Avery Lake State Forest Campground Boat Launch

Plan on about five miles of gravel road to reach the launch. It's manageable in a truck with a trailer, but low-clearance vehicles and motorcycles will feel every bump. No signage issues — just commit to the drive and you'll get there.

Three trailer spots is all you get, and the campground crowd has a habit of filling them up early on summer weekends. If you're not staying at the campground, get there before mid-morning or you might be improvising. There's no real overflow option nearby.

Avery is a clear, spring-fed lake so the water stays cool and visibility is excellent — but the launch area can be on the shallow side, especially late summer. Small boats and kayaks are ideal here. Don't expect to put a deep-V walleye rig in comfortably.

This is one of those hidden Montmorency County gems with islands and a canal to poke around in. Loons calling, bald eagles overhead, almost no boat traffic midweek. It's the opposite of a high-traffic inland lake launch — that's the whole point. No cell service out here, so have your plans set before you arrive.