Wickes Park

Wickes Park offers a concrete and asphalt boat launch on the Saginaw River in downtown Saginaw, providing access to a major regional waterway. The site features ample parking for 40+ vehicles and marks the terminus of the Cass River Water Trail, making it an ideal takeout point for paddlers completing that route. Note that the ramp is currently blocked off for trailered boats, so this access is best suited for kayakers, canoeists, and hand-launched watercraft.

This location serves as an entrance gateway to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and the confluence of the Saginaw and Cass Rivers. Paddlers should be aware that water depth at the launch can be limited, which may affect larger boat access. The site has no on-site amenities, so plan accordingly. The proximity to 10,000 acres of protected marsh, bottomland hardwood forest, and grasslands makes this an excellent jumping-off point for exploring wildlife habitat and enjoying scenic paddling through one of Michigan's important river systems.