Orange Beach has three public boat ramps: Boggy Point, Cotton Bayou and The Launch at ICW. The city lists all three with paved parking. If you are trailering a boat over from Louisiana, you can pick your ramp by the water you want to reach: the main channel near Perdido Pass, the Intracoastal Waterway, or the quieter waters around them. This guide covers where each ramp is, what it offers, the rules that apply, and how to plan a stay around your boat.

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TL;DR

  • Orange Beach has three public launches: Boggy Point (27504 Marina Road), Cotton Bayou (25808 Perdido Beach Boulevard) and The Launch at ICW (22830 Brown Lane).
  • Boggy Point sits beside the main channel near the Perdido Pass Bridge. The Launch at ICW is north of the Intracoastal Waterway by the Beach Express Bridge and is the largest of the three.
  • Canoe-trail landing sites are for paddlers only. No motorized watercraft may launch from them.
  • Boggy Point has a funded renovation project, so check current ramp status before you tow.
  • Book a rental with trailer parking and ask the host about it before you pay a deposit.

Table of Contents

The three public boat ramps in Orange Beach

The City of Orange Beach says it has three public boat launches. Two are part of the Alabama State Park system. One is owned by the county and sits north of the Intracoastal Waterway. All three have paved parking.

Ramp Address Best known for
Boggy Point 27504 Marina Road Next to the main channel, near the Perdido Pass Bridge
Cotton Bayou 25808 Perdido Beach Boulevard On Highway 182, just east of the Highway 161 intersection
The Launch at ICW 22830 Brown Lane Six launches, lighted boat and car parking, pavilions

The addresses and descriptions above come from the city’s own page. Use them in your GPS rather than a general “Orange Beach boat ramp” search, because several marinas and private docks show up under similar names.

Boggy Point Launch

Boggy Point is at the end of Marina Road, off Highway 161. The city notes it is the launch nearest the Perdido Pass Bridge and directly beside the main channel, with a lot of marine traffic.

What that means for you:

  • It is a good pick if you want a short run toward the pass and the open Gulf, and you are comfortable around busy boat traffic.
  • First-timers should watch the channel before launching. Busy water is easier to handle when you have a second person on the dock and your lines ready.
  • The ramp is a renovation target. The state announced that the GoMESA project list for 2026 includes $2,950,000 for Boggy Point Boat Launch renovations. Construction can mean full or partial closures, so call before you leave home. The city lists Alabama Marine Resources at 251-968-7576 as the contact for Boggy Point and Cotton Bayou.

Cotton Bayou Launch

Cotton Bayou is on Highway 182, just east of the Highway 161 intersection, at 25808 Perdido Beach Boulevard. It is the ramp closest to the beachfront stretch of Orange Beach, so it works for anglers and boaters staying in the condo corridor who want a short drive with the trailer.

Two practical notes:

  • It is the same managing contact as Boggy Point, so one phone call covers both state park ramps.
  • Cotton Bayou is a low-lying site. Local news has covered flooding at the ramp in past storms, so after heavy rain or a tropical system, confirm it is usable before you tow.

The Launch at ICW

This is the big one. The Launch at ICW has 84 parking spots and three double-width ramps, according to Outdoor Alabama. The city describes the property as 47 acres with over 1,700 feet of water frontage, six boat launches, lighted boat and car parking, six covered pavilions and more than a mile of sidewalks and boardwalks.

It sits at 22830 Brown Lane, north of the Intracoastal Waterway near the Beach Express Bridge. That makes it the best choice when:

  • You have a larger group and one boat is launching right after another.
  • You want a pavilion and picnic tables for the people who are not on the boat.
  • You would rather start on sheltered inland water and decide on the day whether to head toward the pass.

Which ramp fits which kind of day

The research for this guide did not turn up a current fee schedule or posted hours for each ramp, so we are not going to guess at them. Fees and hours change, and the managing agencies are the only reliable source. Call Alabama Marine Resources at 251-968-7576 for Boggy Point and Cotton Bayou, and use the county contact listed on the city’s launch page for The Launch at ICW.

What you can do is match the ramp to the plan:

If your plan is… Start with… Why
A day on the main channel and toward the pass Boggy Point Beside the main channel near the Perdido Pass Bridge
A short drive from the beach condos Cotton Bayou On Perdido Beach Boulevard near the 161 intersection
A big group, several boats or a long day with picnic space The Launch at ICW Six launches, lighted parking, pavilions
A paddle or kayak outing A canoe-trail landing site Non-motorized only, see below

What about Gulf access?

The three ramps do not all put you in the same place. Boggy Point is beside the main channel by the Perdido Pass Bridge, which is why boaters headed out toward the Gulf often think of it first. The Launch at ICW is on the north side of the Intracoastal Waterway, so you travel along the waterway to reach other parts of the coast. Cotton Bayou sits along Perdido Beach Boulevard closer to the beach side.

Before you go out, check the marine forecast, tide and wind, and file a float plan with someone on shore. If you are new to the pass, ask a local captain or the ramp staff about conditions on the day. We would rather you lose an hour at the dock than meet a strong outgoing tide unprepared.

Paddling instead? Canoe-trail landings are different

Orange Beach also has a canoe trail, and it is a separate system from the boat ramps. The city’s canoe trail page lists non-motorized access points around Wolf Bay, Bay La Launch, Arnica Bay, Bayou St. John and Cotton Bayou. It also states that no motorized watercraft may be launched from canoe-trail sites.

So if you bring a jon boat with a trolling motor, a jet ski or a skiff, stay with the three public launches. If you are bringing kayaks, our guide to kayaking in Orange Beach, with launches, safety and planning walks through where to put in and what to pack.

Is it safe to swim at a boat ramp?

This is one of the questions people ask most, and the answer is: avoid it. A ramp is a working area. Trailers back down, engines idle and boats arrive and depart, so swimmers are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Swim at a beach with posted conditions instead.

Water quality is the second reason. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Alabama Department of Public Health run a coastal beach monitoring program that tests bacteria levels at recreational sites, including Boggy Point Access and Cotton Bayou Beach. ADEM notes that contamination can come from several sources, including human waste from boats, and its map shows recent advisory status and test results. Look at it before anyone in your group gets in the water near a launch.

Two more rules to know:

  • State park users must follow posted conditions of use. The Alabama State Parks regulations prohibit alcohol in specified Gulf State Park areas, including beaches and adjacent parking. Read the signs at each site.
  • The same regulations say the department is not liable for accidents or injuries on state park property, and users assume risk when they use the facilities. That is a good reason to wear life jackets and keep children off the docks unsupervised.

Planning a boating trip from Louisiana

If you are coming from Louisiana, the ramp is only one part of the trip. A few things make the week easier:

  1. Call ahead about ramp status. Renovation and weather closures happen. A five-minute call beats a two-hour tow.
  2. Plan your arrival. Launch early in the day and back down when ramps are quiet. Weekends and holidays fill the lots.
  3. Ask about trailer parking at your rental. Not every condo allows a trailer, and many parking areas are tight. Our guide to Orange Beach condo parking explains what to ask before you book.
  4. Choose your base by what you want to do. If boating is the main event and the family wants beach days too, our comparison of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores for family or boating trips can help you decide.
  5. Pack for the water. Life jackets in every size, a dock line set, a spare plug, sunscreen and plenty of water.

Questions to ask a host before booking

Because you book directly with the owner or manager, you can ask things a big booking site would not answer:

  • Is there a space for a boat trailer, and how long can it stay?
  • Is there a fish-cleaning spot or outdoor rinse area?
  • How far is the nearest public ramp, and does the host have a favorite?
  • Is there a dock or slip on site?

Find a rental near the water

At Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals, you can browse condos, beach houses, cottages, townhomes and pet-friendly rentals across Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan, and you contact the owner or manager directly. There are no guest service fees from us. If you want to be near the water, a few listings are worth a look:

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Traveling with a dog? Our pet-friendly rentals page collects options that welcome pets. Or see all Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan rentals in one place and message owners about trailer parking.

Our perspective

We talk with owners and travelers about Orange Beach every day, and the same mistake shows up: guests choose a rental first and think about the boat last. A condo that is perfect for the beach can be a headache for a trailer, and a ramp that looks close on the map may be a long haul in summer traffic.

Our perspective — overview diagram

Our advice is simple. Decide the kind of day you want on the water, pick the ramp that fits it, and then choose a place to stay within an easy drive. Because you deal directly with owners on our site, ask the parking question early and get the answer in writing. A clear answer from the host is worth more than any listing photo.

Also, treat ramps as one piece of a bigger Gulf Coast week. Boat in the morning, beach in the afternoon, dinner on the water at sunset. That is the rhythm that brings families back year after year.

— Joe

Sources

About the Author

Joe Godar of the GulfShoresAlabama.com Editorial Team create destination guides, vacation-planning resources, and local travel content focused on Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, Alabama.

Our team researches Alabama Gulf Coast beaches, vacation rental trends, family activities, local attractions, restaurants, events, and direct-booking best practices. Every guide is created to help travelers plan more confidently, discover the best of the Alabama Gulf Coast, and avoid unnecessary third-party guest service fees.

GulfShoresAlabama.com is part of the Emerald Coast by Owner marketing family, connecting travelers directly with verified vacation rental hosts throughout the Gulf Coast since 2016.

This article was reviewed for accuracy and updated using local destination research and current Alabama Gulf Coast vacation rental market insights.