The Looking Glass River in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

 is a river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 flowing through the central region of the Lower Peninsula

Lower Peninsula of Michigan

The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...

. It is about 71 miles (114.3 km) long, has no dams, and borders many wetlands and woodlots.

It rises in Conway Township

Conway Township, Michigan

Conway Township is a civil township of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,732 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...

 in northeast Livingston County

Livingston County, Michigan

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 156,951 people, 55,384 households, and 43,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 276 people per square mile . There were 58,919 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...

 and flows north into Shiawassee County

Shiawassee County, Michigan

-Transportation:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,687 people, 26,896 households, and 19,849 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile . There were 29,087 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile...

, passing between Morrice

Morrice, Michigan

Morrice is a village located within Perry Township in Shiawassee County, of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 882...

 and Bancroft

Bancroft, Michigan

Bancroft is a village in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 616 at the 2000 census. The village is located in the southeast part of Shiawassee Township...

 as it turns westward and passes just south of Laingsburg

Laingsburg, Michigan

Laingsburg is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,283 at the United States 2010 census.Laingsburg is a former agricultural community that transitioned over the 1990s into a bedroom community for Lansing, the state capital...

 on the western edge of Shiawassee. It then runs through the southern portion of Clinton County

Clinton County, Michigan

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...

, including DeWitt

DeWitt, Michigan

DeWitt is a city in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,507 at the 2010 census.-History:DeWitt was named after DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York during the 1830s. It was first settled by Captain David Scott, who moved there from Ann Arbor in 1833, and platted the...

. It flows into the Grand River

Grand River (Michigan)

The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...

 in Portland

Portland, Michigan

Portland is a city in Ionia County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,789. The city is situated in the south central portion of Portland Township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...

 in southeast Ionia County

Ionia County, Michigan

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...

.

The stream starts as a slow soft-bottom waterway. On the 25 miles (40.2 km) between the Livingston County line and Laingsburg the river averages 10 to 18 ft (3 to 5.5 ) wide. There is more activity in the lower stretch below DeWitt, where there is good fishing and canoeing.

In Clinton County, the river flows through the A Looking Glass Sanctuary, a 13 acres (5.3 ha) nature preserve owned by the Michigan Nature Association

Michigan Nature Association

The Michigan Nature Association is an association in the U.S. state of Michigan which was established in 1952. It is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting Michigan's exceptional natural habitats and extraordinary and endangered plants and animals...

.