Harvey Bridge Boat Launch

Four trailer spots is all you get, and that fills fast on summer weekends. This is more of a kayak drop or pickup point than a powerboat launch — if you're pulling a trailer longer than 18 feet, you'll be doing a tight dance to get turned around.

This is one of the better put-in/take-out points on this stretch of the Manistee for paddlers. The river runs fast here with sandy bottom and nice riffles — great for a day trip. A lot of folks use it as a pullout after multi-day floats downriver.

The old one-lane bridge dates back to the early 1900s and looks every bit its age. It's narrow enough that you'll want to make sure nobody's coming the other way before you commit, especially with a trailer. Don't let it surprise you.

No trash cans on-site, and it shows — empty bottles and cans pile up, especially after holiday weekends. There's a pit toilet, which is a plus for a spot this remote, but pack your garbage out. The wooded surroundings are genuinely beautiful when people don't trash them.

If you walk to the north side of the bridge, there's a short trail down to the river with a great vantage point. Good spot to scout the current or fish from shore before you even think about launching. Herons, turtles, cedar-lined banks — it's a quiet stretch with very few homes in sight.