Winding Creek Cove

Winding Creek Cove is a public carry-in (hand-launch) site on Trail Creek in LaPorte County, Indiana.

It is owned and managed by City of Michigan City.

This is a carry-in access designed for canoes, kayaks and other hand-launched small craft rather than trailered powerboats.

Winding Creek Cove is a hand-carry / car-top access.

Facilities include ADA-accessible features.

The site is managed by City of Michigan City.

Trail Creek is open to public fishing, boating and paddling across the lakes and reservoirs of Indiana. Anglers here target largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, walleye and saugeye.

Lake Michigan access adds salmon, steelhead and lake trout.

As moving water, it fishes by current — target seams, eddies, holes, bends and woody cover rather than open flats.

Winding Creek Cove is a public access point to Trail Creek for hand-carried craft.

This launch sits on Trail Creek; look for other public access points, marinas and shoreline fishing spots along the same water, and check the Indiana DNR for the full list of access sites nearby.

River current, woody snags, shifting sandbars and changing water levels are the main hazards. Respect the current, scout unfamiliar stretches, give way to any commercial traffic, and never anchor from the stern in a strong flow.

Carry U.S. Coast Guard–required safety gear, wear your life jacket, file a float plan for longer trips, and remember that spring and fall water is cold enough to cause hypothermia quickly.

An Indiana fishing license is required for anglers 18 and older. Follow the Indiana DNR's seasons, size and creel limits, which vary by water and species.

Clean, Drain and Dry: remove all aquatic plants and animals, drain every compartment, and never move live fish or bait between waters — this is how invasive species like zebra mussels and invasive carp spread.

Observe posted launch rules, no-wake and idle zones near the ramp, and any local watercraft controls.

This is a hand-launch site — bring a cart for longer carries and pack light. It is ideal for kayaks, canoes and small car-top boats rather than big trailered rigs.

Arrive early on summer weekends for parking, and have a plan for wind direction before you launch on open water.