An angler readies his boat and gear after launching at John Collins Park on Reeds Lake. Photo by Howard Meyerson.

By Howard Meyerson

Summer days and boating go hand-in-hand. When temperatures climb and days get longer the urge to hit the water often grows strong. But where can you launch that runabout, sailboat, kayak or rowboat? Fortunately, Grand Rapids area boaters have many public launches to choose from. Most provide lake access where summer revelers can relax. Others provide access to scenic portions of the Grand River.  Finding  them takes just a few computer keystrokes.

“One of the best ways to figure out where you can launch is by using Michigan’s Recreational Boating System (MIRBS),” explains K.C. Fahrni, who administers several Kent County boating access sites for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  “I like to get out a county map, find a lake and then look it up online.”

To learn more about the DNR’s online launch finder, the 1,300 state-managed launch sites around Michigan and more than a dozen in Kent County, take a look at this story on the Experience GR Blog.