Local Windsurfing Sites View Larger Map Maumee Bay State Park   MBSP Park event information. MBSP reservations and information. People always ask me where I windsurf at and when you have the best spot around the answer is easy. Maumee Bay State Park is perhaps the best overall park facility for windsurfing in the Midwest. Just a few miles from downtown Toledo the park is located on the southwest corner of Lake Erie. You'll find a large parking lot with grass rigging area and a short carry to the water. For beginners there is a large inland swimming lake with a special spot for launching small craft from. The water quality has been monitored there closely the last few years. If a problem does arise warning signs are posted. The above picture shows a people rigging up at the 2004 regatta. The park lodge is in the background and you can see people using the paved bike path. The lake beach is to your left and is about 100 yards deep and three quarters of a mile long. There are no trees in the immediate beach area to block the wind. Maumee Bay is shallow and warms up fast in the Spring and stays warm into late October, we even sail usually through the first weeks of November. The first 100 yards is chest deep, after that just twelve foot or so. Northwest winds are the best having a good five miles of clean air and hit the beach full force - however due to the shallow bay depths the waves seldom get bigger than three foot even in 25 knot winds. Southwest offshore winds mean gusty conditions near shore. However you can sail just a mile out past the point into the main bay. There you'll usually find steady wind and just light chop. Also that's where you'll find most of the hot shot locals. MBSP has everything you need for a mini-vacation, a camp ground or do the resort hotel, even rental cottages on the golf course, bike and rollerblade trails, golfing and tennis courts. InLand Swimming Lake at Maumee Bay State Park This is a large 10 acre lake for swimming, kayaking and even small sail boats that is right next to the main beach front on lake Erie. On the far South side is parking Lot #1 and at the back of that lot is a small craft launch area. This is where we usually give lessons at. We can't say it's the best beginner spot in the world but it's definitely a great one. If the wind and waves are up too much for you on the lake then just head over to this spot. During even the calmest of August dog days a easterly breeze will build about 1:00pm that is perfect for first timers. Crane Creek State Park Just down the road about 30 minutes East of Maumee Bay State Park is Crane Creek State Park. Since MBSP opened in 93 it's not gotten much windsurfing use but still it's a decent spot for northwest to northeast winds. Trees line the beach area so southern winds mean you'll be slogging to get out and in. The waters are deeper there so an onshore wind generates small three foot swells. Kelly's Island in Lake Erie There are on the water rental houses to be had at Kelly's Island but they don't come cheap. Also there are plenty of off the water places and you can then use the state park public boat launch and beach to sail from. The state park is on the north side with beach on a large cresent shaped bay so traditional south west winds mean a big board to get out. East to Northeast winds are premo. The best part of Kellys is the waters out there are often clear .. yes you read right clear clean waters. From Marblehead Kelly's island is not much more then 4 miles offshore and about a 20 minute ferry ride. A day trip out there taking your vehicle across on the Miller ferry from Marblehead won't cost you much more than $20. Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie Take the Miller Ferry from Catawba which requires advanced reservation (www.millerferry.com). From Catawba, Middle Bass island is around 9 miles offshore and about a 40 minute ferry ride. A round trip ticket for your vehcile and one person runs around $50. There is a newish Ohio state park with small campground right next to a parking lot and a great beach launch area right on the west shore. This small park was recently improved and the state plans to greatly improve the park in the future. This is really a premo windsurfing spot especially so when the wind kicks up from the west. There is a fun restaurant bar named GF Walleyes' within a 5 minute walk plus Sonny's water taxi runs every hour over to the South Bass island to the party town of Put In Bay. Below is the beach area and the camp spots start right at the right where you see part of a pinic table. In 2007 the campground had no water, electric or showers but there are restrooms. Also close to the park is St. Hazards Resort. This little resort has a little of everything, camping tent or RV, a bunch of cabins, bar, restaurant, pool, bar at the pool with entertainment on summer party weekends.   Luna Pier City Beach North of Toledo about 8 miles is Luna Pier Michigan, the town has a small sand beach and parking lot right where the road dead ends into the Lake(all just 1/2 mile off I-75). Southern or west winds mean big boards to get out as trees and houses line the shore. However in traditional southwest winds you are rewarded with some nice flat water sailing and gentle chop. After launching head south about a half mile and sail just beyond the power stacks as winds are a little nicer there. Since this is a city public beach there is no fee to use it. At a recent session there (Aug 2004) I found the beach to be groomed, water conditions great and I found some nice 8.0 wind there. Once out aways you have to watch a little for trolling fisherman (black flag on stern). Only thing I didn't find was other windsurfers which does make it a less fun afternoon. Also I seen a sign that noted a Web site to check water quality there. Any type of easterly is prime there though backwash from the pier and shore walls make launching a little nerve racking. On a good east blow there are some very nice swells to be found (though I've not seen them personally I've heard they can be six foot or so ( sail down to the power house stack to find them). Erie Rd - Consumers Power Just south of Luna Pier Michigan with an entrance from I-75 is Erie Rd and the Consumers Power plant. At the end of that road is a secret spot that's great during easterly winds. This is a wildlife area and has like 3 miles of sand beach that's good for general hiking. Down side is there are no facilites, you must unload and then park your car about 100 yards up the road and it's about a 100 yard carry to the water. The power stacks sorta loom over you .. but nature is everywhere else. Also I'd not leave any valuables in the vehicle either as this spot is kinda in the middle of nowhere.   Monroe - Michigan - Sterling State Park Sterling State park is at exit 15 on I-75 just a 20 minute drive north of Toledo. Once off I-75 the park entrance is barely a 1/4 mile away with another mile drive inside the park to the main beach area. As with most all Michigan state ran parks there is a daily entrance fee or one can purchase a yearly pass. The beach area, parking lots and campground area were remodeled just a few years ago and the restroom facilites are about as good as they get for a state park. If your camping overnight it's possible to get a spot right on the sand beach within 50 yards of the water. Parking at the main swimming beach lots leaves you with a long 100 yd carry to the water. I prefer the farthest south lot which is even a longer carry but moves you farther away from the swimmers. There are some nice shade trees there by the water and alot of nice sand. The beach runs north and south so an easterly wind means a nice onshore wind. In all this is a pretty nice place to windsurf from.   Maumee River - Walbridge Park - Perrysburg Area   There are several launch spots like Walbridge park by the Zoo and Maple Street in Perrysburg. An old favorite was Rossford City park but they posted signs there years ago and wanted out of towners to buy a permit. There is a nice small launch area(along side the park across from where old Coral Burger used to be on river road) in Maumee about a half mile north of the bridge. The winds are fickle in the river because it's down in a valley, however once in a while on strong North or South wind day, there actually is good short boarding to be found. However perhaps the biggest downside is the water quality can be ugly at times especially just after a big rain. There is no monitoring of water quality that I know of. The river can be quite fun to longboard on but don't use a long or a good fin .. the bottom is all rocks! Maumee River - McClure Area About 25 miles south of Toledo you get to Grand Rapids where a dam is, behind the dam the river is deep, slow and wide for several miles and the river is not in a deep valley like it is in the Toledo area. The difference between water level and the top of the west bank I'm guessing is usually less than 20 feet. Currently these are virgin windsurfing waters. I'm still exploring the area for a decent launch site. There are sections where the shore is not lined with trees that are very good wind wise but not easily accessible. Your best bet is to launch your power boat up at Grand Rapids (Mary Jane Thurston State Park) and go exploring for wind. Perrysburg - Three Meadows Pond Located on the east side along I-75 a nice couple acre pond ran by the city. Winds are blocked there by trees but that's fine if your just starting out or giving a lesson. The water quality is usually excellent there as the city runs a swimming area on one end of the pond.