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.
RampPaved, 6 lanes
Water DepthShallow leaving the launch area — watch your prop heading out to open water. Deeper than South Higgins for larger boats.
Dock3 boating piers · ADA
Trailer Parking137 spots · asphalt
Crowding Holiday weekends are brutal — hour-plus waits reported. July 4th is the worst. Retrieval is often worse than launching. Weekday mornings are manageable.
Plan B — if this lot is full South Higgins Lake State Park (5 mi, 8 lanes, 210 spots)
North Higgins Lake State Park (3.5 mi, 3 lanes, 45 spots)
North Higgins Lake State Park (3.5 mi, 3 lanes, 45 spots)
FeeMI Recreation Passport (annual, on vehicle registration)
HoursOpen at all times
SeasonYear-round (no gate). Winter lot rarely plowed.
RestroomsVault toilet (2)
PierYes
AIS StationDecontamination tools on-site
StaffedYes
AccessibilityAccessible piers, parking, and restrooms. Pedestrian routes not confirmed accessible.
Not Available Fish cleaning · Fishing pier
Scout's Notes
Ramp Quirks & Etiquette
Crowding & Retrieval
Holiday weekends are genuinely chaotic here. Multiple boaters report hour-plus waits, and retrieval is consistently worse than launching — one reviewer called getting out 'INSANE.' July 4th is the worst day of the year. If you're coming on a peak weekend, arrive early or use South Higgins as your Plan B. Weekday mornings are a different world.
Parking
137 trailer spots sounds generous, but the spaces are tight — many trailers stick out 6–8 feet. The main lot is across the road from the launch, which adds a walk. A land use order prevents vehicles without trailers from taking trailer spaces, so enforcement is active.
Depth at Ramp
Shallow leaving the launch area — watch your prop heading out to the lake. Multiple reviewers mention this. That said, it's deeper than South Higgins for larger boats, and one regular calls it the best launch on the lake for bigger rigs.
Winter & Ice Fishing
Open year-round with no gate — one of the only Higgins Lake launches accessible in winter. Popular ice fishing access for smelt, lake trout, and perch. The lot is rarely plowed, so plan accordingly. Rec Passport is technically required even in winter, but enforcement is minimal ('banker hours'). Self-register at the site if the office isn't open.
Remodeled 2017
The launch was updated in fall 2017 with an efficient new design. Waterless AIS decontamination station on site. Restrooms are vault toilets — reviews on cleanliness are mixed.
Sources: Google Reviews (2017–2025), michigan-sportsman.com forums, DNR GIS data
About This Lake
Higgins Lake →