Mertes Slough Boat Ramp offers public access to the Mississippi River via a rebuilt boat ramp managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, located off State Road 54 near Winona.

The facility features an enlarged parking lot, fishing dock, informational kiosk, and a disabled-accessible walking path to a peninsula; note that only non-motorized watercraft or electric motors are permitted in Mertes' Slough itself, though gas-powered boats may launch from the ramp.

This is a popular spot for both boating and fishing access year-round, including ice fishing in winter.