West Arm Boat Launch

This ramp drops off fast — one of the steeper grades you'll find on the West Arm. Great if you need deep water at the end (no scraping your skeg), but a lighter tow vehicle can struggle on a wet pull-out. Keep it in low gear.

33 trailer spots on paper, but the lot feels way tighter than that. Once four or five rigs are in there, maneuvering a longer trailer gets awkward. On hot summer weekends, you'll find it full by mid-morning. There's no real overflow option nearby.

There's a single dock along the ramp, and it barely fits one average-sized boat. Load your passengers, fire up the motor, and get out of the way. Don't plan on tying up here while you go park — you'll have people stacking up behind you fast on a busy day.

For all its quirks, this puts you right on the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay with deep water access. If you're heading out to fish the deeper structure or just want a quick path to open Lake Michigan water, it beats fighting the circus at Clinch Park on a Saturday.

There's a pit toilet on site, but don't count on it being serviced regularly. Plan accordingly before you arrive, especially if you've got kids in the truck.