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, 2 lanes
Dock1 boating pier
Trailer Parking20 spots · asphalt
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
HoursOpen at all times
RestroomsVault toilet (1)
PierYes
AccessibilityAccessible parking, pedestrian route
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Weeds Are Real
Lac Vieux Desert has gotten thick with vegetation, especially mid-summer through fall. Expect to pull weeds off your prop regularly, and the area near the ramp can get clogged. Someone usually helps spray boats off at the launch, which is a nice touch — tip them if they do.
Ramp Is Solid
Two lanes, good surface, easy grade into the water. Honestly one of the better ramps you'll find in Gogebic County. You can get a pontoon or a full-size bass boat in and out without any drama.
East Side Access
This puts you on the east side of the lake, so you'll want to plan your run if you're targeting the islands or the Wisconsin side. It's a decent-sized lake — over 4,000 acres — so give yourself time to get where you're going, especially if it's choppy.
Parking Fills Weekends
Twenty trailer spots sounds like enough until a Saturday morning in July. The lake draws anglers from both the Michigan and Wisconsin sides, and this is the primary Michigan launch. Get there by 7 AM on weekends or you might be improvising.
Good Panfish Water
If you're new to the lake, start with panfish — bluegill and crappie are plentiful and cooperative. The bass and walleye take more homework, but the panfish will keep your rod bent while you learn the structure.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews, Google Street View
About This Lake
Lac Vieux Desert →