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UpNorthVacation

Lakes & Rivers

Lake country

Summer up north is built around the water: Lake Michigan's beaches, clear inland lakes for boating and swimming, and rivers for paddling and fishing. 35 lakes and 16 rivers in this guide so far.

Access, launch and fishing details appear only when an official source confirms them. Much shoreline is private.

Steep sand bluff dropping to turquoise lake water with a distant headland

Great Lake

Lake Michigan

The big lake that shapes this coast: state park and town beaches from Grand Haven to Charlevoix, harbor towns with city marinas, and pier lights to walk out to.

The Lake Michigan shore

Lakes, bays and rivers

54 places on an OpenStreetMap map

Lakes, bays and rivers. The same places are listed on this page.

Find the right lake

Want to pull a tuber, swim off a sandy beach or rent a pontoon for the day? Start here, then check each lake page for the details and sources.

All-sports lakes

The DNR lists no local speed or hour limits here beyond marked no-wake zones near channels, narrows or harbors. Skiing and tubing follow state boating law.

Public swim beaches

A public beach on the water, per the park or town.

Boat and kayak rentals

A local business rents boats, kayaks or paddleboards here.

Stocked by the DNR

DNR stocking recorded in recent years.

Fishing or launching at a state site? See licenses and passes.

Southern Gateway

Lakes and bays

Downtown Muskegon's skyline across Muskegon Lake, framed by shoreline willows.

Lake · Southern Gateway

Muskegon Lake

A big all-sports harbor lake at Muskegon: ski, tube and sail, with full-service marinas, five launches, a channel to Lake Michigan and winter perch.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Lake · Southern Gateway

Spring Lake

A bayou-lined lake by Grand Haven with marinas, a public beach and a river route to Lake Michigan. Boats 26 feet and up stay no-wake; kayak the coves.

  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Lake · Southern Gateway

White Lake

An all-sports lake between Whitehall and Montague: ski, tube and cruise, with marinas, pontoon and kayak rentals and a channel out to Lake Michigan.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Rivers

A waterfront walkway runs along the Grand River channel toward the red pierhead light at Grand Haven.

River · Southern Gateway

Grand River

The lower Grand River at Grand Haven: a city marina with transient slips, launches, kayak rentals, fall steelhead off the piers and a boardwalk to the lights.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Croton Dam and its red brick powerhouse span the Muskegon River on a clear day.

River · Southern Gateway

Muskegon River

A long trout, salmon and walleye river below Croton Dam, with Newaygo liveries for canoes and tubes, plenty of DNR ramps and early-winter steelhead.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals
The White River bends through green hardwood forest, with fallen logs in the current.

River · Southern Gateway

White River

An easy Natural River float by tube, canoe or kayak near Hesperia, with Montague liveries, fall salmon, spring steelhead and quiet winter trout fishing.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Ludington & Manistee

Lakes and bays

Hamlin Lake glows pale orange at dusk beside a silhouetted wooded point.

Lake · Ludington & Manistee

Hamlin Lake

Ludington State Park's big all-sports lake: ski and tube the open water, swim at the park beach, paddle the marsh trail, and ice fish for bluegill in winter.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Lake · Ludington & Manistee

Arcadia Lake

A small harbor lake at Arcadia with a township marina, a kayak put-in and a channel to Lake Michigan. Ski and tube outside the no-wake north end.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Lake · Ludington & Manistee

Bear Lake

An all-sports lake at the village of Bear Lake: ski, tube and wakeboard, fish for walleye and bluegill, swim and camp at Hopkins Park, ice fish in winter.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch

Lake · Ludington & Manistee

Chief Lake

A 126-acre inland lake west of Chief in Manistee County, with no local boating limits listed. Official information is limited, so check before you go.

  • All-sports

Lake · Ludington & Manistee

Manistee Lake

An all-sports lake beside downtown Manistee: ski, tube and cruise, then take the bridge-free channel to Lake Michigan. Three launches and a lakeside marina.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Lake · Ludington & Manistee

Pentwater Lake

An all-sports harbor lake at Pentwater with two marinas and a channel to Lake Michigan. Swim at Mears State Park; ice fish the lake in winter.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
Aerial view of Pere Marquette Lake at Ludington, with a marina, two car ferries at the dock and Lake Michigan beyond.

Lake · Ludington & Manistee

Pere Marquette Lake

Ludington's harbor lake: a city marina with fuel and transient slips, a four-lane launch, open water past the no-wake channel, and the S.S. Badger dock.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Lake · Ludington & Manistee

Portage Lake

An all-sports lake at Onekama with marinas and a channel to Lake Michigan. Swim at the village park, fish for perch and bass, ice fish in winter.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch

Rivers

Suspension footbridge over a calm river reflecting clouds and fall trees

River · Ludington & Manistee

Manistee River

A big steelhead and salmon river below Tippy Dam, with liveries for summer canoe trips, winter steelhead, and 26 miles of National Recreational River.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Clear river flowing between grassy, wooded banks in spring green

River · Ludington & Manistee

Pere Marquette River

A free-flowing trout, steelhead and salmon river to Ludington: canoe and tube it from Baldwin in summer, fish winter steelhead from plowed access sites.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Old timber pilings line a calm, reflective bend of the Big Sable River in autumn.

River · Ludington & Manistee

Big Sable River

A one-mile stretch inside Ludington State Park for tubing, paddling and salmon and steelhead fishing, with paddlesport rentals in the park in season.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals
The Little Manistee River winds past pines and a bleached stump on a sunny spring day.

River · Ludington & Manistee

Little Manistee River

A small wild-steelhead and salmon river with canoe access sites and the DNR weir at Stronach, where you can watch the spring steelhead egg take.

  • Public launch
Kayakers paddle a shaded stretch of the Pine River below a steep wooded bank.

River · Ludington & Manistee

Pine River

A narrow, winding river near Cadillac for canoe, kayak and raft trips from Wellston liveries, blue ribbon trout fishing and year-round access.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Benzie & Sleeping Bear Country

Lakes and bays

The Beulah Beach sign at the east end of Crystal Lake, with the lake stretching away under autumn clouds.

Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Crystal Lake

An all-sports lake: 9,854 acres, 165 feet deep and very clear. Swim at the sandy Beulah beach, fuel up at the marina, fish for trout and perch.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Blue lake below hillsides of orange and gold fall trees

Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Glen Lake

A clear two-basin lake at Glen Arbor: ski and cruise deep Big Glen from the marina, swim and paddle sandy Little Glen, ice fish for perch in winter.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
The Betsie River flows under a low bridge into Betsie Lake, with wooded hills beyond.

Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Betsie Lake

Frankfort's no-wake harbor at the mouth of the Betsie River, with marinas on both shores, a big city launch and a short run to Lake Michigan.

  • Public launch
Wide view of Lake Leelanau under a cloudy autumn sky, with a sailboat moored near docks.

Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Lake Leelanau

A long, clear, all-sports lake down the Leelanau Peninsula: walleye in both basins, lake trout in the deep north, township beaches and winter ice fishing.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch

Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Lower Herring Lake

A small, clear, all-sports lake by the Lake Michigan shore south of Frankfort, with a DNR launch, sandy shores, smallmouth and walleye, and sunset paddles.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Platte Lake

An all-sports lake of about 2,500 acres near Honor: ski, tube and sail, then fish for walleye and smallmouth. The no-wake Platte River runs on to Lake Michigan.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch
Reeds poke through the calm water of Upper Herring Lake below wooded hills in early fall.

Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Upper Herring Lake

A quiet 540-acre lake south of Frankfort, all-sports but shallow, for kayaking along a conservancy preserve and fishing for walleye to bluegill.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Rivers

Shallow river winding across a sandy beach toward the lake under cloudy sky

River · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Platte River

An easy, clear, shallow river for tubing and paddling through Sleeping Bear Dunes to Platte Bay, with fall salmon and steelhead in fall and spring.

  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
The Betsie River winds between spring-green trees east of Elberta.

River · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Betsie River

A protected Natural River from Interlochen to Frankfort: paddle and portage Homestead Dam, fish salmon in fall and steelhead from late fall into spring.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Red maples and white birches reflect in a still stretch of the Crystal River in fall.

River · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Crystal River

A gentle, clear, shallow float for families and first-time paddlers, winding from Glen Lake to Lake Michigan at Glen Arbor.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Lakes and bays

Deep blue water of West Grand Traverse Bay seen from a snowy beach in Traverse City, with the far shore on the horizon

Bay · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Grand Traverse Bay

Traverse City's big water: a Lake Michigan bay with city beaches, five public harbors with slips, fuel at two, sailing, paddling and trout and salmon fishing.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Aerial view of Torch Lake's turquoise water between wooded, partly built-up shores

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Torch Lake

Michigan's longest inland lake: 19 miles of deep, clear, all-sports water for skiing, tubing and the sandbar, plus lake trout and a Chain of Lakes link.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Boardman Lake

Traverse City's in-town lake, open to all boating but built for a kayak, a cast or a walk around the 4-mile Boardman Lake Loop just south of downtown.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Duck Lake

The state park lake at Interlochen: all-sports water up to 98 feet deep, with a beach, launches, summer paddleboard rentals, lake trout and ice fishing.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Clear, calm water and lily pads on Elk Lake under a blue autumn sky.

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Elk Lake

A deep, clear, emerald-green all-sports lake at Elk Rapids: ski and cruise, rent a boat or slip at the marinas, swim at Whitewater Township Park.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
The sun sets through haze over Green Lake, seen from a boat.

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Green Lake

An all-sports Interlochen lake, 2,000 acres and 102 feet deep: lake trout, room to paddle, a rustic state park campsite and night smelt fishing on the ice.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch
A rocky shoreline on Lake Cadillac under a pink and purple sunrise in fall.

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Lake Cadillac

Cadillac's in-town, all-sports lake: 1,150 acres and 28 feet deep, a canal to Lake Mitchell, a 7.5-mile path and winter ice fishing for perch and walleye.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Wind-driven waves roll onto the sandy shore of Lake Missaukee.

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Lake Missaukee

Lake City's all-sports town lake: 1,880 acres and mostly under 15 feet deep, with a public beach, a city launch, and walleye, perch and pike through the ice.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
Lake Mitchell stretches to a low, distant shoreline under a summer sky.

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Lake Mitchell

A broad, shallow, all-sports lake west of Cadillac: 2,496 acres, a state park beach and campground, a canal to paddle and crappie and bluegill through the ice.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
A boat launch dock reaches into Lake Skegemog under puffy summer clouds.

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Lake Skegemog

A shallow, wetland-edged, all-sports lake between Torch and Elk: muskie and pike, perch through the ice and a paddle past a big protected shoreline.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch
Long Lake lies glassy calm at twilight, with Venus above the far shore.

Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Long Lake

An all-sports island lake near Traverse City: ski and tube, swim at two township beaches, picnic on four day-use islands, ice fish for walleye and pike.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch

Rivers

The clear, shallow Boardman River runs between tall pines and spruce on a summer day.

River · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Boardman River

Traverse City's trout river, with three old dams now removed, paddling on the middle river and steelhead from winter into spring below the last dam in town.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals
The short Elk River runs clear over a low weir between trees.

River · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes

Elk River

The short river in Elk Rapids where the Chain of Lakes Water Trail ends, with a kayak launch, steelhead below the dam and salmon in fall.

  • Public launch

Charlevoix & Petoskey

Lakes and bays

Aerial view from over Lake Michigan of the Charlevoix channel, Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix stretching inland.

Lake · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Lake Charlevoix

An all-sports lake of 17,200 acres linking Charlevoix, Boyne City and East Jordan, with town marinas, a channel to Lake Michigan and walleye through the ice.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals
Frozen, snow-covered Little Traverse Bay at Petoskey with the red-and-white breakwater light in the distance

Bay · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Little Traverse Bay

A Lake Michigan bay with marinas in Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Bay Harbor, swim beaches at the state park and Zorn Park, and Petoskey stones in the shallows.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
Crooked Lake under heavy clouds, seen from a grassy shore.

Lake · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Crooked Lake

A broad, shallow all-sports lake east of Petoskey that starts the Inland Waterway, with marinas and rentals in Oden and Alanson and slow channels at each end.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Lake · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Pickerel Lake

Crooked Lake's deeper all-sports neighbor east of Petoskey, with a free county park beach and a short channel onto the Inland Waterway.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
The Pine River channel opens into Round Lake in downtown Charlevoix.

Lake · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Round Lake (Charlevoix)

Charlevoix's slow no-wake downtown harbor between Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan, with the city marina, fuel next door and the Channel for trout.

Lake · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Round Lake (Emmet County)

A small, shallow all-sports lake behind the Petoskey State Park dunes, with a small DNR launch and a nature preserve with easy trails and a boardwalk.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Lake · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Walloon Lake

A deep, clear all-sports lake south of Petoskey with marinas at Walloon Lake village, small township beaches and launches, and ice fishing in winter.

  • All-sports
  • Swim beach
  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Rivers

The clear Jordan River flows between thick green banks in summer.

River · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Jordan River

A cold, clear, motor-free trout river for long floats through the Jordan River Valley, with DNR canoe launches, an East Jordan outfitter and winter steelhead.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals
The Bear River spills over a low weir below an arched bridge in Petoskey.

River · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Bear River

A short, fast river through Petoskey, with a quarter-mile whitewater course, a canoe livery for easy family floats and brook trout above the dam.

  • Rentals
The Boyne River flows between leafy banks with a riverside walkway on the right.

River · Charlevoix & Petoskey

Boyne River

A short trout stream into Lake Charlevoix at Boyne City, with an easy float of an hour or two from Dam Road to the lake and steelhead below the dam.

  • Public launch
  • Rentals

Mackinac & the Straits

Lakes and bays

Jumbled slabs of blue-white ice piled along a frozen shoreline

Bay · Mackinac & Straits

Straits of Mackinac

The strait between Michigan's peninsulas, with harbors at Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island, the bridge, island ferries and protected shipwrecks.

  • Public launch

Lake · Mackinac & Straits

Paradise Lake

A big, shallow all-sports lake at Carp Lake village south of Mackinaw City, with tea-colored water, large pike and a DNR launch with a boat wash.

  • All-sports
  • Public launch

Looking for a cottage on the water? Each town's places to stay section links to local rental managers, many of whom specialize in lakefront and riverfront homes.