Rifle River is a 60.3-mile-long (97.0 km)[1] river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises in northeastern Ogemaw County and flows through Arenac County to enter Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron.[2] Once a logging river during the Michigan forestry boom at the turn of the 20th century, the river is now primarily used for recreation, and is a state-designated natural river. It is a popular river for canoeing, with no portages or dams and an average depth of 18 inches, to 5 feet in downtown Omer. It is also known for having one of the best White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) runs in the state of Michigan, in the spring.
According to a historical map of Michigan originally published in 1831, the Rifle River may have previously been referred to as Grindstone Creek.[3]
Canoe liveries serving the Rifle River
Several private canoe operators provide equipment rental and transportation for river trips along the Rifle River.
^U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National MapArchived March 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 7, 2011
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![According to a historical map of Michigan originally published in 1831, the Rifle River may have previously been referred to as Grindstone Creek.[3]](File:Tourist%27s_Pocket_Map_Of_Michigan_(Samuel_Augustus_Mitchell,_1835).jpg)
