Burnt Cabin Boat Launch

There are zero actual ramp lanes here — it's more of a soft launch situation. You can get a small boat or kayak in, but don't expect to back a big trailer down a concrete ramp. If you're running anything over 16 feet, head to one of the proper launches closer to Manistee Lake.

Only three trailer spots, and this is primarily a campground and marina, so those fill fast during salmon season. If you're not staying at the resort, you might find yourself out of luck by mid-morning on a fall weekend.

Late September through October this place is wall-to-wall anglers chasing kings and coho. The stretch where the Manistee heads into Manistee Lake draws serious crowds. Weekdays are manageable, but Friday afternoon through Sunday is a circus.

Don't come here expecting wide-open riverbank fishing. Most of the shoreline is tied up by campsites, so actual spots to cast from shore are few and small. The real value is water access — kayak, drift boat, or small motor to get to better stretches upstream or downstream.

An active rail line runs right alongside the property. A long freight train rolls through around 8 AM and sporadically throughout the day. Not a launch issue per se, but if you're rigging up in the parking area at dawn, don't let the horn surprise you into dropping a rod.