White Lake Boat Launch

There's a cement curb along the staging lane that's a real headache. It's narrow enough that most trailers ride up over it or scrape along the side. They even added a sign post at the end — which has been knocked down more than once. If you've got a longer trailer, you'll likely need to swing out into Duck Lake Rd to get the right angle backing in.

The parking lot is across Duck Lake Rd from the ramp, so every launch and load means crossing a busy road on foot. Cars fly through there with no real slowdown signs or crosswalk. Bring a spotter not just for backing in, but to watch for traffic while you're crossing with gear.

Monday through Friday you'll have the place practically to yourself — launching is a breeze. Weekends are a different story. With only 27 trailer spots across the road and two lanes at the ramp, things stack up fast by mid-morning in summer. On weekends there's usually a DNR attendant keeping the flow moving, which helps.

If your rig is on the longer side, the staging area between the road and the ramp doesn't give you enough room to line up a straight shot. You end up having to pull forward into Duck Lake Rd and then back down, which gets sketchy with traffic. Shorter boats and trailers won't have this problem.

The ramp itself is solid concrete and in great shape after renovations. It's a huge improvement over what was here before — the surface is clean, the dock between the two lanes works well, and the lot across the street is paved. Just don't expect much from the porta potty by midsummer.