Smith Park

The roads leading into Smith Park are beat up pretty bad — potholes and crumbling pavement that'll rattle your trailer. Take it slow, especially if you're towing a bigger rig.

Only about 10 dedicated trailer spots on paper, though the lot itself can fit more rigs informally. Problem is the lot is shared with park visitors, so on warm summer evenings you're competing with families and folks just hanging out. Weekday mornings are your best bet.

At low water or during dry spells, the ramp gets sketchy — some guys say it's barely usable for anything beyond a kayak. When river levels are up, the two lanes work fine for aluminum boats and bass rigs. Check what the Saginaw River is doing before you commit to the drive.

The lot is well-lit, which makes this one of the better options on the Saginaw River if you're heading out early or coming back after dark. Gives you direct access to the lower river and a short run out to Saginaw Bay.