The Pine River flows through Lake, Manistee, Osceola, and Wexford Counties in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula before joining the Manistee River as a tributary upstream of Tippy Dam. As the highest gradient and coldest river in the northern Lower Peninsula, the Pine features crystal-clear water that makes it one of Michigan's premier trout fisheries. The river holds special designations as both a Federally designated Wild and Scenic River and a Michigan Natural River, reflecting its exceptional ecological and recreational value. The Pine is recognized as a "blue ribbon" trout stream, characterized by its natural capacity to produce and maintain sustainable wild trout populations. Unlike many Michigan rivers, migratory fish from Lake Michigan don't reach the Pine due to Tippy Dam, allowing resident brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout to grow to enormous sizes without competition from anadromous fish. The river flows through the Huron-Manistee National Forest, offering outstanding scenery alongside exceptional fishing opportunities.