Skip to content
UpNorthVacation
Two motorboats on bright open water with a wooden piling in the foreground

Things to do

Boating

Harbors, channels and inland lakes for sailing, power boating and charter trips.

SpringSummerFall

Harbor towns along the shore connect Lake Michigan with sheltered inland lakes, and the region has many lakes of every size. This guide only notes public access where an official source confirms it.

Cruising the coast: harbors and transient slipsBoating guideLicenses and passes: what you need before you goRead the guide

Places for boating

The SS Badger car ferry sits at its dock in Ludington with smoke rising from its stack.

Attraction

S.S. Badger

A 1953 coal-fired steamship and National Historic Landmark that carries passengers and vehicles across Lake Michigan between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Narrow wooden pier stretching into calm blue water under a pastel sunset sky

Beach

Clinch Park

Traverse City's downtown beach on West Grand Traverse Bay, with a splash pad, playground, city marina and the TART trail running through.

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.

State park

Muskegon State Park

Three miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake, with forested dunes, two campgrounds, a CCC blockhouse and the Muskegon luge park.

State park

William Mitchell State Park

Cadillac's state park between Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac, with a campground, the Clam Lake Canal and the start of the White Pine Trail.

State park

Young State Park

Boyne City's state park on Lake Charlevoix, with a swimming beach, a boat launch, three modern campgrounds and 6.5 miles of trails.

On the map

Boating: places on the map

6 places on an OpenStreetMap map

Boating: places on the map. The same places are listed on this page.

Recommended towns for boating

Towns an independent source (such as the DNR, the National Park Service or Pure Michigan) singles out for this. Listed by town size, not ranked.

A red pier light at the end of a channel lined with a blue railing and large rocks, under a cloudy sky.

Charlevoix & Petoskey

Charlevoix

For boaters, beachgoers and first-timers: a harbor town where three lakes meet, with a summer drawbridge, a pier lighthouse and Earl Young's stone houses.

A red pierhead lighthouse building at the end of a pier, with a few small figures walking nearby.

Southern Gateway

Grand Haven

A Lake Michigan beach city on the Grand River: a state park beach, a pier walk to two red lights, a riverfront boardwalk and free Musical Fountain shows.

A weathered wooden pier extending into calm turquoise water at sunset.

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.

Also with boating nearby

Lakes

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
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
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
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

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

  • Swim beach
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
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
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

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
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
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

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

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 · 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

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

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
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 · 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
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
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 · 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

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

More things to do