Bear River (Michigan)

Bear River (Michigan)

Bear River is a small clear slow moving river in the U.S. state of Michigan. 14.7 miles (23.7 km) long, it is the largest tributary of Little Traverse Bay in the northwest of the lower peninsula. The river is formed as the outflow of Walloon Lake on the boundary between Charlevoix County and Emmet County, draining from the southeast end of the lake at 45°15′40″N 84°56′01″W / 45.26111°N 84.93361°W / 45.26111; -84.93361 near the community of Walloon Lake in Melrose Township. M-75 has its northern terminus in a junction with US 131 nearby.

The river flows east for about two miles before turning north through Bear Creek Township, angling northwest to empty into Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey at 45°22′38″N 84°57′39″W / 45.37722°N 84.96083°W / 45.37722; -84.96083. Petoskey was at first known as Bear River until being renamed in 1873. The Bear River itself has also been known as "Bear Creek" and "Ellis Creek".

The river has excellent fishing and provides opportunities for peaceful canoeing or kayaking. The river is great for smelt fishing. For most of its path in Emmet County, River Road and the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway parallel the river on its west banks.

Read more about Bear River (Michigan):  Tributaries, Drainage Basin

Famous quotes containing the words bear and/or river:

    [One cannot express lack of knowledge in affirmative language.] This idea is more firmly grasped in the form of interrogation: “What do I know?”Mthe words I bear as a motto, inscribed over a pair of scales.
    Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)

    The river’s tent is broken; the last fingers of leaf
    Clutch and sink into the wet bank. The wind
    Crosses the brown land, unheard. The nymphs are departed.
    Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song.
    The river bears no empty bottles, sandwich papers,
    Silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes, cigarette ends
    Or other testimony of summer nights.
    —T.S. (Thomas Stearns)