Jones Lake State Forest Campground Boat Launch

Jones Lake sits right in the middle of a National Guard exercise range. Artillery fire during training exercises is common, and you might hear armored vehicles rolling past the campground late at night. Not exactly the wilderness silence you'd expect — check Camp Grayling's training schedule if that matters to you.

One lane on a small, clear lake — this is a carry-in or small boat kind of deal. You can get a 14-footer in without much trouble, but don't show up expecting to launch anything serious. The bottom near shore is mucky in spots, with firmer sand closer to the beach area.

The campground stays open year-round, but the access roads don't get plowed. You'll want 4WD if there's any snow on the ground, or plan to park near the entrance and hike in. That goes double for trying to back a trailer down to the ramp in winter.

Artificial lures only, everything goes back. That keeps the fishing pressure way down — pike and largemouth are in here — but it also means this launch doesn't draw the meat-fishing crowd. Weekdays you might have the entire lake to yourself.

Eleven trailer spots sounds tight, but this place almost never fills up. Even a Saturday in July can see the campground only a third full, and the launch area follows suit. It's 20 minutes from Grayling with no real signage drawing people in — still very much a locals-and-regulars spot.