Lincoln Lake Boat Launch

The ramp gets surprisingly shallow. If you're launching a 20-foot pontoon, plan on backing your truck practically to the door sills. Bigger boats can be a real headache here — this spot is best suited for smaller fishing boats and car-toppers.

There's a tree branch hanging over the launch that clears maybe 20-25 feet tops. Pontoons with tall bimini tops have clipped it, and if you're launching a sailboat with a mast, measure twice. It's the kind of thing that could ruin your morning if you're not expecting it.

Only about 18 trailer spots, and on summer weekends you need to be there early — like before 8 AM early. There's apparently an overflow option nearby for $20 that includes a shuttle ride back, but that tells you everything about how tight it gets.

Single lane, single dock, and this lake draws a crowd. Have your boat prepped and ready to drop before you back down — plug in, straps off, gear loaded. Mid-week can be just as busy as weekends, which surprised me the first time.

Lincoln Lake itself gets very weedy as summer progresses, and there are submerged logs that'll ruin your day if you're running a prop in the shallows. The upside is you can follow the channel over to Blue Lake, which opens things up nicely. Keep speeds in check — no high-speed boating allowed between 6 PM and 10 AM, though plenty of people ignore those signs.