Bear River (Michigan)
Encyclopedia
Bear River is a small clear slow moving river in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. 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 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. 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".
It is approximately twelve miles overall and has excellent fishing. It is also very 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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is the largest tributary of Little Traverse Bay
Little Traverse Bay
Little Traverse Bay is a small bay, 170 feet deep, off Lake Michigan in the northern area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Harbor Springs and Petoskey are on this bay.The Little Traverse Light marks its entrance....
in the northwest of the lower peninsula
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...
. The river is formed as the outflow of Walloon Lake
Walloon Lake
Walloon Lake is a glacier-formed lake and the headwater for the Bear River located in Charlevoix and Emmet counties in Northern Michigan. It is now home to many vacation homes and cottages.-History:...
on the boundary between Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County, Michigan
-Airports:*Beaver Island is served by two airlines:**Welke Airport**Beaver Island Airport-Ferry service:*Beaver Island Boat Company maintains a regular auto ferry from Charlevoix:*The Ironton Ferry at Ironton, Michigan crosses the south arm of Lake Charlevoix...
and Emmet County
Emmet County, Michigan
Emmet County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 31,437. The county seat is Petoskey.The county was formed April 1, 1840, from Mackinac County. It was first named Tonedagana County and renamed Emmet County on March 8, 1843...
, draining from the southeast end of the lake at 45°15′40"N 84°56′01"W near the community of Walloon Lake in Melrose Township
Melrose Township, Michigan
Melrose Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,388 at the 2000 census.The township was set off from Evangeline Township by the County Board of Supervisors in 1877.-Communities:...
. M-75
M-75 (Michigan highway)
M-75 is a segment of state trunkline highway located in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. This highway serves as a loop off US Highway 131 , providing access to Boyne City. The highway happens to be geographically close to Interstate 75 , but they are not related.-Route...
has its northern terminus in a junction with US 131
U.S. Route 131
US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...
nearby.
The river flows east for about two miles before turning north through Bear Creek Township
Bear Creek Township, Michigan
Bear Creek Township is a civil township of Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,269.-Communities:*Petoskey is at the northeast corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous....
, angling northwest to empty into Little Traverse Bay
Little Traverse Bay
Little Traverse Bay is a small bay, 170 feet deep, off Lake Michigan in the northern area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Harbor Springs and Petoskey are on this bay.The Little Traverse Light marks its entrance....
in Petoskey
Petoskey, Michigan
Petoskey is a city and coastal resort community in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,080. It is the county seat of Emmet County....
at 45°22′38"N 84°57′39"W. 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".
It is approximately twelve miles overall and has excellent fishing. It is also very 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
Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway
The Great Lakes Central Railroad is a Class II regional railroad, originally called the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway was formed on August 26, 1977 to operate over former Penn Central lines from Millington to Munger, Michigan, and Vassar to Colling, Michigan...
parallel the river on its west banks.
Tributaries
- (left) Spring Brook
- (right) South Branch Spring Brook
- (right) Gimlet Creek
- (left) North Branch Spring Brook
- (right) South Branch Spring Brook
- (right) Hay Marsh Creek
- Walloon Lake
- Schoofs Creek
Drainage basin
Including Walloon Lake, the Bear River system drains all or portions of the following cities and townships:- Charlevoix CountyCharlevoix County, Michigan-Airports:*Beaver Island is served by two airlines:**Welke Airport**Beaver Island Airport-Ferry service:*Beaver Island Boat Company maintains a regular auto ferry from Charlevoix:*The Ironton Ferry at Ironton, Michigan crosses the south arm of Lake Charlevoix...
- Bay TownshipBay Township, MichiganBay Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,068. Bay Township's central village, Horton Bay, was featured in several of Hemingway's Nick Adams stories including "The End of Something".-Geography:According...
- Boyne Valley TownshipBoyne Valley Township, MichiganBoyne Valley Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,215.-Geography:...
- Chandler TownshipChandler Township, Charlevoix County, MichiganChandler Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 230.-Geography:...
- Evangeline TownshipEvangeline Township, MichiganEvangeline Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 773 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Hudson TownshipHudson Township, Charlevoix County, MichiganHudson Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 639.-Geography:...
- Melrose TownshipMelrose Township, MichiganMelrose Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,388 at the 2000 census.The township was set off from Evangeline Township by the County Board of Supervisors in 1877.-Communities:...
- Bay Township
- Emmet CountyEmmet County, MichiganEmmet County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 31,437. The county seat is Petoskey.The county was formed April 1, 1840, from Mackinac County. It was first named Tonedagana County and renamed Emmet County on March 8, 1843...
- Bear Creek TownshipBear Creek Township, MichiganBear Creek Township is a civil township of Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,269.-Communities:*Petoskey is at the northeast corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous....
- PetoskeyPetoskey, MichiganPetoskey is a city and coastal resort community in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,080. It is the county seat of Emmet County....
- Resort TownshipResort Township, MichiganResort Township is a civil township of Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,479 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
- Springvale TownshipSpringvale Township, MichiganSpringvale Township is a civil township of Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,727 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Bear Creek Township