The name of this large river system and the community of Escanaba were derived from an Ojibwa (Chippewa) Indian word meaning “flat rock".

[2] The upper river is rocky and scenic and supports brook, brown and some rainbow trout throughout along with warmwater species in the impoundments.

[2] From the Delta County line, the river runs south to its mouth on Lake Michigan at 45°46′37″N 87°03′30″W / 45.77694°N 87.05833°W / 45.77694; -87.05833, near the city of Escanaba.

The fourth dam, the Boney Falls Impoundment, was built in 1920 by the Mead Corporation to power the company's paper mill.

[2] The fifth dam is the Cataract Hydroelectric Project, located on the Middle branch Escanaba River in Marquette County, near the community of Gwinn.

[7] John D. Voelker, writing as Robert Traver, authored fishing stories set on the Escanaba in Trout Madness.