The boat ramp at Glenelg North sits on the lower Patawalonga River, a stretch of water now managed essentially as a lake, with seawater circulated through the system via the Patawalonga Locks to maintain water quality.

The area is part of the broader Glenelg Marina precinct, where the South Gates structure regulates water levels and a boat lock provides vessel access through the gates.

The ramp has a long history as a local launching point, popular with anglers and divers from at least the 1970s.

The nearby South Gates infrastructure — comprising automated lift gates and a walkway connecting Glenelg and Glenelg North — continues to shape conditions on the water for boaters using this access point.