Carp River (Mackinac County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carp River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Trout Lake |
| River mouth | Lake Huron 581 ft (177 m) |
| Type: | Wild, Scenic, Recreational |
| Designated: | March 3, 1992 |
The Carp River is a cool river in Michigan, about 40.2 miles (64.7 km) long. It flows through Chippewa and Mackinac counties. A big part of the river, about 21.7 miles (34.9 km), became part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1992. This means it's a special river protected for its natural beauty and importance.
Contents
What is the Carp River like?
The Carp River starts from Trout Lake (also called Carp Lake) in northern Michigan. This is in Trout Lake Township, which is in Chippewa County. From there, the river flows mostly south and east, eventually reaching Mackinac County.
Where does the Carp River flow?
A lot of the Carp River flows through the eastern part of the Hiawatha National Forest. This is a large area of protected land. A special section of the river, near M-123, goes through the Mackinac Wilderness. This wilderness area is looked after by the United States Forest Service and the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, which works with the Ojibwe people.
What can you do on the Carp River?
Unlike many rivers in the Upper Peninsula, the Carp River area is quite flat. This means there are only a few small rapids, making it a great place for canoeing. If you like to fish, you can find brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout here in the summer. In the fall, you might even catch some salmon!
What is the Mackinac Trail – Carp River Bridge?
Near where the Carp River meets Lake Huron, there's an old bridge called the Mackinac Trail–Carp River Bridge. It was built in 1920 and is a type of bridge called a spandrel arch bridge. This bridge is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. After passing under this historic bridge, the river flows into St. Martin Bay, which is part of Lake Huron.
What are the Carp River's branches and lakes?
The Carp River has many smaller streams and lakes that connect to it. Think of them like branches on a tree, all feeding into the main river.
- Saint Martin Bay (where the river ends)
- Red Creek
- Flat Creek
- Platz Lake
- Lower Farm Hill Creek
- Upper Farm Hill Creek
- Spring Lake Creek
- Spring Lake
- North Branch Carp River
- Taylor Creek
- Bissel Creek
- East Lake Branch Carp River
- East Lake
- Taylor Creek
- South Branch Carp River
- Rock Rapids
- Ozark Creek
- Mud Creek
- Mud Lake
- Frenchman Lake
- Wegwaas Lake
- Trout Lake (where the river starts)
- Schwesinger Creek
- Little Trout Lake
- Kneebone Creek
Where does the Carp River get its water from?
The area that collects water for the Carp River is called its drainage basin. This basin includes parts of two counties in Michigan:
- Chippewa County
- Trout Lake Township
- Mackinac County
