East Lake Boat Launch

You need a Michigan Recreation Passport to use this launch. There's no signage warning you ahead of time, so if you don't have one, it's a wasted trip. Buy it with your registration or at the Secretary of State before you go.

There's a sandbar running through the center of the lake on the west side. If you're motoring around in anything with real draft, you'll find it the hard way. Stick to the east side when exploring, or idle slow until you learn the layout.

Nine trailer spots and one lane — that's it. On a warm summer weekend, a handful of families with kayaks and swimmers can eat up space quickly. Get there early or plan for a weekday trip.

This is a quiet UP lake, spring-fed with clear water and a sandy bottom. Perfect for a jon boat, canoe, or small bass boat. Don't bring anything big — the lake and the ramp aren't built for it. Lily pads choke up the west end and far east end, which is great for bass fishing but limits where you can go.

The water clarity is usually excellent — you can see the bottom in most spots — but tannin levels fluctuate. After heavy rain the water darkens up noticeably. If you're sight-fishing, pick a stretch of dry weather for the best conditions.