Shupac Lake State Forest Campground Boat Launch

Cell service drops out well before you arrive, and the roads in are narrow and winding — not fun with a trailer if you don't know the route. Download your directions ahead of time because GPS can get spotty. Pulling anything bigger than a 16-footer through here is going to test your patience.

One lane and six trailer spots — that's it. On a mid-summer weekend you might find the lot full by mid-morning, and there's no real overflow area. Mid-week is a completely different story; I've pulled up on a Tuesday in August and had the ramp to myself.

Shupac is a designated no-wake lake, so leave the bass boat at home and bring something smaller. The water is absurdly clear — you can see the bottom in 10-plus feet. Great for kayaks, canoes, small fishing boats, and pontoons running electric motors.

Unless you're right near the boat launch or the small beach, there's almost nowhere to fish from shore. The banks drop off with stairs down to the water at most campsites, but they're not set up for casting. You really need a boat to fish this lake properly — trout, bass, and big bluegill are all in here.

The road in gets plowed in winter but the campground itself does not. You can park at the turnaround and walk in a couple hundred feet, or chance it with 4WD. Late September through mid-October is the sweet spot — the campground empties out to a handful of sites occupied, loons are still calling, and you've basically got the lake to yourself.