Lac La Belle State Harbor Boat Launch

This is one of the most forgiving ramps in the Keweenaw for maneuvering. Wide apron, gentle grade, and the lot is laid out so you're not jackknifing around tight corners even with a longer trailer. If you're new to launching, this is a great confidence builder.

Lac La Belle's bottom is almost entirely mud, and it can silt in around the ramp edges over the season. Stick to the paved lanes and you're fine, but drift off them and your tires or trailer can sink in quick. The main channels hold up to about 38 feet max depth, so deeper water is there — just don't assume it's deep close to shore.

You're way up the peninsula here, and 28 trailer spots is more than enough for typical traffic. Even on a holiday weekend, I've never seen it completely full. Weekdays you might have the whole lake to yourself. It's a different world compared to the chaos at Portage or Torch Lake launches downstate.

The parking lot doubles as a staging area for off-road vehicle riders hitting the Keweenaw trail system. During peak summer weekends, you'll share the lot with muddy trucks and trailers that aren't hauling boats. Not usually a space problem, but don't be surprised by the mix.

The harbor got a major overhaul around 2009-2010 with federal grant money, and it shows. Paved lot, sturdy dock system, and privies on site. For how remote this spot is, the facilities punch well above their weight. Docks make it easy to tie off and load passengers without drama.