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 7 miles away (straight line)
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.
Long Lake is the island lake near Traverse City, and an all-sports one: about 2,860 acres averaging around 26 feet deep, open to swimming, water skiing and cruising outside the no-wake channel to Mickey Lake. Bring a boat or a kayak, pick an island, and land for a picnic or a walk, then come back to a township beach for a swim. In winter, anglers fish the ice for walleye and pike.
It lies in Long Lake Township in western Grand Traverse County, and the township parks on its shore are about 7 miles from Traverse City. Five islands rise from the lake, from Long Island, at about 26 acres, down to half-acre Brush Island.
Four of them are open to you for day use. South Island, owned by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, has developed trails, while Fox Island is left without them. Long Island and Picnic Island are owned by the Oleson Foundation and are day-use only as well. Brush Island is the private one.
Back on shore, Gilbert Park and Taylor Park are the township’s two swimming beaches. Gilbert Park dates to 1925, when Judge Parm Gilbert and his wife Emma donated the land for a public park. Gilbert Park and the Crescent Shores launch are the township’s two boat launches, and Gilbert’s gets busy, so plan around it.
Anglers come for bass, walleye, perch and bluegill.
On the water
Motorboats and rules
No special local limits apply on the main lake, so standard Michigan boating law is the rule. The channel between Long Lake and Mickey Lake is slow, no-wake.
Swimming
Gilbert Park (9912 North Long Lake Road) and Taylor Park (9339 North Long Lake Road) are the two township beaches, both with swim areas and restrooms. Neither has lifeguards, and dogs are not allowed. Taylor Park has mobility mats down to the water, and its small dock is not for diving.
Public access
Long Lake Township runs two public beaches, Gilbert Park at 9912 North Long Lake Road and Taylor Park at 9339 North Long Lake Road, and neither has lifeguards. Taylor Park has mobility mats for reaching the water. Gilbert Park has a boat launch and dock outside the swim area, and a second township launch with parking and a restroom is at the end of Crescent Shores Road off West Long Lake Road.
Boating
Four of the lake's islands are open for day use. Long Island and Picnic Island belong to the Oleson Foundation, and Fox Island and South Island belong to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, with trails on South Island. Overnight camping and campfires are not allowed on any of them, and Brush Island is private.
Paddling
Kayaks and small boats can reach the four day-use islands from either township launch. Camping and campfires are not allowed on any island.
Fishing
Long Lake is good water for bluegill, largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch. Check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
Fish species
Species include bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, and yellow perch.
Water clarity
Volunteer Secchi readings in summer 2026 ran from about 17 to 27.5 feet, after spring readings of more than 50 feet in mid-May.
In winter
Long Lake is ice-fished in winter. The DNR reported walleye and pike through the ice in January 2017 and more catches through the ice in February 2021. Ice can be patchy in mild winters, so check conditions first.
Public boat launches
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 Long Lake
2 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Places to stay near Long 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.
Ski area
Hickory Hills
Traverse City's own ski hill since 1952, with 16 runs, Nordic trails including a lighted loop and an FIS-certified course, and disc golf in summer.
About 5 miles away (straight line)
Attraction
Interlochen Center for the Arts
The arts camp and boarding school founded in 1928 between two lakes south of Traverse City, with student and guest-artist concerts open to the public.
About 6 miles away (straight line)
State park
Interlochen State Park
Michigan's first state park, between Duck and Green lakes, with old-growth pines, two campgrounds and the Interlochen arts campus next door.
About 6 miles away (straight line)
More lakes and rivers nearby
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
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
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