The inland lakes that shape our landscape from north to south and east to west are an integral part of our Michigan experience. We asked MLive readers to nominate the best inland lakes Michigan has to offer and you didn’t disappoint. Nominations came from all over the state and included popular spots for tourists and locals alike, as well as hidden gems that may only be known to those who live nearby.
“It’s the biggest, has the greatest variety of activities in and around it all year round, and has public access,” said one reader of the hugely popular Houghton Lake, which sounds like nirvana in an inland lake. “Fishing, hiking, biking, boating, swimming, ORV, history, golf, snowmobiling, skiing, dining, fun, hotels and family traditions. Easy to find from I-75, US-127, M-55, and more. “
Over 600 readers have submitted their nominations for Michigan’s Best Inland Sea, with over 140 individual lakes nominated. We specifically looked for lakes with public access and without large lakes.
Some of our inland lakes are within easy reach, such as the previously mentioned Houghton. Others are a little harder to find, but it’s well worth the trip. “This 1 mile (1.6 km) inland lake is as pristine as possible in Lower Michigan because the island is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and has no cabins,” said one reader of remote Manitou Lake on North Manitou Island. “The lake offers great fishing opportunities, especially black bass. No motorized boat can access the lake, and even inflatable portable flotation devices are difficult as the lake is only accessible on foot. Even so, it’s a great thing to fish by wading about 30 to 50 meters on the sandy bottom and fishing the drop off. “
Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out our form and nominate their favorite spots.
We’ll be running our regional polls next week and hope that you will vote for your favorite Michigan inland lake. Our top Michigan team, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman, will be sharing stories about some of the best inland lakes in Michigan over the next few weeks.
RELATED: Michigan’s Best Podcast: We Share Our Favorite Inland Lakes
See all nominations for Michigan’s Best Inland SeaJacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News
Detroit Metro Area
Lakeville Lake, Addison Township
Lake St. Clair
Cass Lake, Keefe Harbor
Kent Lake, Kensington Metro Park
Orchard Lake Village, Orchard Lake Village
Ann Arbor
South Pacific, Lyndon Parish
Portage Lake, Pinckney
Whitmore Lake, Whitmore Lake
Little Portage Lake, Dexter
Silver Lake, Pinckney Recreation Area
Halfmoon Lake, hell
Blind Lake, Gregory
Belleville Lake, Belleville
Bruin Lake, Unadilla
Silver Lake, hell
Pickerel Lake, Pinckney
Zuckey Lake, Pinckney
Lake Chemung, Howell
Otsego Lake in Gaylord is known for its diverse range of water activities, including kayaking.John Gonzalez
Jackson area
Clark Lake, Ocean Beach Road
Vineyard Lake, Brooklyn
Cold water lake, cold water
Gilletts Lake, Jackson
Duck Lake, Springport
Deep Lake, Cambridge Twp.
Wamplers Lake, Brooklyn
Teufelssee, Teufelssee
Portage Lake, Waterloo Rec area
Round Lake, Jackson County
Lake Somerset, Somerset Center
Grass Lake, Grass Lake
Flint & thumb area
Lake Fenton, Fenton
Holloway Reservoir, Davison
Silver Lake, Fenton
Lake Ponemah, Fenton
Flint Park Lake / Teufelssee, Flint
Kayaking is a popular sport in Michigan’s inland lakes and rivers. (Garret Ellison | MLive).Garret Ellison | MLive
Grand Rapids area
Reeds Lake, East Grand Rapids
Green Lake, Caledonia
Gun Lake, Yankee Springs
Murray Lake, Lowell
Kalamazoo & Southwest Michigan
Seagulls, Richland
Asylum lake, Kalamazoo
Upper Crooked Lake, Delton
Pine Lake, Plainwell
Paw Paw Lake, Coloma
Diamond Lake, Cassapolis
Reynolds Lake, Lawrence
Muskegon & Lakeshore
Mona Lake, Muskegon
Wolfssee, Muskegon
Spring Lake, Spring Lake
Muskegon Lake, Muskegon
Hart Lake, Hart
Silver Lake, Mears
There are many water sports available on the Michigan Lakes, including kayaking. Alison Zywicki | [email protected]
Northern Lower Peninsula
Torch Lake, Alden
Otsego Lake, Gaylord
Lake Mecosta, Mecosta
Crystal Lake, Benzie County
Walloon lake
Lake Charlevoix
Glen Lake, Glen Arbor
Hardy Dam Pond, Big Prairie Parish
Burt Lake, Indian River
Higgins Lake, Higgins Lake
Black lake, onaway
Langer See, Interlochen
Bear Lake, Kalkaska
Jose Lake, South Branch
Houghton Lake, Houghton Lake
Littlefield Lake, Gilmore Parish
West Londo Lake, Hale
Hamlin Lake, Ludington
Rifle Lake, Hill Township
Chippewa Lake, Chippewa Lake
Leelenau See (north and south), Leelanau See
Kalksee, Ahornstadt
Mullet Lake, Aloha
Lake Missaukee, Lake City
Langer See, municipality of Alpena
Hubbard Lake, Hubbard Lake
Lake Ogemaw, West Branch
Lake Isabella, Lake Isabella
Zwischenensee, central lake
Crooked Lake, Conway
Eight point lake, lake
Lake Charlevoix, Charlevoix
Portage Lake, Onekema
Elk Lake, Elk Rapids
Margrethe lake, grayling
Secord Lake, Gladwin
Five seas, five seas
French farm lake, Wawatam parish
Sandsee, national city
Long Lake, Grand Traverse County
St. Mary’s Lake, Riverton Ward
Sage Lake, Sage Lake
Lily Lake, Harrison
Budd Lake, Harrison
Black Lake, Cheboygan
Lake Skegemog, fast city
Chub Lake, Gaylord
Lake St. Helen, St. Helen
East Twin Lake, Lewiston
Little Platte Lake, honor
Round lake, Charlevoix
Hesssee, Newaygo
Campbell Lake, Hesperia
Avalon Lake, Atlanta
Lake Mitchell, Cadillac
Hungersee, Mancelona
West Londo Lake, Hale
Lower Heringssee, Elberta
Blue lake, Mecosta
Round lake, Mecosta
Duck Lake, Interlochen
Sapphire Lake, Lake City
Sandsee, national city
Grand Lake, Presque Isle
Little Glen Lake, Empire
Big Glen Lake, Empire
Lake of Clouds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. (Photo by Lori Chapman | MLive)
Upper peninsula
Indian lake, Manistique
Lake Michigammee, Imperial Heights
Lake Gogebic, Lake Gogebic
Lake Gratiot, Mohawk
Little Lake Gerald, Twin Lakes
Manistique See, Curtis
Andrus lake, paradise
Trout lake, trout lake
Lake in the clouds, porcupine mountains
Rolandsee, Toivola
Lake Gerald, Toivola
Fortune Lake, Crystal Falls
Muskallonge Lake, McMillan Township
Portage Lake, Houghton
Amnesia Lake, Schoolcraft County
John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman check out the amphibious car at The Cove in Leland, Michigan. They voted The Cove as Michigan’s Best Waterfront Restaurant.John Gonzalez
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Previous owner Charlie Boylen poses for a photo with MLive’s John Gonzalez at Charlie’s Bar and Grill in Grand Rapids on Wednesday March 3, 2021. Boylen’s daughter Jodi Wilterdink now owns the restaurant. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com
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In addition:
Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail and on Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.
John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo and on Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.
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