Cannon River Lodge 165

Welcome to The Cannon River Ranch, this iconic Lodge was built in 1929 and owned by the GW Cannon Family since 1954. The PM is a Natural River and a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream located in West Michigan. This offering is the lodge, caretakers house, barn and outbuildings featuring 165 acres with 2100 River frontage on both sides for Exceptional Trout and Salmon Fishing, Hunting and all outdoor Recreation opportunities.

Land

The Cannon River Ranch is a legacy property and historic lodge near Baldwin, Michigan, widely considered the finest trout property in the Midwest. Its primary uniqueness stems from its rare combination of massive scale, private River access and untouched wilderness on one of the nation’s most legendary trout streams.
The Pere Marquette is a National Wild and Scenic River with new docks are not allowed  the ranch’s existing docks and bridge are grandfathered in, offering exclusive fishing and launching spots to experience world renowned waters for wild brown trout, rainbow and the exciting steelhead and salmon seasons.
The diverse terrain including lush forests and river bottoms make for prime habitat and a private haven for whitetail deer, turkey, grouse and bald eagles.
 

Improvements

The Main Lodge was built in 1929  with an Adirondack style log exterior with white ash and wormy chestnut lumber for the rustic finish interior.

The great room & dining area are highlighted by vaulted ceilings and a stone wood burning fireplace. A full bathroom is located off the living area for convenient guest access.
The kitchen offers functional amenities with stainless steel counter tops. The laundry room is adjacent to the kitchen and offers an exterior back door entrance for convenient access to this area.
The primary main floor bedroom suite has a full bathroom and a convenient 1/2 bathroom.
The west wing loft features 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
The east wing loft features 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms.
The cozy screened  porch room is the perfect area to listen to the rainbow and brown trout feeding on mayfly hatches.
Main Lodge recent improvements:

New roof in 2025.
Exterior log chinking in 2024.
The (2) LP gas furnaces new in 2020.

Recreation

The Cannon River Ranch offers Year Round Recreation.
This stretch of the PM River mainstream is designated as trout waters, and the system supports a renowned cold-water fishery. It is a designated “Blue Ribbon” trout stream and also supports excellent runs of salmon and steelhead from Lake Michigan.
Hatches of mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies provide tremendous dry fly angling for resident rainbow and brown trout.  It is recognized as one of the few trout fishing rivers of this quality remaining in the country.
The PM River is considered to be Michigan’s clearest and cleanest free flowing river that offers exceptional canoeing and kayaking.
Fly Fishing: World-class opportunities for resident brown trout, rainbow trout, steelhead, and king salmon.
Paddling: Ideal for kayaking, canoeing, and tubing; it takes approximately one hour to float through the ranch’s property.
Private Trout Pond: A dedicated pond on-site fed by the river for additional fishing.
Winter Sports: Seasonal activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling enjoyed on the established trail system.
The Ranch borders the Manistee National Forest with its thousands of acres of woods, streams and lakes and along the Lake Michigan shoreline that offer year-round outdoor activities including hunting, off-road vehicle use, biking, camping, hiking, cross country skiing and snowmobiling.
Lake Michigan is 30 miles away in Ludington.

Region & Climate

Baldwin, Michigan experiences a classic four-season climate with cold winters and warm summers. The average temperature ranges from a low of 15°F in January to a high of 81°F in July. Annual snowfall is moderate at 83 inches, with January being the snowiest month, averaging 25.6 inches. Total annual precipitation is moderate at 37 inches, peaking in October. Humidity levels vary, with dew points rising to comfortable levels of 60°F in summer. Baldwin receives about 2,283 hours of sunshine yearly, with July offering the clearest skies and January the cloudiest.
. The PM River is a waterway for all seasons that flows into the Pere Marquette Lake in Ludington, which has always been known as a hot spot for those seeking outdoor adventure.

History

“The Cannon Lodge” as it’s known to anglers, has been a private family/corporate retreat for over four generations. Situated on a wide-open bend on the famed Pere Marquette River, the lodge was hand-built in the 1929 by Robert Irwin, who owned a furniture manufacturing company in Grand Rapids. The main lodge is crafted in the classic Adirondack style, with an exterior made of native northern pine and an interior outfitted with rare wormy chestnut. A nearby footbridge spans the river, giving you immediate access to countless adventures amid sand dune hills and winding forest trails. You can also access a large cedar dock, where you can launch a kayak to explore over four miles of private waterfront, on both sides of the river.

Conservation & Modern Legacy

Dam-Free Status: The Pere Marquette is famously the only river in the Great Lakes Basin without a single dam. It remains entirely free-flowing from its headwaters to Lake Michigan. [1]
Protected Status: In July 1978, the river received dual protections. It was designated a Michigan Natural River by the state and became the first National Wild and Scenic River in Michigan.

The Birthplace of American Brown Trout– Most notably, the Pere Marquette River was the location of the first brown trout introduction in the United States (1884). Rainbow trout were planted in 1885, and this early introduction developed into a self-sustaining steelhead population. Coho and chinook salmon were introduced into Lake Michigan in 1966 and make their annual runs through the Cannon Ranch property.

 

 

Location

The Village of Baldwin is 7 miles away.    Baldwin Municple Airport (7D3)
Ludington is a 30 mile drive to Lake Michigan.