Join us on the water in 2015! Kanoe the Kazoo float trips take place on many Saturdays from May – October. Trips are open to the public for all ages and most are FREE. Trips take place on the Kalamazoo River unless otherwise noted. Click on the trips for more information and to register online. Prefer to register over the phone? Look for the contact phone number listed under each trip.
May 23 — Big Gilkey Lake
June 27 — Trowbridge Dam to Hanson Park
June 27 — Sears Road to Concord
July 18 — Indian Creek in Olivet
July 18 — Comstock to Kalamazoo
July 25 — New Richmond to Douglas
July 25 — Homer to Albion
August 8 — Marshall to Emmet Township
August 22 — Allegan to New Richmond
August 22 — Allegan to Douglas
September 12 — Albion to Marshall
September 26 — Ottawa Marsh
October 24 — Ottawa Marsh to New Richmond
INDIAN CREEK AT V DRIVE to SCHRONTZ PARK
Join the Olivet, Charlotte and Bellevue staff on a paddle down Indian Creek on July 18th. The fun will start at 9:00 am on Schrontz Park, just south of Olivet. From there paddlers will be shuttled to the starting point at V Drive. The paddle will take about 3 hours and end back at Schrontz Park with lunch. Pre-registration is required and the cost is just $10 person which includes the shuttle, lunch, and a Kanoe the Kazoo T-shirt.
Date: July 18
Check-in: 9:00 am at Schrontz Park (south of Olivet)
Start location: V Drive crossing at Indian Creek
End location: Schrontz Park
Trip length: 3 hours
Car spotting: Shuttle from Schrontz Park to V Drive is provided
Host(s): City of Olivet, City of Charlotte, and Village of Bellevue
Cost: $10 each, includes lunch and T-shirt
Contact: City of Olivet (269) 317-2220 or City of Charlotte (517) 231-2324
Rentals: Contact email/phone above
COMSTOCK to KALAMAZOO
(optional extended float to D Avenue)
This trip will start at Merrill Park in Comstock at 11:00 am. Arrive at the park at 10:00 am to check in and shuttle vehicles as a group to the take-out point. This enjoyable float is fun for new and experienced paddlers alike. The trip includes a scheduled stop at Arcadia Ales for food and short presentations. Then it’s back on the river to Verburg Park at Patterson Avenue or an extended float to D Avenue.
Date: July 18
Check-in: 9:00 am (on river at 10:00 am)
Start location: Merrill Park
End location: D Avenue, optional stop at Arcadia Brewing
Trip length: 2-3 hours
Car spotting: Meet at 10:00 am at park to stage vehicles at end
Host(s): Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition
Cost: FREE
Contact: glwager@gmail.com
Rentals: Contact Island City Rentals at (269) 366-8908
NEW RICHMOND BRIDGE PARK to DOUGLAS
This trip called “Paddle to the Dunes” starts at Bridge Park near New Richmond. Recreation and sea kayaks are recommended. Paddlers with limited experience are welcomed. Once to Douglas, stay to enjoy the Saugatuck Venetian Festival and the lighted boat parade. Contact the trip host for rentals.
Date: July 25
Check-in: 11:00 am (on river at 12:10 am)
Start location: New Richmond Bridge Park
End location: Douglas
Trip length: 3.5 hours (7.5 miles)
Car spotting: Meet at 11:00 am at park to stages vehicles at end
Host(s): Great Lakes Adventure Club and West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association
Cost: FREE
Contact: TillWePaddle@hotmail.com or (269) 330-1040
Rentals: Contact email/phone above
Join the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce in paddling the Kalamazoo River on July 25th from Homer to Albion. This paddle is ideal for those who have paddling experience and is not recommended for the novice. Registration will begin at 7:45 am at the Grist Mill Park located off of M-60 and the launch will begin at 8:30. A pig roast will be provided courtesy of the American Legion Hall in Albion after Kanoe the Kazoo. Transportation will be provided after lunch back to Homer.
Date: July 25
Check-in: 7:45 am (on river at 8:30 am)
Start location: Grist Mill Park
End location: American Legion Hall
Trip length: 3 hours
Car spotting: Shuttle from American Legion to your car at no cost
Host(s): Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau
Sponsor(s): Albion College, Calhoun County Visitors Bureau
Cost: FREE
Contact: (517) 629-5533
Rentals: Not offered through host
Join in the fun as we paddle from Saylor’s Landing to Historic Bridge Park. There is a planned stop in Ceresco for lunch. The paddle is FREE and includes a framed group photo, lunch and a participation gift.
Date: August 8
Check-in: 9:15 am (on river at 10:00 am)
Start location: Saylor’s Landing on 15 Mile Road
End location: Historic Bridge Park in Emmet Township
Trip length: 3-4 hours
Car spotting: Meet at 9:15 am at Saylor’s Landing to stages vehicles at end
Host(s): Marshall Area Conservation Committee and Battle Creek Clean Water Partners
Cost: FREE
Contact: cvosburg@cityofmarshall.com or (269) 558-0328
Rentals: Contact email/phone above
ALLEGAN to NEW RICHMOND BRIDGE PARK
This trip called “Push the Paddle — The Push” will require paddlers to have some paddling experience and endurance. Recreation and sea kayaks are recommended. Enjoy some of the scenic beautiful along the Kalamazoo River on this 15-mile trip.
Date: August 22
Check-in: 8:30 am (on river at 10:15 am)
Start location: Calkins Dam public access site near Allegan
End location: New Richmond Bridge Park
Trip length: 6 hours (15 miles)
Car spotting: Meet at 8:30 am at Calkins Dam to stages vehicles at end
Host(s): Great Lakes Adventure Club
Cost: FREE
Contact: TillWePaddle@hotmail.com or (269) 330-1040
Rentals: Contact email/phone above
Also called “Push the Paddle — The BIG Push”, this is an endurance trip especially for those with experience on the river. Sea kayaks are recommended. Enjoy some of the scenic beautiful along the Kalamazoo River on this 15-mile trip.
Date: August 22
Check-in: 8:00 am (on river at 9:50 am)
Start location: Calkins Dam public access site near Allegan
End location: Douglas
Trip length: 8 hours (24 miles)
Car spotting: Meet at 8:00 am at Calkins Dam to stages vehicles at end
Host(s): West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association
Cost: FREE
Contact: TillWePaddle@hotmail.com or (269) 330-1040
Rentals: Contact email/phone above
This float is for paddlers who know how to handle the canoe. This stretch of river will wind the paddler through forested areas, fields, marshlands and rapids. The Marengo rapids has about a 3′ drop so hang on. From Marengo to Marshall the river tends to get shallow and mucky and as you approach Marshall the river opens up into a lake with flat water, no current and a good headwind. Be sure to watch for wildlife viewing opportunities along the way!
Date: September 12
Check-in: 9:00 am
Start location: Reiger Park in Albion
End location: Stuart’s Landing in Marshall
Trip length: 3-7 hours
Car spotting: TBA
Host(s): Whitehouse Nature Center, Albion College Canoe Club, City of Albion River Committee
Cost: FREE
Contact: djgreen@albion.edu
Rentals: Not offered through host
This trip is known as the “Back In Time — Explore the Marsh” tour. The group will launch on the on the Ottawa Marsh at Main Landing. Paddlers with limited experience are welcomes. Recreation kayaks are recommended. This trip will tour around the Ottawa Marsh and back to the original launch at Main Landing. Don’t miss this spectacular tour through parts of the Allegan State Game Area!
Date: September 26
Check-in: 9:30 – 10:30 am (on river between 10:20 – 11:00 am)
Start location: Main Landing
End location: Main Landing
Car spotting: Free parking at Main Landing
Host(s): West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association and Great Lakes Adventure Club
Cost: FREE
Contact: TillWePaddle@hotmail.com or (269) 330-1040
Rentals: Contact email/phone above
OTTAWA MARSH TO NEW RICHMOND BRIDGE PARK
The “Back In Time — Through the Marsh” tour is a longer exploration of the Allegan State Game Area and Ottawa Marsh. Paddlers with limited experience and high energy are welcome. Recreation kayaks are recommended. After a mile or more of river paddling, the tour will bypass through 4 miles of the Ottawa Marsh, then re-enter the main river channel for another 3+ miles to the take out from the Kalamazoo River at New Richmond Bridge Park. This paddle should ofter beautiful fall colors and wildlife.
Date: October 24
Check-in: 10:00 am (on river at 11:30 am)
Start location: Pipeline Landing
End location: New Richmond Bridge Park
Trip length: 4 hours
Car spotting: Meet at 10:00 am at landing to stage vehicles at end
Host(s): West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association and Great Lakes Adventure Club
Cost: FREE
Contact: TillWePaddle@hotmail.com or (269) 330-1040
Rentals: Contact email/phone above
Special thanks to Kanoe the Kazoo Supporters:
Albion College Canoe Club, Allegan Conservation District, Battle Creek Clean Water Partners, Calhoun County Visitors Bureau, Calhoun County Water Resources Commissioner, City of Albion River Committee, City of Battle Creek, City of Charlotte, City of Kalamazoo, City of Marshall, City of Olivet, Concord Community Schools, Four Townships Water Resources Council, Great Lakes Adventure Club, Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition, Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, Marshall Area Conservation Committee, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Village of Bellevue, West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association, Whitehouse Nature Center
