Crescent Shores Boat Launch

The ramp area itself doesn't have enough room to swing a truck and trailer around comfortably. You pretty much need to pull through into the nearby overflow parking lot to reposition. If you're running a bigger rig — say 22 feet and up — plan your approach before you commit.

Fourth of July and summer weekends get brutal. I've sat 45 minutes just waiting to pull out on the 4th. Midweek, even in peak season, you can have the place practically to yourself. If you're going on a Saturday, get there early morning or plan on patience.

Township started charging $5 to launch. It's a public ramp on a township-managed lake, so it rubs some folks the wrong way, but it's what it is. Have cash or whatever they're asking for ready so you're not fumbling at the ramp with a line behind you.

Two lanes and two docks, but dock space is short enough that staging gets congested when it's busy. You really want a second person who can drive the truck so one of you parks while the other holds the boat at the dock. Solo launchers back things up fast here on weekends.

The township rebuilt this launch and expanded the parking lot — 76 trailer spots now, which is solid for a Grand Traverse County inland lake. Porta-potties on site. The parking is a short walk from the water, not right at the ramp, but the tradeoff is you're not fighting for space in a cramped lot like the old days.