Cannon River Ranch

Ranch Description

Welcome to The Cannon River Ranch, this iconic Lodge was built in 1929 and owned by the GW Cannon Family since 1954. Known as the largest private land holding on the Pere Marqette River with nearly seven miles of frontage and over a square mile of land. The PM is a Natural River and a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream located in West Michigan. It is recognized as one of the few trout and salmon fishing rivers of this quality remaining in the country.

Land

The Ranch features 680 acres with nearly 7 Miles of pristine, private shoreline on the Pere Marquette. The property includes land on both sides of the river, a rarity that prevents future development from encroaching on the views or privacy. The PM is a designated Blue Ribbon Trout Stream and National Wild & Scenic River. The ranch is located downstream from the Fly's Only River section.

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.

Untouched Wilderness

Size The estate spans over one square mile 680 acres that is surrounded by protected Federal forests.

East Side Preserve Roughly 175 acres on the east side of the river remain completely undisturbed, with no existing structures. The land supports prime hunting for whitetail deer, turkey and grouse, alongside non-motorized activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

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.

River Cabin 3 17.95 acres with 1,400 lineal feet of river frontage

3 Br, 2 Ba

Free standing gas log fireplace

Laundry room & forced air furnace

Property survey dated 1-18-24.

River Cabin 4 6.12 acres with 889 lineal feet of river frontage

3 Br, 2 Ba

Laundry room & forced air furnace

Property survey dated 3-15-25.

Parcel E 7.5 acres with 595 lineal feet of river frontage.

Property survey 3-15-25.

Caretaker's House Log construction

Barn

Two outbuildings for equipment storage

Purchase Options Lodge, Caretaker House, outbuildings with 158 acres and 2,100 +/- River frontage on both sides.

East side 175 acres with 8,000 +/- feet River frontage.

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.

In 1978, sixty-six miles of the Pere Marquette were designated a National Scenic River.

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.

The Pere Marquette River is located in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The river system begins east of Baldwin and empties into Lake Michigan at Ludington and is the longest unregulated river system in the Lower Peninsula. The river is a nationally known, high-quality fishing stream which supports large populations of resident trout, steelhead, and salmon. From M-37 to Gleason's Landing, the state has designated the river as quality fishing water requiring catch and release with flies only.

Location

The Village of Baldwin is 7 miles away.

Ludington is a 30 mile drive to Lake Michigan.