Craft & Seasonality
✓
Motorboat ✓
Kayak / Canoe ✓
Jet Ski / PWC ✗
Large 22ft+ ✗
Winter Access Site Details
Conditions change rapidly due to water levels, prop wash, and weather. Always visually inspect before backing down.
RampUnimproved, 1 lane
Dock1 boating pier
Trailer Parking5 spots · gravel
Vehicle-Only3 spots
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
Hours4 AM – 11 PM
RestroomsVault toilet (1)
PierYes
AccessibilityAccessible restroom
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Tiny Lot Fills Fast
Five trailer spots is all you get, and on summer weekends they're gone by 8 AM. If you're rolling in later, there's basically nowhere to overflow — plan to be early or go midweek.
Small Lake, Small Ramp
Single lane, no dock, and it's really only suited for smaller boats — think 16 feet and under. Anything bigger and you'll be fighting the tight turnaround area just to get launched.
Quiet Midweek Gem
Hit this place on a Tuesday or Wednesday and you'll likely have the whole lake to yourself. It's a solid spot for kayaks, small fishing boats, and anyone who wants to avoid the Oakland County zoo at the bigger launches.
State Park Admin Quirk
Despite being in Oakland County, this launch is administered by Young State Park up near Charlevoix. Don't expect much in the way of regular maintenance or staff presence — it's kind of an afterthought in their system.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews, Google Street View
About This Lake
Deer Lake →