Veterans Memorial State Forest Campground Boat Launch

There's no ramp here — zero lanes, no trailer parking. This is strictly a carry-in put-in for kayaks, canoes, and tubes. The launch point is right at the campground entrance and works great for paddling the Upper Platte, but don't show up expecting to back a trailer down to the water.

The Upper Platte from here is fast water with tight turns and serious log jams sitting in deep holes. If you get pinned against a strainer in your kayak, that's a bad day. This stretch is not beginner-friendly — but those same log jams and deep pools hold nice trout if you know how to work them.

The woods around the sites are absolutely choked with poison ivy. You basically can't walk off the gravel roads or wander past your site without getting into it. If you're hauling boats through brush to the water, long pants and awareness are non-negotiable.

The hand-pump wells here are hit or miss — sometimes they work but put out rusty water, sometimes they don't work at all. Bring your own water supply. Don't count on filling up anything here.

The campground sits right along US-31, and the road noise is constant. Grab a site in the far back loop near the river if you can — those are significantly quieter and some have direct river access. The front sites basically feel like you're sleeping in a rest area.