Sheridan Road Boat Launch

The dirt road down to the launch is steep, rutted, and washed out in places — it gets worse every year and nobody's maintaining it. Low-clearance vehicles and standard SUVs will bottom out. In winter, don't even think about it; deep snow on that grade has stranded trucks that needed multiple tow attempts to get pulled out.

There's one lane and no dock, so you're muscling everything in by hand. Downstream toward the lake the river runs less than a foot deep in spots, so anything bigger than a canoe or kayak is going to drag bottom. If you need to launch a real boat, head to a different ramp on the Muskegon.

There are no lights down there at all, and the parking area attracts some questionable activity at night — people just sitting in parked cars, and the vibe gets uncomfortable. I wouldn't launch solo for an evening trip and come back in the dark. Daytime use only if you want peace of mind.

Eight trailer spots sounds like enough until you realize non-boaters use this as a hangout and swimming hole, especially on warm weekends. You'll roll down that terrible road only to find every spot taken by people who aren't launching anything. No overflow option — you're just stuck.

The main reason this launch matters is there are almost no public access points on the south side of the lower Muskegon River. Creston Landing on the north end has been blocked off, so this is what you've got. It's neglected and rough, but if you paddle the lower river from the south bank, it's basically your only door in.