Big Bay Harbor of Refuge Boat Launch

There are no dedicated trailer spots here, full stop. You'll be improvising with street parking or pulling off to the side near the harbor. If you're towing anything bigger than a 20-footer, figure out your parking plan before you back down the ramp — not after.

This is the go-to launch if you're making the roughly 50-mile run out to Stannard Rock Lighthouse. That's serious open Superior water, so you want calm conditions and a reliable boat. No other launch in the area puts you in a better position for that trip.

Big Bay proper is about a mile walk from the harbor. There's a general store and a couple spots to eat and drink, but don't expect a full-service marina town. Fuel and pump-out are available right at the harbor, which saves you from having to haul cans.

The harbor of refuge lives up to its name — it's well-protected inside — but once you clear the breakwall, you're on open Lake Superior with no shelter for miles. Swells can build fast out of the northwest. If conditions look borderline in the morning, they'll probably be worse by afternoon.

This is a summer-only operation. Boats moored here have to come out well before freeze-up, and the launch really only sees steady use from late May through September. Early and late season you might find the ramp in rough shape from ice heave, so take a good look at the concrete before committing.