Craft & Seasonality
✓
Motorboat ✓
Kayak / Canoe ✓
Jet Ski / PWC ✗
Large Boat ✗
Winter Access Site Details
Conditions change rapidly due to water levels, prop wash, and weather. Always visually inspect before backing down.
RampUnimproved, 1 lane
Trailer Parking8 spots · gravel
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
HoursOpen at all times
RestroomsVault toilet (1)
AccessibilityAccessible restroom
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier · Pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Tiny Lot Fills Fast
Eight trailer spots is all you get. On summer weekends, especially Saturday mornings, you'll find it packed by 9 AM. There's no real overflow area, so plan to arrive early or go midweek.
Small Lake, Big Crowds
Shafer Lake is compact, and it doesn't take many boats to make it feel crowded. A busy Saturday can have enough traffic to make trolling or casual paddling uncomfortable. Weekday evenings are the sweet spot.
Single Lane Patience
One lane means you're waiting if somebody ahead of you is fumbling with their trailer. It's a clean little ramp that handles smaller boats fine, but don't bring anything over 18 feet — the turnaround space is tight.
Decent Water Depth
The water right off the ramp is surprisingly deep and clear, so you won't be scraping bottom on your launch. That's a real advantage over some of the other small Van Buren County lakes where you're fighting silt and muck all season.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews, Google Street View
About This Lake
Shafer Lake →