Whites Bridge Boat Launch

There's no ramp here — no lanes, no trailer parking. This is strictly a carry-in spot for kayaks, canoes, and tubes. You'll haul your craft down a short staircase and river bank to the water, so keep it light. Not the place for anything bigger than a two-person kayak.

The parking area is tiny — maybe a handful of cars at best. On summer weekends this is a hugely popular tubing put-in for the float down to Fallasburg Park, so spots disappear early. If you show up after 11 AM on a Saturday in July, you're parking on the road shoulder and hoping nobody complains.

The Flat River can run really slow through here, especially mid-to-late summer. People have reported 5-hour floats that they expected to take half that. Factor that in if you're planning a tube or kayak run down to Fallasburg — bring extra water and patience.

If you're paddling in October, this is one of the prettiest launches in Ionia County. The covered bridge with peak fall color behind it is something else. Weekdays in autumn you might have the whole place to yourself.