Elk Rapids Boat Launch

Four lanes and a well-maintained ramp, but zero trailer parking on-site. You'll need someone to drop you off or find street parking in the village to stash your trailer. It's a real bottleneck if you're solo launching.

They pull the channel lights and markers once the season winds down, but the buoy anchors and other hardware may stay in the water. There are rocks in about 3 feet of water near the channel mouth — if you're doing fall Cisco runs or any late-season trips, you need nav equipment or you're risking your hull and transducer.

This is actually a split facility — the upper marina connects to the inland waterway toward Torch Lake, and the lower puts you out on East Grand Traverse Bay. Make sure you know which side you need before you back in. The Lake Michigan access via the bay is the main draw and worth driving past lesser ramps to get here.

Everything in Elk Rapids is walking distance from the ramp — food, shops, restrooms with actual showers that are kept spotless. If you're spending a full day on the water, it's a huge upgrade over more remote launches where you're stuck with a porta-john and nothing else.

Weekends from June through August get packed, especially the beach area adjacent to the launch. The ramp itself moves well with four lanes, but the surrounding foot traffic and beach-goers can make maneuvering a trailer tricky. Early mornings are your friend.