Au Sable Lake Boat Launch

Six trailer spots and that's it — no overflow area, no shoulder worth using. On summer weekends you can find every spot claimed by 8 AM, mostly by lake residents who live nearby. If you're trailering anything bigger than a 16-footer, plan on arriving early or going midweek.

The launch sits at the end of a dead-end road, which means no drive-by traffic but also no easy turnaround if the lot's full. You'll be backing out the way you came, and with a trailer that's no fun. Know before you go.

One lane, one shot. If someone's fumbling with their boat ahead of you, you're just waiting. The dock next to the ramp is actually decent and helps with loading, but peak Saturday mornings can stack up two or three rigs deep pretty quickly.

Honestly this launch shines more for paddle craft than power boats. The back streams feeding Au Sable Lake are gorgeous and quiet — real Up North feel without a long drive. If you're bringing a kayak or canoe, the limited parking matters a lot less since you're not taking up a trailer spot.

There's variety in the lake — panfish, bass, some pike — but don't expect easy limits. The lake gets a lot of resident pressure and the fish can be finicky, especially midsummer. Early spring and fall are your best bets if you're serious about putting something in the livewell.