Michigan / Muskegon River /

Charles Besemer Muskegon River Park Boat Launch

Charles Besemer Muskegon River Park Boat Launch is a public boat ramp on the Muskegon River near Croton, Michigan.

Aerial view of the parking lot and the river bank where boats go in, beside the road bridge, August 2022
Aerial view of the parking lot and the river bank where boats go in, beside the road bridge, August 2022 Photo: USDA Farm Service Agency, NAIP · Public domain · via USGS The National Map

Status not reported No closure has been posted for this launch, but its agency does not publish open or closed status. Check with the managing agency before you tow.

At the launch

Type
Boat ramp
Ramp surface
concrete
Website
dnr.state.mi.us
Coordinates
43.43481, -85.66574

Directions (Google) Apple Maps

Conditions

Water level

Latest reading loads here; without it, see the USGS page below.

USGS gauge MUSKEGON RIVER NEAR CROTON, MI, 0.0 mi from this launch on Muskegon River: water level, flow, water temperature, a reading every 15 minutes. Readings and history at USGS.

On Muskegon River

The Muskegon River is a river in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 216 miles long. It starts at Houghton Lake in Roscommon County and flows generally southwest to Muskegon Lake at the city of Muskegon, and from there to Lake Michigan. Along the way it passes Evart, Big Rapids, Croton and Newaygo. Its watershed drains about 2,350 square miles, and its tributaries include the Little Muskegon, Hersey and Clam rivers. Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute gives larger figures: about 219 miles of river and more than 2,700 square miles of watershed, second in Michigan only to the Grand River. Three dams owned by Consumers Energy create reservoirs on the river. They are Rogers Dam south of Big Rapids, and Hardy Dam and Croton Dam in Newaygo County. Croton Dam was built in 1907 and holds back a 1,209-acre pond. Hardy Dam was completed in 1931 and forms a 4,000-acre reservoir. More about Muskegon River.

Community

Where people who use Muskegon River talk about it.

Nearby launches

Sources

Why it is listed as public: www.dnr.state.mi.us: On the west side of Croton Drive there is a steep, paved boat launch, with trailer parking on both the west and east sides of the road.. Something wrong, or is this launch private? Send a correction; it goes to a person.