N. Stevens Street Access
This out-of-the way and hard to find access is normally used as a place to stage a vehicle for adventurous paddlers making the all day trek from Riverside Kayak Park which is 9 miles upstream. This is a great wilderness trip but only for advanced paddlers with good stamina. There may be downed trees and log jams requiring hauling over or portaging around, especially at low water. There is also no place to get out early if you find you have bitten off more than you can chew. Definitely NOT recommended for beginners. In theory, you could also start a trip downriver from here but no one does. It is simply so much easier to start at Graham Ave and paddle up to N. Stevens Street, then turn around and float back.
To find this access, take Main Street through Benton Harbor and turn north on Paw Paw Ave. Before the bridge, turn right on Waukanda Ave and then left on N. Stevens Street to reach the small parking area next to the launch site. As of September 2017, the sign for Stevens Street was missing but it is easy to find. Simply turn left on the first street immediately after the Berrien County Parole building and keep following it a 100 yards or so after it turns to a gravel road. If you are concerned about vehicle safety at this isolated location, then there is the option to stage a vehicle at Graham Ave and add two miles to the trip downstream from Riverside Kayak Park.
Parking Lot parking is available.
Carry-In boat access.
Length of access is less than 50 yards.
There is a concrete sidewalk from the parking lot to the river's edge, but at low water you have to walk through some mud to launch your boat.
