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LAUNCHING YOUR BOAT DAM TO DAM
Take advantage of these public access ramps all around the Lake.
From Warsaw to Lake Ozark and Gravois Mills to Roach, boat ramps around Lake of the Ozarks provide free or modestly-priced public access to beautiful waters and great fishing.
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Most of these access ramps have restroom facilities on site and docks for drivers to tie up their boats. All have been permitted by Ameren Missouri, responsible for private and public access permits.
Lake marinas and some resorts also provide access ramps. Charges and public access by way of these ramps vary.
The Missouri Department of Conservation provides details about these facilities by site name. In addition, two online sites provide printable maps for anyone interested in exploring many of the possible access points.
• MissouriGreatOutdoors.com/lake_of_the_ozarks_boat_ramps.php (with longitude and latitude data on each individual boat ramp map) and • http://funlake.com/media-library/documents/Maps/LakeAccessMap.pdf
ACCESS RAMPS
Maps available online.
DRAKE HARBOR in the heart of downtown Warsaw on West Harrison Street is an expanse of green space giving way to asphalt trails and drives, boat ramps, and marinas. It’s a good place to launch for a dam to dam tour of the lake’s beautiful coves and curves.
WIGWAM SCHOOL ACCESS BOAT RAMP provides fishing, parking, and two-lane access to the Osage Arm of Lake of the Ozarks at mile marker 66.2. From land, it is located 10.2 miles west of Laurie on Highway 135 to the intersection at Lake Road 13512 (Ivy Bend Road), then south to Webb Loop and west 1.8 miles to an entrance sign. (Shown only on the Missouri Great Outdoors map).
BROWN BEND ACCESS BOAT RAMP, with an Edwards, MO postal address, is another access point on the Osage Arm at mile marker 61.5 near Climax Springs. Offering a single-lane ramp and limited parking, Brown Bend Access is located off Highway 7 on Route DD and west 3.5 miles to Route DD north, then FF for 5 miles and FF-14 another 2.
GALE ACCESS BOAT RAMP is on the Niangua Arm of the lake with a postal address in Roach. Open 24/7 year-round, the area includes lighting and parking for both vehicles and trailers as well as a twolane ramp and courtesy docks. Access to the ramp is gained by traveling 4 miles west on Highway 54 to Route AA, then north 2.5 miles to AA 101 (Koehler Road). Next, drivers turn east 1 mile to AA101D or Larry R. Gale Road. (Also identified as the Larry R. Gale Access on the Fun Lake map).
HA HA TONKA STATE PARK KAYAK RAMP is another ramp west of Camdenton just off Highway 54 on Route D at the park’s Spring Cove. Stone steps, a launch ramp, and a kayak dock are available for Row with a Ranger events and access to the Big Niangua River Trail. (Not located on either printable map).
LAKE OF THE OZARKS STATE PARK has three boat ramps available to the public. One with four-lane access is at Public Beach #2, also known as Pa He Tsi Access, just off Highway 54 in Osage Beach. Another lighted, four-lane access ramp to the Grand Glaize Arm, known as McCubbin’s Point, is located off Highway 134, Kaiser. The third ramp accessed from Highway 42 to and through the park is Public Access Beach #1.
BAGNELL DAM ACCESS ON THE OSAGE ARM is located south of the dam off Highway 54 in Lake Ozark. The site provides a two-lane ramp and paved parking.
SHAWNEE BEND ACCESS BOAT RAMP is two miles from the Community Bridge at the 10.9 mile marker of the Osage Arm. Drivers access this ramp by way of Highway 5 south of Sunrise Beach, then 1 mile east on Route F and another 2.3 miles northeast on Route TT. A two-lane paved ramp with turnaround space and a large parking lot are available there.
COFMAN BEACH ACCESS BOAT RAMP is on the Gravois Arm at the 2.6 mile marker. With a Rocky Mount postal address, the ramp is found by following Route Y west from Eldon to Y-20. Tornadic storms in 2019 affected the fishing docks at this location; they are closed until further notice. Calling ahead (573-346-2210) or checking with local businesses to determine the availability of the paved parking lot and two-lane ramp may be warranted.
GRAVOIS MILLS ACCESS is on the upper Gravois Arm just off Highway 5 at the bridge just north of the post office. It’s a two-lane ramp without space for turning and a paved parking lot.
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