Williamston's old mill-dam site is now a short run of rapids

Williamston grew around the Red Cedar River. Hiram and Joseph Putnam reached the area in 1834 and sold their land in 1839 to Oswald, James, and Horace Williams. James M. Williams built a dam, a sawmill, and later a grist mill near today’s Putnam Street Bridge. He platted the original village in 1845.

The dam is gone. American Whitewater now lists a 0.1-mile, Class II reach at the former dam site and says a river project created the short run. The Red Cedar River Water Trail makes the larger comparison: it calls this the only stretch of whitewater rapids available to paddlers in mid-Michigan. That is the water trail’s regional description, not a separately maintained statewide inventory.

The two recreation sources give slightly different advice about skill level. American Whitewater describes the reach as a place to practice in moving water. The local water trail takes the more cautious position: it says the rapids are not suitable for beginning paddlers and points beginners toward an upstream round trip from McCormick Park to Dietz Road. Follow that local warning and check current river conditions before launching.

McCormick Park’s launch is above the rapids and has parking, restrooms, and picnic space. Red Cedar Bend Landing is below the rapid near downtown. That gives paddlers two clear choices: begin above the moving water only if the group can handle it, or start below it and continue downstream.