Craft & Seasonality
✓
Motorboat ✓
Kayak / Canoe ✓
Jet Ski / PWC ✓
Large Boat ✗
Winter Access Site Details
Conditions change rapidly due to water levels, prop wash, and weather. Always visually inspect before backing down.
RampPaved, 1 lane
Dock1 boating pier · ADA
Trailer Parking10 spots · gravel
Vehicle-Only8 spots
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
HoursOpen at all times
RestroomsVault toilet (1)
PierYes
AccessibilityAccessible pier
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Low Water Trouble
This ramp sits on Hardy Pond below Rogers Dam, and water levels drop significantly through late summer into winter. By fall, you might struggle to get even a 14-footer in without scraping. Things don't really come back up until April, so plan your seasonal trips accordingly.
Highway Overhead
The launch is literally under the US-131 bridge. You'll hear constant highway noise, which honestly keeps the crowds thin. If you can tune it out, it's a solid trade-off for having the place mostly to yourself on weekdays.
Tight Parking Window
Only about 10 trailer spots on a narrow dirt access road. Weekend mornings during smallmouth season it fills fast — if you're not there by 7 AM on a Saturday, you might be out of luck. No real overflow option nearby.
Solid Smallmouth Water
The upper reaches of Hardy Pond below Rogers Dam hold good smallmouth bass, and musky show up here too. It's a surprisingly productive stretch for a launch most people just drive over without knowing it exists.
Nice Bonus Trail
There's a short wooded trail along the riverbank worth checking out while your buddy backs the trailer down. Good bank access for shore fishing too, especially when the water's up in spring.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews, Google Street View
About This Lake
Muskegon River →