoes, and melon.  OR b) head to a local bar/restaurant in town... maybe catch a local live country band? ;-).  I will email you all to find out what you want to do...

Sunday Morning -- Get up when we want, catch breakfast when we want, relax, pack up camp and leave when we want.  Sit around and make fun of everyone... tell old stories, laugh at the new stories and plan the July trip.  If Its a really nice day, we sometimes take a VERY leisurely float tube for a two hour morning trip.  Usually only a few bucks for the tube.

Cost --  Okay, you won't believe this, but each person will have to pay the kitty $25 total for camping AND canoeing.  And that includes a small amount extra for dinner...  Not bad for one heck of a good time.  If we cook at the campsite, the extra will buy food, and if we eat out, it will cover part of the tab.

Info on the River:

The heart of the river flows through the Mason Tract, a several thousand acre sanctuary bequeathed to the state in 1954 by automobile-manufacturing-magnate George Mason.  According to the dictates of the bequeathal, the land in the Mason property has been left to revert, as closely as possible, to the natural state of a Michigan forest.  What few buildings that once existed have been removed, camping and picnicking are forbidden, and the numbers of roads and trails are kept at a minimum.  The remains of Durant's Castle, Mason Chapel, and the foundations of one or two homes and cottages are nearly the only signs of human interference in the Mason Tract, which extends from Chase Bridge nearly to Smith Bridge.

Unlike the mainstream AuSable, water levels on the South Branch are quite variable.  The South Branch will vary by as much as several feet and will often flow high and discolored during the spring or after heavy rains.  The river at put-in will be 30 - 75 feet wide and one to four feet deep, with a gentle current, mostly sand bottom with no serious obstructions.  From Roscommon to Chase Bridge (six miles, two to three hours) there are a fair number of homes and cottages.

Chase Bridge marks the beginning of the Mason Tract.  This stretch of the water is fly-fishing only with the first several miles being no-kill.  Immediately below the bridge the river enters wooded hills of hardwoods, pines and cedars.  Some tag alders line the banks.  Bottom is sand and silt at the edges with gravel and occasional larger stones at midstream.  Century-old drowned logs remain from the lumbering era, when log drives were heavy on the entire AuSable system.  There are a few survivors of those days: red pines and white pines three feet or more in diameter that tower over the river valley. 

A few miles below Chase Bridge is a landing and a sign announcing Durant's Castle.  The 42 room mansion built for William Durant (who founded General Motors in 1908) and included gables, turrets and separate servant's quarters.  It burned in 1931 and was never rebuilt; nothing remains today except the foundation and basement.  Downstream one-half mile, the Mason Chapel commemorates George Mason.

Paddle Brave Canoe Livery 10610 Steckert Bridge Road Roscommon, MI 48653 (517) 275-5273

Map showing general location