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.
RampPaved, 1 lane
Dock1 boating pier (seasonal)
Trailer Parking16 spots
Crowding The most-used public launch on Walloon Lake. With roughly 99% of the lake's shoreline in private hands, public access is scarce, so this site draws steady traffic on summer weekends. The 16-spot trailer lot across the road is the bottleneck — arrive early on peak July weekends.
Plan B — if this lot is full Jones Landing Park (northeast shore)
Sumner Road access (southwest end)
Sumner Road access (southwest end)
FeeMelrose Township day-use fee (drop box at the launch) or seasonal Township launch permit
Hours
SeasonSpring – Fall
RestroomsModern restroom (1)
PierYes
AIS StationDecontamination tools on-site
AccessibilityAccessible restroom and parking; DNR accessibility rating 3 of 5
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Scarce Public Access
Walloon is almost entirely ringed by private property — roughly 99% of the shoreline is privately owned or protected open space. This township launch behind Hotel Walloon is one of only a handful of public ways onto the water, which is exactly why it stays busy. Treat it as the main door to the lake, not a backup.
Tucked Behind the Hotel
The ramp sits at the southeast corner of the lake, at the Windsor Road end behind Hotel Walloon. Parking isn't at the ramp — trailer and car spots are across the road on South Shore Drive, with room for about 16 rigs. Drop your boat at the launch, then move the truck across the street.
Drop Box or Season Pass
This isn't a Recreation Passport launch. There's a day-use drop box right at the ramp, or you can buy a seasonal launch permit from Melrose Township. Bring cash for the box if you're not running the season pass.
Use the Boat Wash
The Township added an air-operated boat wash station in 2023, and they mean for you to use it. Walloon has a low flush rate and is watched closely for zebra mussels and other invasives — rinse your hull and trailer coming and going.
Rebuilt and Solid
The launch was rebuilt in 2011 and again in 2020, so it's in good shape — a proper paved ramp and dock that handles boats up to about 20 feet, plus an accessible restroom on site. Smaller rigs and fishing boats have no trouble here.
Sources: Melrose Township Parks & Recreation Plan (2024–2028), Melrose Township, Michigan Water Trails, Google
About This Lake
Walloon Lake →