Rainbow Jim Bridge Boat Launch

The ramp is hard-packed gravel and noticeably steep — fine for drift boats, kayaks, and smaller aluminum rigs, but I wouldn't try dragging a big fiberglass hull up it. Two-wheel drive trucks can struggle when it's wet, so keep that in mind after rain.

This stretch of the Big Man gets packed during the fall salmon run. Weekday mornings you'll still find spots, but Saturday and Sunday the 20 trailer spots fill up fast. Arctic spinners thrown from the fishing docks or the bank produce well when the kings are stacked up.

It's $5 cash, self-pay at the lot — no attendant, no card reader. Bring exact change or small bills. Easy to forget when you're loading up at 5 AM, and there's nowhere nearby to break a twenty.

This is one of the better paddle access points on the Manistee. You can paddle upstream in the morning and float back in the afternoon, or run a 2.5- to 5-hour downstream float depending on your takeout. The river forks into a couple of channels near here, which keeps things interesting and spreads people out.

Zero cell service out here — plan accordingly. Download maps before you leave, and coordinate pickup times with your shuttle driver in advance. On the plus side, the isolation keeps the scenery pristine and the crowds lighter than more accessible launches downstream.