Bishop Lake Boat Launch

This is a no-wake lake, so leave the big rig at home. Perfect for kayaks, paddle boards, and small fishing boats. The channels connecting to the back side of Bishop Lake and over to Caroga Lake are tight and shallow — if water levels drop mid-summer, even a Jon boat can scrape bottom getting through.

Only 15 trailer spots, and on a nice Saturday morning they're taken by 9 AM. You're in a state rec area so there's some overflow along the road, but you'll need a Rec Passport on your vehicle either way. Weekday mornings are a completely different experience — practically have the place to yourself.

Two narrow channels connect different sections of Bishop Lake and lead out to Caroga Lake. These are the highlight of paddling here. Stick to the shoreline edges to find them — they're easy to miss if you don't know to look. Weed growth gets thick by late July, so early season is the best time to navigate them cleanly.

There's a fishing pier just east of the launch that's great for kids chasing bluegills. But it gets randomly chained off with zero signage or explanation. If you're making a trip specifically to fish from shore, have a backup plan — the bank access near the launch works in a pinch.

Separate kayak launch area plus on-site kayak and paddle board rentals make this one of the easiest paddle-sport entries in Livingston County. The single ramp is ADA accessible and in decent shape, but with one lane, you'll want to be efficient if anyone's waiting behind you.