Wilderness State Park

They don't call it Big Stone Bay for nothing. Immediately north of the dock there are submerged rocks that'll ruin your day, especially in low water years. Head due east from the ramp for at least 500 feet before turning north out of the bay — don't cut the corner.

The bay sits sheltered from south and the prevailing west winds, which is a real gift on Lake Michigan. You can often launch here comfortably when open shoreline ramps to the south are getting hammered.

Only 16 trailer spots and one lane, so on summer weekends — especially if the campground is full — you can get squeezed out by mid-morning. Weekdays and early mornings are a different story; you'll practically have the place to yourself.

The dock has seen better days. It's functional but don't trust it for anything heavy-duty. Fine for loading gear or launching kayaks, just watch your footing on some of the worn boards.

The remoteness is the whole point. You get a quiet Lake Michigan launch with Mackinac Bridge views and none of the circus you'd deal with closer to town. The road in through the park is easy enough, and if you're camping at Wilderness State Park, the ramp is just a short hop from the campground.