Boat Ramps Nearby
Illustration Life jackets
The life jacket rule for every paddler
What the Coast Guard requires on kayaks and canoes, and kids' vests with head support.
Life jacket rulesKayak & canoe launches in Bloomington, IN
We know of one kayak launch in and around Bloomington. These spots are made for paddle craft. You carry the kayak or canoe down to a low dock, a roller launch or a gentle bank, with no trailer lane to block. One more is within 50 miles.
- 2.7 mi
Cartop
Bloomington - 37 mi
Southwestway Park Canoe Launch
Indianapolis
Boat ramps near Bloomington
- Pinegrove Ramp Bloomington, 1.9 mi
- Paynetown Ramp Smithville-Sanders, 3.1 mi
- Cutright Ramp Smithville-Sanders, 3.9 mi
- Cutright High Water Ramp Smithville-Sanders, 4.1 mi
- Moores Creek Ramp Smithville-Sanders, 4.1 mi
- Moore's Creek Ramp Smithville-Sanders, 4.2 mi
Illustration 
Illustration Ramp etiquette
12 rules regulars expect you to know
Staging, courtesy docks and the Clean, Drain, Dry laws that can bring a fine.
Ramp etiquetteKayak & canoe launches in Bloomington: questions and answers
Is there kayak & canoe launches in Bloomington?
In and around Bloomington we know of Cartop.
What other kayak launches are near Bloomington?
Within 50 miles: Southwestway Park Canoe Launch (Indianapolis, 37 miles).
What gear do you need to paddle from the launches near Bloomington?
Yes. Federal rules require a wearable, Coast Guard approved life jacket for every person on a kayak or canoe, also near Bloomington.
For a trip from Bloomington, our guide How to launch a kayak or canoe covers the basics, and the map finds more. Full list of launches in the city: Boat ramps in Bloomington, IN.