Benzie & Sleeping Bear
Frankfort
A beach-and-lighthouse harbor town: a Lake Michigan beach at the end of Main Street, a breakwater light off the sand and Point Betsie up the shore.
Under a mile away (straight line)
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.
Photo: Retaildesigner, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Betsie Lake is a harbor first: the place to keep a boat, launch for Lake Michigan or fish for trout, salmon and steelhead without leaving town. It is the last stop on the Betsie River before the big lake, with Frankfort on the north shore and the village of Elberta on the south.
The whole lake is slow no-wake, so this is not tubing or skiing water. What you get instead is easy access. There are several marinas on each side, including the city’s municipal marina in Frankfort, the city launch on the Frankfort side is a big one, and boats run out between twin piers to Lake Michigan. The Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse marks the entrance. Elberta calls the water Betsie Bay.
Anglers come for brown trout, steelhead, Chinook salmon, smallmouth bass and northern pike, all on the DNR’s list of better fishing waters for this lake.
For a slower hour, cross to the Elberta side. You get a wide view back over the water to the Frankfort waterfront and the hills behind it. Frankfort’s harbor once shipped lumber to other parts of the country.
On the water
Motorboats and rules
Slow, no-wake speed applies on all of Betsie Lake, the harbor between Frankfort and Elberta. Save tubing and skiing for other water.
Boating
You will find several marinas on both the Elberta and Frankfort sides of the harbor, which Elberta calls Betsie Bay. Boats reach it from Lake Michigan through the Betsie River harbor entrance.
Fishing
Betsie Lake is on the Michigan DNR's list of better fishing waters for brown trout, Chinook salmon, northern pike, smallmouth bass and steelhead. Check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
Fish species
Species include brown trout, chinook salmon, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and steelhead.
Connected waters
Betsie Lake takes in the Betsie River and opens to Lake Michigan through the harbor entrance, so boats run straight out to the big lake.
Public boat launches
Frankfort Municipal launch
A city-run launch on the harbor with 10 lanes, 5 piers, paved parking for 50 trailers, a flush toilet and a fishing pier.
Marinas
Frankfort Municipal Marina
The city's public marina on the Frankfort shore, part of the state's network of public Great Lakes harbors and within half a mile of Lake Michigan. Check with the city for transient slips and services before you arrive.
Fishing, launching at a state site or parking at a state park? See licenses and passes for what you need before you go.
Anything not listed here is unverified. Do not assume public access across private shoreline. Check the Michigan DNR boating access listings and the current fishing regulations.
Location
Map of Betsie Lake
2 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Places to stay near Betsie Lake
Lakefront cottages and homes are listed by the local rental managers and booking sites below.
Hotels and inns
Mid-range
The Hotel FrankfortListed by the Benzie County Chamber of Commerce
Search all hotels in Frankfort: Booking.com · Expedia · Hotels.com · Google Hotels
We don’t take bookings or earn anything from these links. Rates, availability and any booking problems are handled by the booking site.
More places to stay in Frankfort
- Benzie County places to stay (Traverse City Tourism) · The county visitor site's list of hotels, resorts, cabins and other lodging across Benzie County, including the Frankfort and Beulah areas.
Vacation rentals
- Agape Vacation Rentals · agapevacationrentals.com
A Beulah-based rental manager with homes and cottages around Crystal Lake, Beulah and Frankfort, plus other parts of Michigan.
- Northland Vacation Rentals · northlandvacationrentals.com
A Traverse City rental company tied to Century 21 Northland, with cottages and homes in places such as Frankfort and Glen Arbor.
- Visit Up North Vacation Rentals · visitupnorth.com
A Traverse City rental company with homes, cottages and condos across Leelanau, Glen Arbor, the Benzie area and nearby Arcadia and Bear Lake.
Nearby towns
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances from the map point.
Lighthouse
Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse
A 67-foot square steel lighthouse at the head of Frankfort's north breakwater, marking the harbor entrance in full view of the city beach.
About 1 miles away (straight line)
More lakes and rivers nearby
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
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
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