Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Traverse City
A bayfront city at the head of Grand Traverse Bay, with a walkable Front Street downtown, bay beaches, cherry orchards and two wine peninsulas close by.
About 1 miles away (straight line)
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.
Boardman Lake is the easy water in Traverse City: a lake just south of downtown where you can launch a kayak, fish for walleye or walk the whole shoreline in an afternoon. There are no local speed or hour limits, but the city launches are set up for small boats, kayaks and sailboats. It is a good pick when you want time on the water without leaving town.
Walk the Boardman Lake Loop first. The 4-mile path circles the lake, and TART Trails calls it the centerpiece of the area’s trail network. Its final segment was finished in July 2022. Expect a mix of pavement, boardwalk and gravel: an urban north end, a wooded east side, two bridges and a long boardwalk over Boardman Lake Cove at the south end. Along the west side you pass lookout piers, fishing decks and kayak launches.
To get on the water, use Hull Park on the north end, where the city launch takes small boats, kayaks and sailboats, or the city kayak launch on the west shore. Anglers fish for walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, sunfish and yellow perch.
The lake is part of the Boardman River, which flows into and through it a short way above its mouth at Grand Traverse Bay. The Union Street Dam, downstream in town, is the only one of the river’s original dams still in place.
On the water
Motorboats and rules
No special local limits are listed for the lake, so standard Michigan boating law applies.
Public access
Start at Hull Park on the north end. The city park has a launch for small boats, kayaks and sailboats, plus restrooms, a pavilion, picnic tables and parking. A second city kayak launch, with fishing access, is on the west side near Lake Ridge Drive.
Paddling
To paddle the lower Boardman River, put in at Hull Park on the lake or at Medalie Park. If you are coming down the river from upstream, do not portage from the Boardman Valley Nature Preserve landing to the lake, and never try the culverts under South Airport Road.
Fishing
Boardman Lake is on the Michigan DNR's list of better fishing waters for northern pike, smallmouth bass, sunfish, walleye and yellow perch. Check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
Fish species
Species include northern pike, smallmouth bass, sunfish, walleye, and yellow perch.
Public boat launches
Hull Park (City of Traverse City)
At the north end of the lake, with a launch for small boats, kayaks and sailboats, parking, restrooms and a pavilion.
Boardman Lake kayak launch (City of Traverse City)
City kayak launch with fishing access on the west side of the lake near Lake Ridge Drive.
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 Boardman Lake
2 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Places to stay near Boardman Lake
Lakefront cottages and homes are listed by the local rental managers and booking sites below.
Hotels and inns
Upscale
Delamar Traverse CityAAA Three Diamond · Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026 · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Mid-range
Park Place HotelAAA Three Diamond · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Budget
Cherry Tree Inn & SuitesTripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026 · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Search all hotels in Traverse City: 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 Traverse City
- Old Mission Inn · An inn on the Old Mission Peninsula that dates to 1869 and is described as Michigan's oldest historic hotel, with rooms facing East Grand Traverse Bay.
- Antiquities' Wellington Inn · A bed and breakfast in a restored 1905 neoclassical mansion built for one of Traverse City's lumber barons, a short walk from downtown.
- Traverse City Tourism places to stay · The tourism bureau's directory of hotels, resorts, B&Bs, condos, cottages, campgrounds and vacation rentals in the Traverse City area.
Vacation rentals
- Golden Swan Management · goldenswanmgt.com
A Traverse City company that rents and manages vacation properties across northwest 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.
- Unsalted Vacations · unsaltedvacations.com
A West Michigan rental company with homes, cottages and cabins in areas including Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Manistee and Traverse City.
- 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.
Trail
TART Trails
Traverse City's trail network, built around the 10.5-mile paved TART along the bay and linked to the Leelanau Trail, Boardman Lake Loop and VASA Pathway.
About 1 miles away (straight line)
More lakes and rivers nearby
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
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
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