Port Austin State Harbor Boat Launch

The water is a bit shallow once you clear the harbor mouth, especially if you're running a deeper-draft boat. Stick to the marked channel heading out — straying off-line in low water years can get you into trouble fast. Sailboats and bigger cruisers, pay attention to your depth finder.

Four lanes and 76 trailer spots means you're rarely stuck waiting, even on holiday weekends. The ramp itself is well-maintained and the harbor layout makes backing in straightforward. About as painless as a Great Lakes launch gets.

Late June into July, the fish flies descend on this place like a biblical plague. The ramp lights and harbor lights draw them in thick — your trailer, your truck, your boat, everything gets coated. If you're launching at dusk during peak hatch, brace yourself.

One of the best things about this launch is you're basically in the middle of Port Austin. Fuel dock on-site with competitive gas prices (only one diesel pump though, so plan for a wait if boats are ahead of you), restaurants and shops within walking distance, clean restrooms at the harbor. It's a full-service stop, not just a slab of concrete.

Port Austin sits right at the tip of the Thumb, so the sunsets over the lake from this harbor are genuinely spectacular. If you're pulling the boat out in the evening, give yourself an extra twenty minutes just to watch from the pier. No pets allowed on the grounds though — leave the dog in the truck or at camp.