Rice Lake Boat Launch

After you turn off the main stone road, there's another .7 miles of stone road down to the actual ramp. It's not hard to find once you know, but the first time you'll wonder if you missed it. No real signage to speak of.

There's a big turnaround loop at the launch that makes maneuvering a trailer surprisingly easy for such a remote spot. Even with a longer rig you won't be doing a 12-point turn.

Five trailer spots sounds tight, but I've never seen more than one other vehicle here. Locals call this stretch Bear Paw Bay, and it lives up to the name — quiet, clean water, feels like your own private lake. This is a go-to when you want to disappear for a few hours.

One lane and a basic ramp surface, so this isn't the place to bring a heavy fiberglass cruiser. Small aluminum boats and kayaks are the sweet spot. Water clarity is excellent, so you can see what you're backing into at least.

There's an outhouse up by the loop, and that's about it for amenities. McLain State Park administers it, but don't expect a developed park feel — this is backcountry Houghton County through and through. Bring what you need.