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 rulesBoat ramps in Merced, CA
We know of one public boat ramp or launch in Merced. Another 3 are within 25 miles.
More boat ramps around Merced
- 20 mi Turlock Lake State Recreation Area Boat Ramp Waterford Boat ramp
- 23 mi Bagby Boat Launch (Downtown) Midpines Boat rampKayak launch
- 24 mi Bagby Boat Launch (Downtown 2) Midpines Boat rampKayak launch
Merced boat access in numbers
| Boat ramps | 1 |
|---|
Water you can reach from here: Lake Yosemite.
California rules to know
- California does not require a fishing license on public piers. Size and bag limits still apply.
- Since Jan 1, 2025 every operator of a motorized vessel, regardless of age, must carry a California Boater Card (rental and licensed captains exempt).
- Boats used in fresh water must display a Quagga and Zebra Mussel Fee sticker ($16, valid up to two years) next to the registration sticker.
State agency for public boat access: California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways.
New to the ramps in Merced? what ramps cost, kayak launches and ramp etiquette.
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 etiquetteBoat ramps in Merced: questions and answers
Where can you launch a boat in Merced, CA?
We know of one launch in Merced: Lake Yosemite County Park Boat Ramp. Within 25 miles there are 3 more.
Where is the nearest kayak launch to Merced?
Bagby Boat Launch (Downtown) in Midpines, about 23 miles away. You can also put in at the side of most boat ramps.
Did a launch close, or is one missing? Send us a tip.