Bowers Harbor Boat Launch

The 39 trailer spots fill up early on summer weekends — often by 8 AM if there's a tournament or good salmon bite. There's an overflow lot uphill that buys you some extra capacity, but it's a bit of a hike back to the ramp. Weekday mornings are a different story — plenty of room.

The concrete on both lanes gets a little beat up, especially early in the season before any maintenance. Nothing that'll stop you, but it's uneven enough that you'll feel it under your trailer tires. Take it slow backing down.

This is your closest launch to Power Island — maybe a mile and a half across the bay. That makes it the go-to for anyone heading out there for the day, which is part of why parking gets tight. If Power Island is your destination, this is the spot.

Bowers Harbor sits tucked into the west side of Old Mission Peninsula, so you get decent protection from prevailing westerlies compared to launching off the exposed Traverse City waterfront. When the main bay is choppy, this side is often manageable for smaller boats and kayaks.

It's a bit out of the way — about 20 minutes north of downtown Traverse City up Peninsula Drive — but that distance actually works in your favor. Even during peak summer and events like the air show, it stays calmer here than the Clinch Park or Elmwood Township launches. Two lanes handle the volume fine on most days.