Prairieville Township Park

This is the only public launch on Gull Lake, so every sunny weekend it becomes a bottleneck. Hot holiday weekends are the worst — boats coming from every direction in the lot, people blocking the dock while loading, and trailers stacking up onto the road waiting to get in. If you're launching on a Saturday in July, get there before 8 AM or prepare to wait.

The entrance gate arm has a bad habit of coming down on boats as you pull through. It's not a one-off thing — it happens multiple times a day. Keep your eyes on it and be ready to stop. Check your gelcoat on the way out if it catches you.

Leaving the lot is sketchy. Trees block your sightline and traffic on the road is doing 55. You're pulling a trailer out essentially blind. Take your time and have a spotter if you can — it's one of those exits where you just have to commit.

$10 launch fee plus $7 parking — and no re-entry, so once you're out, you're paying again. Season pass runs about $80 for non-residents, which pays for itself in a few trips. They have a staffed booth and pay station with gates, so there's no sneaking past it.

For what they charge, the restrooms are consistently disappointing — unstocked toilet paper, no soap, and cleaning that seems to happen on its own schedule. The boat wash station on the way out is a nice touch though, with high-pressure hot water. Just don't count on the facilities matching the fee.