Boat Launches in California

Boat launch access

Launching a boat in California

Boating Hubs maps 148 boat launches in California across 60 named waters. 112 are public access, and 36 are semi-private, so access may be limited to residents, members or permit holders. Every launch on this page carries its coordinates, so you can route to the ramp rather than to the lake.

Busiest waters in California

• Oakland Harbor (21)
• San Francisco Bay-East Bay (20)
• Lake Tahoe (8)
• Mission Bay (8)
• San Diego Bay (6)
• San Francisco Bay-South Bay (6)
• Napa River (5)
• San Francisco Bay-North Bay (4)
• Marina Del Rey (3)
• Petaluma River (3)
• San Pablo Bay (3)
• Alamitos Bay (2)

Common questions about California boat launches

How many public boat launches are there in California?

Boating Hubs maps 148 boat launches in California across 60 named waters. 112 are public access and 36 are semi-private, meaning access may be limited to residents, members or permit holders.

Which waters in California have the most boat launches?

By mapped launch count: Oakland Harbor (21), San Francisco Bay-East Bay (20), Lake Tahoe (8), Mission Bay (8) and San Diego Bay (6). Counts are the number of separate ramps and hand launches on each water, not the number of lanes.

Is there a fee to use boat launches in California?

Launch fees are set by whoever manages the ramp, and Boating Hubs does not hold fee data for California yet, so check the managing agency or marina before you tow. Ramps marked semi-private may also require a permit or membership.