Frankfort Municipal Boat Launch

Ten lanes is borderline overkill for a lake this size, but it means you can launch and load fast even on a Saturday morning in July. Tournament days are the only time I've seen real congestion here.

There are about 50 trailer spots, but a chunk of them aren't striped — just open gravel areas where people self-organize. On busy weekends, that leads to some creative parking that can box you in if you're not paying attention. Get there early or park smart.

Betsie Lake connects straight out to Lake Michigan through the Frankfort channel, so this is effectively a big-lake launch without the exposed shoreline drama. You can be in open water in minutes, which makes it a go-to over places like Elberta's ramp across the lake.

There's a fish cleaning station on-site with designated parking, but those spots fill up fast when the salmon are running in September and October. If you're cleaning fish, pull your trailer out of the main lot first — it's tight over there.

When Betsie River is running high in spring, there's a noticeable current pushing through the lake toward the channel. Smaller boats under 16 feet can feel it when idling near the ramp. Not dangerous, just something to account for when you're backing off the trailer.