Belleville Lake West Boat Launch

The west end of Belleville Lake is deceptively shallow — maybe 70% of this side is barely a few feet deep. Submerged logs and debris are scattered throughout. I've seen people destroy props out here, and tubing or skiing on this side is genuinely risky. Stick to trolling or PWC until you learn the bottom.

There's a sandbar between the ramp and open water that can catch you off guard, especially at lower pool levels. No markers or buoys to warn you. Take it slow heading out and pay attention to your depth finder right away.

One lane handles both launching and loading, so weekends can turn into a mess — especially when people aren't experienced with ramp etiquette. Weekday mornings are a breeze, barely anyone there. Saturdays by mid-morning you'll start competing for the lane.

37 trailer spots and they're generously sized, so you won't be squeezing in. The catch is if you're launching a kayak or canoe without a trailer — the non-trailer parking is a hike from the water. Plan to carry your gear a bit.

This is administered by Maybury State Park, so there's a check-in and you'll need a Recreation Passport or day pass. The staff at the booth are generally solid, but it's one more step that slows things down when traffic picks up on summer weekends.