Boat Launches on Portage Lake
Portage Lake Boat Launch
View ramp details →
Good to Know
Food & Drink
No on-site concession. Nearest food in Pinckney, 3 mi
Bait & Tackle
Nearest bait shop in Pinckney — no on-lake bait
Picnic Areas
Picnic tables near launch, no pavilion
Fuel on the Water
Portage Marine — fuel dock on Little Portage Lake channel
Connected Waterways
Navigable to the entire 7-lake Huron River Chain
Winter & Ice Safety
Big Portage Lake does not freeze reliably — ice conditions are unpredictable and deep springs create thin spots. Little Portage, Base Line, Strawberry, and Zukey lakes all freeze more consistently. When Big Portage does freeze, walleye and crappie spots produce well. Winter access to the chain is from private property only — the DNR launch is gated and closed.
Local Watercraft Rules
Plain English Summary
| Connecting channels | No-wake speed in all channels between Portage Lake and Huron River, and between Portage and Little Portage |
| Wake / surf boats | Allowed only in deep areas of Portage and Base Line lakes (15ft+ depth, 500ft+ from shore) |
| Little Portage Lake | No-wake speed everywhere, including all connected canals |
| Huron River | No-wake speed throughout entire river |
| Shore buffer | All watercraft must stay 100ft from shore, rafts, docks, buoys, and swimmers unless at no-wake speed |
| Full legal text | DNR watercraft controls → |