Maple River (Burt Lake) facts for kids

The Maple River is an important river in the northern part of Michigan, a state in the United States. It flows into Burt Lake. This river helps drain parts of Cheboygan County and Emmet County. It also carries water out of Douglas Lake, which is a large lake about 3,395 acres (1,374 hectares) big.

About the Maple River

Where the River Begins

The Maple River has two main parts: the West Branch and the East Branch. The West Branch starts in a wet, marshy area called the Pleasantview Swamp. This swamp is located in Pleasantview Township in Emmet County. From there, it flows north, then turns east, and finally heads south. It passes through the town of Pellston and near its airport.

Journey Through the Forest

A lot of the river's journey takes it through the Mackinaw State Forest. This is a special area that helps protect the environment. The Maple River is known for being a good place for different kinds of trout. These include brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout.

From 2010 to 2012, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) studied the trout in the river. They found that most of the trout, about 94%, were brown trout that originally came from Europe.

Joining Branches and Flowing South

South of Pellston, the West Branch of the river flows into Lake Kathleen. This small lake was created by the Maple River Dam, which was rebuilt in 1967. At this spot, water from Douglas Lake, flowing through the East Branch of the Maple River, joins the main river.

The area called Maple River Township is named after this now larger river. This township has farms and summer homes. The river then changes direction again, flowing southeast. It goes through another wetland area, moving from Emmet County into Cheboygan County.

Reaching Burt Lake and Beyond

Finally, the Maple River flows through a network of smaller creeks. Locals call these creeks "the spreads." These spreads lead the river's water into Maple Bay and Bullhead Bay, which are both on the shoreline of Burt Lake.

After leaving Burt Lake, the water from the Maple River continues its journey. It flows through the Cheboygan River and eventually reaches Lake Huron.

The Maple River, including its West Branch and East Branch, drains a large area. This area covers about 168 square miles (435 square kilometers) in the very northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

In Popular Culture

The musician Sufjan Stevens wrote a song called "Maple River." It is an instrumental piece, meaning it has no words. He was inspired to write it by memories of fishing with his brother and father at the Maple River when he was a child.