OT: Nicest Michigan lakes
Looking for recommendations for some absolutely beautiful clear/scenic lakes in Michigan. I would like to hit a bunch in the next few years and experience a few.
About 5 years ago, i went to North Higgins lake (2 years in a row) and was completely underwhelmed. I heard so many great things about it and was excited to see the beautiful water. I was so disappointed. A few people have said i should go to South Higgins over the years. So 3 weeks ago, i did, and oh boy i was not disappointed. It was amazing. I cannot believe the difference between North and South Higgins - and quite frankly cannot understand how one is so beautiful and clear and the other not since it is the same body of water.
My favorite lake and a step above Higgins is Torch Lake. I have been there 4 times in the last 3 years. Its amazing.
Does anyone have any other clear/scenic lakes in Michigan they highly recommend? (no, not erie!) I have heard there is a lake next to or on Sleeping Bear Dunes that is a must see.
Drive north of the bridge. Head west. Take US-2 until you reach the Sylvania Wilderness area near Watersmeet. But you'll have to bring your own canoe.
Green Lake- Caledonia Michigan
Portage Lake - Onekama, north of Manistee and south of Frankfort. I will be there in August.
Yes, I'm posting again. Yesterday was a tough day personally, I apologize for being emotional, but I'm still here. :-)
I used to go to Portage Lake every fall as a kid. It was a great place. I had a lot of fun there, but I haven't been there in a long time.
A bit of a different opinion.
I have a place north of Onekama in Pierport and have found Portage to be largely weed infested. Since it is connected to Lake Michigan it is really high this year and most people either have reeds or a seawall - no beach. It also seem choppy most ot the time. Nearby is Bear Lake and I like it much more than Portage.
My family had a place on Higgins lake it it was great, but the density of boats/noise is high due to two state parks and 50' wide lots. They used to have even more boats before they stopped allowing docks on road ends with dozens of boats.
I opted for Lake Michigan - stunning sunsets, much less boat noise and better beach - even today - but colder, wavy and no dock for boats. I would vote for Glen as the prettiest I have been by but not in.
I can definitely second Portage Lake and will also be there in August. Family gathering spot for more than two decades
Burt Lake over by Indian River is great. Crystal clear water, big enough that people are spread out. My goal is to buy a cottage up there one day.
Higgins Lake is great for young families, the west side at least. It stays shallow for a long time so little kids can play in the water, and you have fewer worries about motor boats and jet skis running over them.
Elk Lake hands down the winner. Very nice family friendly sand bar on the NE corner of the lake. Your only a short cruise to Torch Lake.
to piggyback off this - my family goes up north every year and we generally end up a different place every time. we love being right on the water (usually lake michigan), but find it fairly difficult to locate a rental with enough space (generally looking for 6 bedrooms) that has a sandy beach (four kids between the families) and isn't $8,000 a week. we're considering alternating between having an expensive year right on lake michigan with the alternate year on a cheaper inland lake. i know of several of the lake being discussed here (torch, crystal, walloon, higgins) and have looked at rentals on them, but the prices are generally close to being right on lake michigan.
can anyone recommend a lake that is good for a family up north vacation, doesn't have to be the absolute prettiest, but good for swimming for little kids, low key, pretty quiet in terms of boat/jet ski traffic (or no wake)? burt and mullet piqued my interest, but wondering if there are others. or if anyone has recommendations for finding rentals through local agencies (we usually use vrbo or airbnb), that would be great too. we're willing to go anywhere in the lower peninsula, and would consider something that was close to the bridge in the up.
You might try Bear Lake. Don't know the rental situation but it is mostly sandy and is about 2-3 miles from public access on Lake Michigan. Not much happening in the town but not far from Manistee and Frankfort.
For Lake Michigan you might want to look at Northport at the farthest reaches of Leelanau County or south of Frankfort.
6 bedrooms might be hard to find - my brother has a large place in Douglas.Saugatuck and it rents for more than you noted and it is not waterfront.
Try Monocle lake in the U.P.
I agree.
I don't go in lakes. I have an irrational fear of brain-eating amoebae.
glen lake/little glen lake butts up to sleeping bear. my family has had a place up there for decades. i can vouch for its awesomeness.
My grandparents had a cottage on Long Lake when I was growing up. Being close to the town of Posen meant heading into the market for Polish lunchmeat, to Mass on Sundays in Polish, and up again in October for the Potato Festival (can you tell I'm Polish)?
One of my other favorites is Otsego Lake, near Gaylord. The water itself is nice enough, but the town and surrounding resorts are fantastic.
I always like Ludington personally. You could stay at one of the resorts inland on Hamelin Lake and rent a cottage for a week, PLUS you were only a 10 minute drive from Lake Michigan.
I also always loved my Uncles place on Harsens Island (St Clair) but thats because Im a #BoatNerd and enjoyed watching the freighters go by
Anyone looking to sell some lakefront property on any of these lakes?
I think it is a decent time to buy. It seems to be a either stuff sells fast for top dollar - or lingers for a long time.
Wixom Lake near Midland is so clear you'd think there wasn't even any water in it.
I know what you’re really sayin’
It's been awhile but Chrystal Lake's ocean-esque clear blue water makes it my favorite.
Any of the glacial lakes up around TC are gorgeous, but for sentimental reasons, I'm partial to the north end of Lake Leelanau. Deep, clear. Easy shot to TC, dunes. Bluffs to watch sunset over Lake Michigan. We went there for years when I was a kid because my parents had a friend with a rustic cottage on it (long since replaced with a house). LOTS of vinyards. The famously grouchy owner of Boskydel Vineyards would let us climb up to see sunsets once he knew we were friends of Bob Largent (plus my parents would buy his wine, so there's that). Unless it's changed a lot, it's not a party lake, just a gorgeous, quiet place to sail/boat/fish and relax.
Whew.
Home at last.
Leelanau County is my favorite place on the planet. Grew up in TC, been around the world a number of times, home is still out in the county.
I live in the area and do not disclose this info willfully normally so you’re catching me at a weak point. Rankings as follows for clarity, Sandy bottoms, ease of access via boat launches, lack of yahoos.
1. Crystal Lake
2. Glen Lake
3. Long Lake
4. West Bay Traverse City
5. Elk Lake/Torch (avoid the sand bar)
Ahhh the yahoo factor. That is an important point when it comes to inland lakes. You never know when someone will roll in with a 400HP racing boat with open headers and rip around the lake - yes I'm looking at you Houghton Lake.
Lake Superior!
You may want to avoid it though when the gales of november come early.
The only difference between North and South Higgins Lake is direction and people. Way more people go to South because of the launch and stores, but the North has some amazing less crowded spots. Great Lake and place to camp or ski in the winter.
Glen Lake.
Gitche Gummee
My favorite is Georgian Bay in Lake Huron. Spectacular. Went on a couple of sailing trips from the Detroit area in my youth.
Can anyone recommend nice clear inland lakes that are more mid-Michigan? Considering a small lake home but we live in Chicago and grew up in Kzoo, parents still there.
Check out Green Lake in Caledonia. It’s smaller, but water is clear.
Spectacle lake in Northern Michigan....
head there in the fall.... climb the overlook on the south side and look over the beautiful lake, Brimley, Lake Superior and into Canada.
Lake Fanny Hooe near Copper Harbor is beautiful and quiet, just a few hundred yards from Lake Superior. There are a couple of small hotels on it, as well as Ft. Wilkins Historic State Park, which has campsites with amazing views.
Little Star Lake near Baldwin is my favorite, I've been going there since I was a little kid when my grandparents bought a cabin there way back in the early 60s. I learned there how to swim, fish, ice fish, sail, and kayak. I've enjoyed bonfires by the shoreline all four seasons, I've been there for deer hunting and deer camp, and I absolutely refuse to skip our annual ice fishing "tournament" late each January.
Though my folks never themselves bought a cabin there, we did have an pop-up camping trailer we parked there a couple times each summer behind the cabin; now there's a total of 4 cottages on that end of the lake owned by close relatives, including the original cabin of my long-gone Grandparents.
Best meteor shower I've ever enjoyed? Though it was some 40+ years ago, I'll never forget our little armada of rowboats out in the middle of Little Star one dark moonless August night. I've never ever been so blown away while shooting star-gazing, as meteor after meteor flashed across the background of a brilliant Milky Way!
Little Star has no public beach or boat launch and no jet skis or speedboats are allowed by the lake association, so it's not for everyone. But most who have enjoyed the quiet, the serenity, the peacefulness of Little Star realize quickly there's something to be said for the sheer relaxation you get from being there.
And all this just a couple miles from Jones Ice Cream Shop...
It's my favorite lake. It's an old Native American name.
Imnot Tellinewe
Just so beautiful and secluded south of Traverse City.
Yes.