The Jordan River is a stream

Stream

A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...

 in the northwestern part 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...

 in the U.S. state

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 Lake Charlevoix

Lake Charlevoix

Lake Charlevoix is a lake in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the third largest lake in the state with a surface area of over 17,200 acres and 56 miles of shoreline...

. The Jordan's headwaters rise from springs in the upper Jordan River Valley northwest of Mancelona

Mancelona, Michigan

Mancelona is a village in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,408 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Mancelona Township.-History:...

 in Antrim County

Antrim County, Michigan

-History:Antrim County was formed in 1863. In 1950 its population was 10,721. The county seat was originally located in Elk Rapids, but was moved to Bellaire in 1904 after 25 years of litigation.-Demographics:...

. The Jordan River was the first river to be designated in Michigan's Natural Rivers Program.

The Jordan river is well known for its world-class brook trout

Brook trout

The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...

 fishing

Fishing

Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....

 and for its scenic canoe

Canoe

A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...

 trips. The headwaters are accessible by many foot and ATV trails.

Course

The Jordan River rises at 45°04′28"N 84°54′28"W in central Warner Township in northwest Antrim County. It winds generally to the southwest, cutting across the northwest corner of Star Township

Star Township, Michigan

Star Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 745 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...

 before flowing west through northern Chestonia Township, Michigan

Chestonia Township, Michigan

Chestonia Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 546 at the 2000 census. From the 1901 to 1932, the junction of the East Jordan and Southern and the Detroit and Charlevoix railroads lied within the township.-Geography:According to the United...

. It then turns to the north, flowing through Jordan Township

Jordan Township, Michigan

Jordan Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 875 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.-Communities:Chestonia was a town...

, the northeast corner of Echo Township

Echo Township, Michigan

Echo Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 928.- Communities :Pleasant Valley is an unincorporated community in the township at .-Geography:...

, then into South Arm Township

South Arm Township, Michigan

South Arm Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,844 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...

 in 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 emptying into the south arm of Lake Charlevoix

Lake Charlevoix

Lake Charlevoix is a lake in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the third largest lake in the state with a surface area of over 17,200 acres and 56 miles of shoreline...

 at 45°09′13"N 85°07′48"W in East Jordan

East Jordan, Michigan

East Jordan is a city in Charlevoix County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,507 at the 2000 census.The city is at the end of the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, at the mouth of the Jordan River. M-66 connects with US 31 at Charlevoix about 12 miles to the northwest and with US...

.

Tributaries

• (right) Jones Creek
• (left) Deer Creek
  • Patricia Lake
  • (left) Healeys Trout Pond
  • (right) Marvon Creek
  • (right) Eaton Creek
  • (right) Warner Creek
    • (left) Hog Creek
    • O'Brien Pond
  • (right) Collins Creek
  • Deer Lake
• (right) Bennett Creek
  • Mud Lake
• (left) Todd Creek
• (right) Bartholemew Creek
• (left) Severance Creek
• (left) Webster Creek
• (left) Gook Creek
• (right) Lilak Creek
• (right) Martin Creek
• (left) Mill Creek
• (left) Sutton Creek
• (right) Cokirs Creek, also known as Kocher Creek
• (left) Scott Creek
• (left) Tutstone Creek
• (right) Green River
• (right) Stevens Creek
• (right) Landslide Creek
  • (right) Cascade Creek
• (right) Section Thirteen Creek
• (right) Six Tile Creek

Drainage basin

The Jordan river system drains all or portions of the following cities, villages and townships:

• Antrim County
  Antrim County, Michigan
  -History:Antrim County was formed in 1863. In 1950 its population was 10,721. The county seat was originally located in Elk Rapids, but was moved to Bellaire in 1904 after 25 years of litigation.-Demographics:...
  
  
  • Echo Township
    Echo Township, Michigan
    Echo Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 928.- Communities :Pleasant Valley is an unincorporated community in the township at .-Geography:...
    
    
  • Chestonia Township
    Chestonia Township, Michigan
    Chestonia Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 546 at the 2000 census. From the 1901 to 1932, the junction of the East Jordan and Southern and the Detroit and Charlevoix railroads lied within the township.-Geography:According to the United...
    
    
  • Jordan Township
    Jordan Township, Michigan
    Jordan Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 875 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.-Communities:Chestonia was a town...
    
    
  • Star Township
    Star Township, Michigan
    Star Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 745 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...
    
    
  • Warner Township
    Warner Township, Michigan
    Warner Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 389 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...
    
    

• 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...
  
  
  • Boyne Valley Township
    Boyne Valley Township, Michigan
    Boyne 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:...
    
    
  • East Jordan
    East Jordan, Michigan
    East Jordan is a city in Charlevoix County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,507 at the 2000 census.The city is at the end of the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, at the mouth of the Jordan River. M-66 connects with US 31 at Charlevoix about 12 miles to the northwest and with US...
    
    
  • South Arm Township
    South Arm Township, Michigan
    South Arm Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,844 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
    
    
  • Wilson Township
    Wilson Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan
    Wilson Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,022 at the 2000 census.-Communities:In the past part of the township was known as Afton...