The entire Huron River watershed in southeastern Michigan is approximately 900 square miles, with the main stem of the river stretching 125 miles. Ease of access to the river accounts for much of its appeal. Already in 1830, a promotor of Michigan wrote that “The rivers Grand, St. Joseph, Raisin, Huron, Clinton, Rouge, Kalamazoo, and Shiawasee, interlocking in different parts of the territory, not only irrigate the county in a beautiful manner, but offer unparalleled inducements for canaling, and with comparatively but little expense, as there would be no mountains, nor probably rock strata to cut through.”

Map from article “A Little River of Michigan” by William Hoad in The Michigan Alumnus Quarterly Review, Summer 1950.