North Point Marina Boat Launch
North Point Marina offers one of the finest public boat launches on the Illinois lakefront, giving trailer boaters direct access to Lake Michigan from the largest marina on the Great Lakes. The ramp is well maintained, has multiple lanes to keep things moving on busy weekends, and is backed by a full-service marina with fuel, a fish cleaning station, restrooms, and a ship store right on site.
Location
- Boat launch ramp: 301 North Point Drive, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096
- Marina office: 701 North Point Drive, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096
- GPS coordinates: 42.4897, -87.8039
- Phone: 847-746-2845
The marina sits at the far north end of the Illinois shoreline at the Wisconsin state line, midway between Chicago and Milwaukee, and is adjacent to Illinois Beach State Park.
The Ramp
The launch is a multi-lane concrete ramp built to handle everything from small fishing boats to large trailered vessels, with protected harbor water that makes for an easy, sheltered launch and retrieval. Marina staff are on hand and known for helping boaters who need an extra set of hands getting in or out of the water.
Launch Fee and Parking
There are two parking areas, and it is important to use the right one. The lot next to the beach is free. The trailer lot, where you park your tow vehicle and trailer after launching, carries a fee, recently reported at around $10. Boaters staying overnight need an overnight parking pass for the truck and trailer, available at the registration desk. Launch and parking rates change seasonally, so confirm the current fee with the marina office at 847-746-2845 before you go.
On-Site Amenities for Launch Users
- ·Fuel dock: Gasoline and diesel available at the designated fuel dock
- ·Fish cleaning station: Located near the swimming beach, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- ·Restrooms and showers: On site
- ·Ship store: Bait, ice, and supplies
- ·Dining: The Tropics Restaurant and Harbor Brewing for food and drinks after a day on the water, open seasonally
Tips for a Smooth Launch
Arrive early on summer weekends, when the ramp is busiest. Pay attention to the channel markers on the way out, as the entrance can be shallow in spots and drafts deeper than five feet should proceed with care. Have your launch and parking fee ready, and stop by the office first if you need an overnight or trailer pass. If you are fishing, buy your Illinois fishing license and Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp in advance at exploremoreil.com.
Before You Go: Licenses and Regulations
Anyone 16 or older fishing in Illinois needs a valid Illinois sport fishing license. Anglers under 16 fish free. For salmon or trout in Lake Michigan, you also need a Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp in addition to the base license.
Buy your license and stamp online in minutes through the state's ExploreMoreIL portal. If you are booking a charter, the captain typically handles the boat-side details, but every angler on board still needs their own license and salmon stamp, so buy yours before the trip.
A note on limits: Lake Michigan rules generally allow a combined five chinook and coho salmon per day with a 10-inch minimum, and two lake trout per day with a 15-inch minimum. Regulations can change season to season, so confirm the current rules with Illinois DNR before you fish.
Illinois also holds Free Fishing Days each June, when no license or stamp is required — a perfect low-commitment way to try the lake for the first time. Watch the Illinois DNR site for the annual dates.
Make a Weekend of It
Winthrop Harbor pairs a morning on the water with everything else the lakefront has to offer. North Point Marina has on-site dining and Harbor Brewing, Illinois Beach State Park offers camping and a lakefront hotel, and Spring Bluff Forest Preserve next door is one of the best birding spots in the county. Bring the family, fish the morning bite, and spend the afternoon on the beach or the trails.
The salmon are running, the kings are waiting, and the largest marina on the Great Lakes is ready when you are. Come fish Winthrop Harbor.