Pine River (Manistee River tributary)

The Pine River, formerly known as the South Branch Manistee River, is a 53.6-mile-long (86.3 km)[2] tributary of the Manistee River in the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms at the confluence of the North Branch and East Branch of the Pine River in northwest Osceola County, flows southwest, then west and north through the northeast corner of Lake County and into southwest Wexford County, emptying into the Tippy Dam Pond on the Manistee River in Manistee County. The Pine River watershed drains an area of 265 square miles (690 km²).[3]

Pine River
Location
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Counties	Osceola, Wexford, Lake, Manistee
Cities	Tustin, Wellston, Hoxeyville
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Osceola County
• coordinates	44°06′00″N 85°31′39″W
• elevation	1,102 ft (336 m)[1]
Mouth	Tippy Dam Pond on the Manistee River
• location	Manistee County
• coordinates	44°13′37″N 85°54′27″W
• elevation	685 ft (209 m)
Length	53.6 mi (86.3 km)(Main stem)
Basin size	265 sq mi (690 km2)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	East Branch
• right	North Branch
National Wild and Scenic River
Type	Scenic
Designated	March 3, 1992

The river flows through a section of the Huron-Manistee National Forest, with multiple campgrounds, scenic overlooks and launch sites for personal, non-motorized watercraft. During the summer and fall seasons, canoe and kayak liveries are active with tourists taking trips on the Pine. This spring-fed river is constantly chilled and crystal clear, all year around. Much of Michigan's native wildlife can be spotted along the banks of the Pine, including Black Bears, White-Tail Deer, and Bald Eagles.

The Pine River was designated a National Scenic River in 1992.[4]