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.
RampCarry-in only, 0 lanes
Trailer Parking0 spots · gravel
Vehicle-Only3 spots
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
HoursOpen at all times
RestroomsPortable toilet (1)
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier · Pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
GPS Will Mislead You
The mapped driveway sends you straight to a private drive with no trespassing signs. Take the drive just before it on the right — easy to blow past if you're not watching for it.
No Real Ramp Here
This is a carry-down access, not a trailer launch. You're sliding canoes, kayaks, or small jon boats down to the river. Don't show up expecting to back a trailer in — there's no ramp and nowhere to park a rig.
Upper Manistee Character
This stretch of the Manistee up in Kalkaska County is narrow and wooded — great for paddling and wading but not where you want a big boat. Current can be pushy in spring, and downed trees across the channel aren't unusual after storms.
Minimal Amenities
You get a seasonal porta potty and that's about it. No lights, no dock, no trash cans. Pack out what you bring in and plan your trips around daylight — finding this spot after dark would be a nightmare.
Sources: DNR GIS data, Google Reviews
About This Lake
Manistee River →