Baldwin River

The Baldwin River access point at Bowman Bridge Campground provides convenient launching for paddlers interested in exploring the Pere Marquette National Scenic River system. Located 5 miles west of Baldwin via 7th Street and Cherry Street (W 52nd Street), the site offers a two-lane concrete boat ramp with blacktopped parking suitable for car and trailer access. Shore angler access is also available on the west and north sides of the facility.

The Baldwin River section is known for calm, beginner-friendly paddling with minimal current challenges—though paddlers should expect to navigate around downed trees. The Pere Marquette is a popular destination for canoeing and kayaking, with watercraft rentals available on-site. Note that the Pere Marquette operates under a daily use permit system enforced by the U.S. Forest Service; commercial outfitters like Baldwin Canoe Rental hold permits for their operations. For camping, reservations can be made through Recreation.gov by calling 231-745-8760. The area is also popular with anglers targeting brown trout, salmon, steelhead, and rainbow trout.

Overview
Bowman Bridge Campground is perfect for true nature immersion. Campers come here for easy access to the Pere Marquette National Scenic River and for the delightful views of the great outdoors.Recreation
The top three activities for campers at Bowman Bridge are canoeing, fishing and hiking. Anglers cast for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout.

Watercraft rentals are...

Overview
Bowman Bridge Campground is perfect for true nature immersion. Campers come here for easy access to the Pere Marquette National Scenic River and for the delightful views of the great outdoors.Recreation
The top three activities for campers at Bowman Bridge are canoeing, fishing and hiking. Anglers cast for brown trout, salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout.

Watercraft rentals are available at two nearby liveries in Baldwin. A permit is required to float the river from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Monday of Labor Day weekend. Watercraft hours during the permit season are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hikers can head up the campground's connector trail to the North Country National Scenic Trail. This "north country" trail weaves through many scenic, historic and cultural areas across seven states, measuring 4,600 miles end-to-end.Facilities
Campsites are in a wooded setting, but due to a tornado that passed through in 2005, tall trees and shade are less dense than in neighboring campgrounds.

The campground has a single loop 16 paved family campsites. There are also 4 walk-in family campsites and 4 tent-only group sites that can accommodate up to 20 people each.Natural Features
The campground is situated along the Pere Marquette National Scenic River, a 66-mile stretch of clear, unspoiled waters within the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Michigan. Large blocks of public land offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, photography, and hunting can be found in the surrounding area.
Nearby Attractions
Visitors enjoy exploring the extent of the Pere Marquette National Scenic River. Other nearby attractions include the Bowman Lake Foot Travel Area and the historic community of Idlewild.

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