Raft Trips
Gear for Groups
Starting at $135
Pack the cooler, gather your friends, and grab a paddle for a fun day on the Lower Platte River. With a raft rental you can spend the day relaxing along the river and taking in the views of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
White water rafting in Michigan is hard to find. Riverside Canoes offers white water rafts for lazy river rafting. This is perfect for people who want to spend the whole day on the river. Join us for a 4, 6, or 8-person river rafting trip along the Lower Platte River in Honor, Michigan inside the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Our rafting trips take at least 4 hours traveling from Riverside Canoes along M22 through Loon Lake and ending at the beach along beautiful Lake Michigan.
Tips for Planning a Lower Platte River Raft Trip
- To avoid congestion on the Lower Platte River during peak season plan your trip before 11am or after 3pm.
- The last raft trips will leave 5 hours before closing. Please be advised we close earlier in the spring and after Labor Day.
- Plan on at least 4 paddles per boat to allow for paddlers on both sides, front and rear.
- We recommend you sit on the edge of the raft to paddle, with one leg in the water. This means there’s no backrests, so plan to take breaks to avoid backaches.
- A raft gives you plenty of room to bring coolers, picnic supplies and a comfy ride for kids.
- There are NO PETS allowed in rafts.
- You can pull a tube behind the raft.
Lower Platte River Raft Trip
Raft trips on the Lower Platte River are our longest trips, averaging at least 4-hours. The Lower Platte River has a gentle current, and shallow warm waters with an average depth of 2-3 feet. It’s the perfect choice for a small group outing on the water inside the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The Lower Platte River is wide enough to maneuver a raft and has few obstacles to avoid which makes it the perfect river for beginners. Your trip begins at Riverside Canoes, travels through Loon Lake and eventually ends at Lake Michigan.
Choose this trip if:
- If you want to pack everyone on one boat for a float on the river.
- If you want to spend a lot of time on the river. We recommend you plan for the Unlimited Time option to allow time to stop, swim and relax all day.
Equipment & Safety Tips for Rafting in Michigan
- We offer a limited supply of 4-, 6- and 8-person inflated white water rafts.
- Good news: this is the most stable float on the river. We have never seen a raft flip.
- Do not take this trip in windy conditions. This is the most difficult trip in the wind.
- Do not attempt to stand-up in the raft.
- Children 8 and under must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket.
- Cushion or life-vest will be provided for each person for life-saving equipment.
- Our raft rentals cannot go into Lake Michigan, they must stop at Lake Township Park.