Walleye Pond Boat Launch

The single-lane ramp drops off pretty steeply, and it's built with 1-inch planks rather than poured concrete. Fine for small boats and kayaks, but I wouldn't bring anything over 16 feet here — backing a bigger rig down that grade with limited room to maneuver is asking for trouble.

Six trailer spots and some roadside overflow is all you get. On weekends during salmon runs, you might show up to find no room at all. Get there early or have a backup plan — this isn't a spot that forgives a late start.

This is a solid put-in for a short kayak or tube float down the Muskegon. Easy water access and you're on the river quick. It's one of the better casual paddle launches in the area precisely because it stays low-key compared to the bigger ramps downstream.

After heavy rains the river comes up fast here and eats into the bank. Standing room along the shore shrinks to almost nothing, and the current picks up enough to make launching trickier. Spring and fall are the worst for it — check the gauge at Croton Dam before you commit to the drive.

Smallmouth, steelhead, salmon — this stretch of the Muskegon produces. It's one of those spots locals don't love advertising, so the pressure stays manageable outside of peak runs. Weekday mornings you might have the whole bank to yourself.