access location

If I was coming from Farm Island Lake what would be the closest Mille Lacs access to drop a boat in?

Thanks!!

Looks like a horse apiece.

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Google says 9.5 miles for the north landing and 9.2 miles for the Garrison landing.

Just want to mention some caution from someone that has been there and seen that. Closest may not always be best. The north Garrison access is not a straight on approach, actually a hard dogleg to launch. Tricky with a bigger boat. Wealthwood access might be easier? You could be fine, but given the day something to consider. Drop the boat in the morning fine. Come time to pull it back in and the south wind has kicked up big time. You will have a real challenge trying to load up your boat with the wind and waves crashing your boat in every other direction other than on to the trailer. I have seen it and experienced it. It can be harrowing as well as damaging to your boat.

Sorry, not trying scare tactics, but given some of the experiences of those that have been there before…some of us opt to launch out of a private harbor. Not trying to plug the resorts there but for the $10 launch fee, it can possibly save anguish and damage. The resorts boat launch have a “safe harbor”, protected from the wind and waves. If it’s crashing from the south where you put in, you can pull into the harbor and load your boat without being pin balled around. Barnevelds (closer than Wealthwood public access from Farm Island) and Red Door have safe harbors on the north shore. For the $10, that’s what I always do now. Never know when that wind will kick up, and not having to see my boat smashing along side the trailer struggling to get it up.

We come from Aitkin and generally launch at Myr Mar. Much better launch than the public accesses and close to the mud flats.

Thanks guys, just looking at options. I have launched at both Wealthwood and North Garrison years ago and do remember the challenges at both. If I recall the area at Wealthwood was really shallow also, maybe it was a low water year?

Thanks again.

Wealthwood is still really shallow, tough with a South wind, really sandy and not many rocks to hit. Go past Wealthwood public and the first resort is Doc’s Harbor. That should work good, when backing an empty trailer at night the ramp drops off quickly, put your tailgate down, but you still loose sight. Barvavelds is good too, if it’s busy parking is a mess, might need to go across the highway. For some reason we seem to pick up a bunch of floating weeds at the harbor at Red Door, spending a bunch of time cleaning off the trailer. Too bad that primitive landing at the old Weathwood Rod and Gun Club sportsman park wasn’t still an option.