Top 5 Lakes in Grand Traverse County

Many lakes in Grand Traverse County are ideal for families. Dollar Lake, surrounded by lush forests, offers a peaceful setting for short hikes. West End Beach on Grand Traverse Bay is perfect for swimming, picnics, and volleyball, with facilities available. Bass Lake is also noted for its calm environment, shallow entry points, and suitability for younger swimmers and first-time boaters, making it a great family choice.

Public access is widely available. Long Lake offers access through Taylor Park and Gilbert Park, both featuring sandy beaches and swimming areas. Gilbert Park also has a public boat launch. Interlochen State Park provides public access to both Green Lake and Duck Lake with sandy beaches and picnic areas. West End Beach on Grand Traverse Bay is another popular spot for swimming.

Grand Traverse County lakes offer diverse fishing. Long Lake is home to bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, sunfish, walleye, and yellow perch. Silver Lake is popular for bass, bluegill, perch, sunfish, and walleye. Green Lake is renowned for excellent fishing, including bluegill, brown trout, lake trout, bass, rock bass, perch, splake, and sunfish. Bass Lake is favored for largemouth bass, pan-fish, and northern pike. Elk Lake and Fife Lake also offer a variety of species.

Yes, there are several trails. The Lost Lake Pathway is an easy, flat mountain bike ride along three beautiful lakes and bogs, suitable for novice mountain bikers. The Silver Lake Recreation Area features a two-mile trail loop for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. For more options, you can explore MTB Trails in Grand Traverse County or Running Trails in Grand Traverse County.

The region is rich in natural beauty. Long Lake features five islands that create excellent sandbars and is known for the Lower Peninsula's largest nesting population of loons. Grand Traverse Bay, an inlet of Lake Michigan, is famous for its crystal-clear, turquoise waters and is home to diverse wildlife like bald eagles, ospreys, and herons. Silver Lake is characterized by its pine coasts, irregular shoreline, and numerous peninsulas and islands.

The lakes support a wide range of water activities. Long Lake is an 'all-sports' lake, welcoming motorized boats and jet skis. Green Lake is outstanding for swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Grand Traverse Bay is a vibrant hub for sailing, charter fishing, kayaking, and parasailing. Bass Lake is ideal for calmer activities like swimming, paddling, fishing, and pontoon cruising.

Yes, particularly around Grand Traverse Bay. Traverse City, located on the bay, is known for its cherry orchards, wineries, and festivals, including the National Cherry Festival. Grand Traverse Bay itself has a rich maritime history, with over 200 shipwrecks, making it popular for divers. Near Green Lake, visitors can enjoy free concerts by world-renowned artists from the Interlochen Arts Academy by listening from the lake.

Bass Lake is considered a laid-back gem, ideal for those seeking a calmer environment without the crowds often found on larger lakes. Its peaceful atmosphere makes it particularly suitable for families and first-time boaters looking for a relaxed experience.

Public access points often provide various amenities. Taylor Park on Long Lake offers a sandy beach, swimming area, volleyball court, dock, shaded picnic spots, and is handicap accessible. Gilbert Park, also on Long Lake, has a larger sandy beach, volleyball courts, shaded picnic areas, a public boat launch, and a dock. West End Beach provides toilets and places to buy food.

Yes, camping is available. Interlochen State Park offers camping facilities with public access to Green Lake and Duck Lake. Additionally, a Great camping and picnic spot is located near Twin Lake, along the north branch River, providing a peaceful place for rest and camping.

Grand Traverse Bay is an iconic inlet of Lake Michigan, distinct from the inland lakes. It stretches over 32 miles long and 10 miles wide, split into East and West Bay by the Old Mission Peninsula. Its crystal-clear, turquoise waters, often with over 30 feet of visibility, are a result of glacial history. It's a hub for maritime history, diverse wildlife, and a wide array of water sports, offering a different scale and experience than the smaller inland lakes.

Long Lake is particularly notable for wildlife, recognized for having the Lower Peninsula's largest nesting population of loons. Grand Traverse Bay also serves as a natural sanctuary, supporting diverse wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, and herons, making it a great spot for birdwatching.