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.
RampGrooved Concrete, 2 lanes
Water DepthShallow approach — not recommended for boats over 22 ft or deep-V hulls
DockSeasonal skid pier (refurbished 2025) · ADA
Trailer Parking22 spots · asphalt
Vehicle-Only5 spots
Crowding Fills by 8 AM summer weekends
Plan B — if this lot is full Portage Inn (private, north on McGregor)
Portage Marine (river to Little Portage)
Ted Cobb's Marina (Zukey Lake, east end, fee)
Portage Marine (river to Little Portage)
Ted Cobb's Marina (Zukey Lake, east end, fee)
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
Hours4 AM – 11 PM
SeasonSpring – Fall
RestroomsVault toilet (1)
PierYes
AIS StationDecontamination tools on-site
StaffedSeasonal
AccessibilityFully accessible — piers, parking, pathways, and restrooms
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Crowding
This is the only public launch on the entire Huron River Chain of Lakes — every boat accessing the chain comes through here. When the 22 trailer spots fill, the ramp closes until spots open. Arrive before 8 AM on summer weekends or expect a wait.
Wind Exposure
Highly exposed to north winds. Multiple anglers report difficult loading in cross-chop. Plan around wind direction on open-water days.
Spring Water Levels
Lake levels are drawn down in winter and slowly raised by Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner in late March through early April. Early season launches may encounter shallow conditions at the ramp until levels stabilize.
Ramp Conditions
Hard-surface ramp in limited water depth. Adequate for bass boats and pontoons under 22 ft. Large boat retrieval is genuinely difficult here — not just inconvenient, but potentially damaging.
Alternate Access
If the DNR lot is full, three private options exist on the chain: Portage Inn just north on McGregor Rd (single rough ramp, open most of the time), Portage Marine on the river into Little Portage Lake, and Ted Cobb's Marina on the east end at Zukey Lake (fee-based, business hours only). None are as good as the DNR launch, but they're Plan B when you need one.
Sources: HRCOLA, michigan-sportsman.com forums, DNR site comments
About This Lake
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