Craft & Seasonality
✓
Motorboat ✓
Kayak / Canoe ✓
Jet Ski / PWC ✗
Large 22ft+ ✗
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 · ADA
Trailer Parking15 spots · gravel
Vehicle-Only2 spots
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
Hours4 AM – 11 PM
RestroomsVault toilet (1)
PierYes
AccessibilityAccessible pier, restroom
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Ramp Drop-Off
The concrete ramp has a nice clean drop-off at the end — no gradual silting or muck to fight through. You can get a decent-sized boat in the water without worrying about your trailer wheels spinning in soft bottom.
Small But Uncrowded
Only one lane and 15 trailer spots, but this place flies under the radar. It's tucked inside Fayette Historic State Park, so most people are there for the ghost town, not the launch. Even on summer weekends you're unlikely to wait.
Garden Bay Shelter
Being inside Garden Bay means you're protected from big Lake Michigan swells when launching. That said, once you round the point you're on open water, so plan your return accordingly — don't get caught fighting rollers trying to load back on the trailer.
State Park Access
You'll need a Recreation Passport or day pass to get through the Fayette Historic State Park gate. Easy to forget if you're just running up for a quick launch. Keep one on your plate or have cash ready.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews
About This Lake
Lake Michigan →