Ontonagon Marina

Ontonagon Marina provides boat access at the mouth of the historic Ontonagon River where it meets Lake Superior. The facility functions as a safe harbor for boaters and is staffed with knowledgeable personnel. The marina area offers access to both river and lake paddling opportunities, making it suitable for kayakers, canoeists, and larger motorized vessels.

For river paddlers, the most practical put-in is located at the confluence with the Middle Branch on river left, accessed via a short two-track road on the south side of the Military Bridge on Highway US-45. Takeout is available at the Victoria Road Bridge downstream. Be aware that the bar at the river mouth is active and shifting, with an uncertain channel—exercise caution when transitioning between the river and open water. The dredged channel near the marina maintains approximately 16 feet of depth in the designated shipping lane.

The Ontonagon area sits on the shores of Lake Superior and offers diverse recreational opportunities year-round. This is a scenic location for paddling the river system, but paddlers should be prepared for conditions typical of a Superior river mouth and plan accordingly for weather and water conditions.

Ontonagon Ranger District is on the shores of Lake Superior, largest of the Great Lakes, and the mouth of the Ontonagon River. There are numerous outdoor recreational opportunities. Hunting, fishing, swimming, hiking, boating, and ATV riding are available in the summer and fall months. In the winter downhill, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are available.