Craft & Seasonality
✓
Motorboat ✓
Kayak / Canoe ✓
Jet Ski / PWC ✗
Large 22ft+ ✗
Winter Access Site Details
Conditions change rapidly due to water levels, prop wash, and weather. Always visually inspect before backing down.
RampUnimproved, 1 lane
Trailer Parking8 spots · gravel
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
Hours4 AM – 11 PM
RestroomsVault toilet (1)
AccessibilityAccessible restroom
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier · Pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Tight But Functional
Single lane with only 8 trailer spots, so this is really a small-boat and kayak kind of launch. If you're running anything over 16 feet, you'll feel cramped maneuvering in here.
River Access Sweet Spot
This stretch of the Manistee up in Kalkaska County is quieter than what you'll find downstream near Tippy Dam or Sherman. Great put-in for float trips or drift fishing without the circus.
Get There Early In Season
Eight spots disappear fast during salmon and steelhead runs. If you're heading out on a Saturday morning in September or October, plan to be there by dawn or you're parking on the shoulder and hoping for the best.
Seasonal Water Levels Matter
Spring runoff can make this section of the Manistee move fast and push debris around the ramp area. By late summer, the water near shore can get shallow enough to scrape a prop if you're not careful backing in.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews
About This Lake
Manistee River →