Henning Park

This launch pulls double duty as a popular takeout for tubers coming down from Thornapple or other upstream put-ins. On summer weekends, especially Saturdays from noon to 4 PM, the ramp area gets congested with tube groups stumbling out of the water. If you're trying to launch a boat, go early morning or time it for a weekday.

The ramp has 1-inch planks laid down, which tells you the concrete underneath has seen better days. Two lanes and 40 trailer spots handle most weekday traffic fine, but the planks can get slippery when wet. Back in carefully, especially if you're on a steep approach angle.

You're hitting a county park entrance fee before you even touch the water — $8 daily or $35 for the annual pass. Easy to miss if you're just trying to do a quick launch. The fee applies to everyone entering the park, not just campers, so have cash or be ready to deal with the office near the entrance.

The Muskegon moves with real authority through this stretch. I've seen multiple kayakers flip and struggle to self-recover against the current right near the launch. If you're putting in a smaller boat or canoe, hug the inside bends and respect the flow. This isn't lazy river water — it's blue ribbon current with purpose.

The park sits on a shelf well above the river, and the bank drops off hard in places — we're talking a 50-foot bluff in spots. The path from the campground down to the launch area is manageable, but don't wander off trail near the river edge, especially after dark or with kids. The launch itself is at river level, but getting between the park and the water on foot requires some awareness.