Hulien Road Boat Launch

The lot is bigger than the 20-spot listing suggests — closer to 50-100 trailer spots after they repaved it. That said, on good-weather weekends early in the season, you'll see 5+ boats lined up at sunrise and non-trailer vehicles stealing trailer spots. Get there early or risk circling.

There are three dock lanes, but don't count on all of them being usable. One dock tends to sit low or partially submerged, and floating debris — logs and branches — collects between the docks, especially later in the season. Give it a quick look before you back in so you're not wrestling with a tree trunk at the ramp.

You're right at the mouth of the Saginaw River with deep water all the way out to the Bay, which makes this a top choice for bigger boats chasing walleye in lower Saginaw Bay. The tradeoff is a no-wake zone up and down the river from the launch, so budget extra time getting out to open water.

This is one of the few launches in the area that stays usable through winter. When other docks are pulled, Hulien Road usually keeps at least one dock in the water, making it the go-to for open-water ice fishing access. Expect company — it draws a crowd on mild February days.

For a launch this popular near prime Bay fishing, the lack of a fish cleaning station is a real miss. You're hauling your catch home or finding somewhere else to clean up. Bathrooms are outhouse-style and hit or miss on cleanliness, so set your expectations accordingly.