Kent Lake Dam Portage Boat Launch

This is a vessel slide along a pedestrian route, not a traditional boat ramp — no lanes, no trailer parking. It's designed for kayaks, canoes, and SUPs. If you're hauling a trailer, you need to go elsewhere.

If your plan is to paddle upstream on the Huron, save yourself the hassle and put in at a launch further east. The current below Kent Lake Dam makes upstream progress tedious and not worth the effort from this spot.

This portage shares the day-use lot with beachgoers, picnickers, and kayak renters. Sundays and holiday weekends the whole area gets packed — carrying a kayak through the foot traffic to the slide can be a real circus. Weekday mornings are a completely different experience.

You'll need a Recreation Passport on your vehicle to get in since it's part of Island Lake State Recreation Area. No Metro Park pass will work here — different system entirely. Easy to get caught off guard if you're used to the Metroparks nearby.

The Huron River carries a Do Not Eat fish advisory through this stretch. Catch and release only unless you want to ignore the health department. Plenty of decent fishing access nearby, but keep that in mind before you fill a cooler.