Craft & Seasonality
✓
Motorboat ✓
Kayak / Canoe ✓
Jet Ski / PWC ✗
Large 22ft+ ✗
Winter Access Site Details
Conditions change rapidly due to water levels, prop wash, and weather. Always visually inspect before backing down.
RampUnimproved, 1 lane
Dock1 boating pier · ADA
Trailer Parking5 spots · gravel
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
HoursOpen at all times
PierYes
AccessibilityAccessible pier
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier · Restrooms
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Rough Road In
About five miles of dirt road to reach the launch, and it can get muddy and rutted. A truck or SUV towing a boat handles it fine, but if you're pulling a trailer with a low-clearance vehicle, take it slow — some sections will bounce you around pretty good.
Tiny Ramp, Overgrown Shore
Single lane, small ramp suited for jon boats, canoes, and other small craft. The shoreline is heavily overgrown with aquatic plants, so the ramp is really your only clean water access. Don't expect to hand-launch from the bank easily.
Parking Is Tight
Five trailer spots is all you get, and they share space with the campground traffic. On a summer weekend the campground fills up first-come, first-served — if campers with trailers take those spots, you're out of luck. Midweek you'll have no issues at all.
Solitude Is The Draw
This isn't a high-volume launch — it's a quiet U.P. lake where you might be the only boat out there, especially weekdays or after Labor Day. Fishing is solid but you really need a boat since the overgrowth makes shore fishing a chore. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent, so plan accordingly.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews
About This Lake
Carney Lake →