Craft & Seasonality
✓
Motorboat ✓
Kayak / Canoe ✓
Jet Ski / PWC ✗
Large Boat ✗
Winter Access Site Details
Conditions change rapidly due to water levels, prop wash, and weather. Always visually inspect before backing down.
RampUnimproved, 1 lane
Trailer Parking6 spots · gravel
Vehicle-Only2 spots
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
Hours4 AM – 11 PM
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier · Restrooms · Pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Small Water Only
This is a one-lane launch on a narrow UP river — think canoes, kayaks, and small johnboats. If you're hauling anything over 14 feet, you're going to have a bad time trying to maneuver in here.
Six Spots, Period
With only six trailer spots, a single busy Saturday morning can lock you out. If you're heading up on a weekend during trout season, get there early or have a Plan B.
Remote & Rough
This is deep Alger County backcountry. The roads getting in are a mix of gravel and seasonal two-track, so low-clearance vehicles and big rigs should think twice. GPS can be iffy out here — know your route before you leave cell service.
River Character
The Laughing Whitefish runs shallow and rocky in stretches, especially mid-to-late summer. Expect submerged boulders and gravel bars that can chew up a prop. This is really a paddle-and-wade kind of river, not a motoring one.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews
About This Lake
Laughing Whitefish River →