Worst boat launch in MN

There are plenty of very nice public boat launches in MN but then again there are some rough ones to. To shallow, to deep, unprotected, boulders, busted up concrete and so on. Just curious to here or see photos of some of the gems you guys have had to launch at.

So far my vote goes for the Log House Landing (Copas) on the St croix just north of William O Brian. This one is a gem but I still like to launch there. Steep narrow road down to the landing turn around that has limited parking on both sides. Get on idiot not parking right and it can be very tight just getting in there. Get down to the turn around and once again gt some joker not parking right and you might not even be able to get turned around. Once turned around you get to back the trailer down the steeper yet gravel upper part of the gravel ramp. This runs parallel to the river. At the bottom of this its just a quick jack knife of the trailer and you are in the water. The good part about this landing is it drops off into deeper water. 4wd is a must for getting the boat back out and up the ramp.

You can zoom in on this little landing from this link. Ill try to get some better photos of it next time Im over.

Log House Landing

2-very shallow launches:

1) Access #2 at Carver County Lake Minnewashta Park, now closed as they improve access #1 and force ALL boats to be inspected, but here is what it was a few years ago. See photo. Once in the water it was very shallow for first 50-100 yards depending on time of year. Sign near landing stated: “Launch at your own risk”

2) Lake Zumbra in the Three River Park Reserve in Victoria, is very similar, yet my front bumper is usually 10-15ft beyond the dry land point just to float the boat and get it back on the trailer. Some locals do not want it improved as it would draw more outsiders.

Thats how I feel about Copas. No need to fix it. It is what it is. Had friends that where going to follow us over there yesterday with their boat. The guy wanted to know if it was a good landing. I had to chuckle.

Maiden Rock or Stockholm on P4. Both are a joke. knee deep for 1/4 mile off the landing…

I could have told you the worst boat launch in WI…last year and it had nothing to do with the water level.

Today, I don’t have a clue.

Twin Lake in Robbinsdale is pretty bad. It was close by and I had just tuned my old 70s Johnson, so we decided to go to a lake close by to test it. Launch has a bad power loading hole, and ice turned the last concrete section into a 90 degree angle. So you launch and your trailer bottoms out. Only to launch your boat into a 2 foot deep weed pit that is most of the north lake.. Yay!

I’ll second Maiden or Stockholm. Can be interesting for sure. Extremely tough to do maiden during low water levels.

Spring lake in hastings.. if you dont find the right angle to get the boat in deeper water, you probably are launching with water up to the doors. Last year i mistakenly tried to launch a 16ft alumacraft lunker and buried my back end in the mud trying to get out. Luckily someone was able to pull me out right away.

I agree twin lakes launch is pretty roughed up. Personal experience, 2 buddies came to visit and want to do a little fishing so we hit twin for a quick outing. Afer fishing I beached the boat on the right of the launch and jumped out into about less than a foot of water to go get the car. Before I even make it up the ramp, one of them dolphin dives into the water while getting off at the middle of the boat. He swore that water look only like a foot deep, misplaced footing and went for a swim.

I hate to say it but when the St. Croix is at normal or below water level, the Bluffs is the worst. You would never think that with all the parking, three lanes to launch, and beautiful docks. BUT the ramp itself is horrible. The look on people’s faces (including mine the first time it happened) when you hear the trailer for your 30k-60k boat dragging across the cement is priceless. I remember I tried to use the middle lane to load my boat once and my trailer was stuck below the cement crack. I had to take my boat off and move my trailer to the first lane.

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I hate to say it but when the St. Croix is at normal or below water level, the Bluffs is the worst. You would never think that with all the parking, three lanes to launch, and beautiful docks. BUT the ramp itself is horrible. The look on people’s faces (including mine the first time it happened) when you hear the trailer for your 30k-60k boat dragging across the cement is priceless. I remember I tried to use the middle lane to load my boat once and my trailer was stuck below the cement crack. I had to take my boat off and move my trailer to the first lane.

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So I am guessing if no one ever power loaded there it would be a really nice launch

Mike that is one of my favorite accesses. They made it no parking on the right side on the way down to the river. It doesn’t take to many trailers to get you parking up by the rr tracks. I found out i can get my boat out in 2wd if the water is low.

Ha I got all that beat. The Courtland landing on the MN is only usable in high water for a few weeks in the spring. Seems a sand bar was deposited right in front of the landing and you launch into a 2′ deep channel if you are lucky. I fished there from shore for about 8 years before the flood last year washed the sand off the concrete ramp that I didn’t know was there.

Woah!@ people actually USE that?? I went to check it out once when I was in the area and I couldn’t even find the water, just MUD.

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Ha I got all that beat. The Courtland landing on the MN is only usable in high water for a few weeks in the spring. Seems a sand bar was deposited right in front of the landing and you launch into a 2′ deep channel if you are lucky. I fished there from shore for about 8 years before the flood last year washed the sand off the concrete ramp that I didn’t know was there.

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Stu… i agree maiden rock is a joke. Can hardly launch a small duck boat there but im not sure of your talking about deer island when u say stockholm. Stock had a pretty decent landing. I put in my bass boat all the time there.

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Mike that is one of my favorite accesses. They made it no parking on the right side on the way down to the river. It doesn’t take to many trailers to get you parking up by the rr tracks. I found out i can get my boat out in 2wd if the water is low.

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Yep. parking signs up but people still parking where ever they can. Got to imagine more than a few people have pulled in there and thought you want me to do what with my boat.

Can you guys throw up some google map photos of these landings or something. Would be neat to take a look at them.

Another one I used once was on the Mississippi river north of brained near tromeld. Very nice parking area and ramp. Backed the boat into a shallow swamp, beaver trail. Had to push, wade threw the muck to get the boat turned around and finely after getting the boat over a small tree was able to get to the main channel. Only when reaching the main channel did i realize there was only a 12 pack brought with for the 4 of us to enjoy for the day. Not one of my better fishing trips.

You can see the landing just off to the left of black bear lake.

Trommeld landing.

Here is the lake Zumbra in Victoria, this morning.
They pot the dock in almost in the middle of where people backed in last year, hard to find a level spot.:-( I should have backed in further.

Yep. Thats a good landing when you have to get all 4 tires wet. Scares the heck out of some people just getting the back tires wet. Had all 4 of mine in the water yesterday and the tail pipe bubbling at the Franconia landing on the st croix.

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Twin Lake in Robbinsdale is pretty bad.

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Ugh! I have not been there this year, but I live very close to it, and I often use it as a boat test lake. That launch is awful.