Hogset Lake Boat Launch

The access road has a gate that's sometimes locked with no obvious schedule. I've shown up midweek during normal hours and found it padlocked shut. Don't make this your only plan for the day — have a backup in mind.

There's no concrete here — just a rutted dirt and gravel track into the water. Kayaks and small johnboats are fine, but anything bigger and you'll want a tall 4x4 to keep your hitch out of the mud. The parking area is equally chewed up with deep washout ruts.

GPS can steer you wrong and dump you at a random driveway. Look for the Crane Pond State Game Area signage and don't trust your phone blindly. The approach road itself is seasonal-quality, so if it looks like you're on a two-track, you might actually be on the right path.

This is deep in state game land with zero foot traffic. Beautiful and quiet, but vehicles have been broken into and stuff stolen out here. Don't leave anything visible in your truck — treat it like a trailhead in the middle of nowhere, because that's basically what it is.

The launch area is shallow, so deeper-draft boats will scrape bottom unless water levels are up in spring. Perfect for kayaks and canoes, and a 12-foot flat-bottom will get in, but you're muscling it. Also closed every year from February 1 through March 1, so plan your late-ice trips accordingly.