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Red Cedar River

Pathway Steering Committee

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Red Cedar River Day 2025 Information

Save the date! Sunday, September 7th - 10am to 4:00pm

Williamston's McCormick Park Launch
 

Opportunities for experienced paddlers, first-time paddlers, or anyone in the community who wants to learn more about the Red Cedar River and its potential for recreation, education, & natural habitat.

Register, get a River Roamer Activity card and achieve multiple chances in our drawing to win a tandem inflatable kayak!  (Drawing at 2:45pm)

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Activities: Paddling -- Education & Demo -- Fun & Food -- Community Organization Info

Sponsored by Williamston Rotary

Supported by: Scout Troop 63 Williamston, Lansing Oar and Paddle Club, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Michigan United Conservation Club

Time-specific Events (for General Activities scroll down)

9:00-11:30: En Plein Air Mid Michigan
10:00-12:00: Music from the Cover Girls
10:30: Canoe and Kayak Race Check-In

11:00-2:00 PM: Canoe and Kayak time trials

11:30: Historic 1893 Mill Turbine Dedication

12:00 noon: DNR Fish Stocking from east side of Putnam Street Bridge
1:00-3:00 PM: Music from Red Cedar River Boys
1:30 PM: Guided Walking Tour of Public Spaces with Earl Wolf
                (sponsored by the Williamston Garden Club)

2:45 PM: Raffle Drawing
3:00 PM: Repeat Tour by Earl Wolf

Paddling the River

River Town Adventure will be offering kayak rental from McCormick Park for this event

Check in for the Inaugural River Day  Race - sprint paddling for kayak or canoe.

Paddle at your own pace: 

  • Upstream: Launch your canoe or kayak from McCormick Park Landing (St. Mary’s/Cedar St. Landing) paddle upstream to the Williamston Footbridge or beyond to the wetlands.

  • Downstream from Red Cedar Bend Landing: After registering in McCormick Park, a short transport west to the new landing below the rapids; next accessible landing is Harris Nature Center (~4.5 hour paddle).

  • Downstream with Rapids to Harris Nature Center: Start at McCormick Park Landing, paddle downstream through rapids. 

  • Never Paddled Before? - A limited number of canoes are available for you to learn the basics and feel of paddling in a canoe with an experienced paddler.

NEW THIS YEAR! - Michigan DNR will stock brown trout with the "fish cannon"

Additional Activities – Next to the River

  • Music by:
    The Red Cedar River Boys band -and-
    The Cover Girls 

  • Multiple food vendors

  • Multiple local artists sharing and selling arts & crafts

  • See crafts created from reclaimed logs pulled from the river

  • Make a souvenir with FIRE and SAW!

  • Visit the Farm & Artisan Market - make a craft at the Pollination Station

River Related Community Organizations

  • Lansing Oar and Paddle Club (LOAPC)

  • Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds (MGROW)

  • Greater Lansing Reginal Committee for Storm Water Management (GLRC)

  • Mid-Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (MM-CISMA)

  • Scouting America - Cub Scouts & Scouts BSA

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Activities about the river

  • Coast Guard Auxiliary – water safety demonstrations

  • Scouts paddling demonstrations 

  • "Guided Walking Tour of Public Spaces near
    the Red Cedar" with Earl Wolf

  • History of the Red Cedar Interactive Display
    with MSU Librarian Eric Tans 

  • Nature and Environmental Awareness
    presentations by U.S. Fish & Wildlife
    and Nature Discovery

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