‘Fall’ for these Michigan lakes

The drop off at Torch Lake in northern Michigan.

Whether you trailer your boat to new inland lake destinations or have a boat large enough to cruise from port to port along the Great Lakes coast, the abundance of water in and around Michigan will keep you occupied and delighted year after year.

Michigan has 11,037 inland lakes and 36,350 miles of rivers and streams. Michigan also has more than 3,308 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. (The nation’s longest freshwater shoreline!)

For nautical cruisers, Michigan’s coastline is a playground of beaches, quaint towns and picturesque parks waiting to be explored. The Great Lakes state has excellent boating for many kinds of boats. Sailboats, large pleasure boats and small ski boats will all find great locations.

You don’t need weeks to explore the best of Michigan. Many highlights of the city and region favorites can be covered in a perfect day — if you plan well. Here’s a look at a few locations and lakes for a perfect day boating day on the water.

• Lake Huron – Les Cheneaux Islands

More than a century of boating, hunting, fishing, sailing and family vacation traditions persist in Les Cheneaux. The area lies east of the Mackinac Bridge along the

North Higgins Lake State Park encompasses much of the shore of Higgins Lake; voted the sixth most beautiful lake in the world by National Geographic.

northern shore of Lake Huron. Thirty-six island provide sheltered channels and bays within the Straits of Mackinac. Forests with trails and pathways offer unparalleled year-round opportunities for vacations, day-trips and quiet breaks from city life.

• Torch Lake

In the lush land of northwest lower Michigan, Torch Lake is often compared to the Caribbean, thanks to its incredibly clear blue-green waters. In fact, there has been a long-running rumor claiming the lake was once named the “third-most beautiful lake in the world” by National Geographic magazine. At 18 miles in length, Torch is Michigan’s longest inland lake and popular for boating and sailing alike. Torch Lake is part of a 75-mile string of northwest lower Michigan lakes, streams and rivers called the Chain of Lakes. A popular summer activity is boating the “Lower Chain.”

• Lake St. Clair

  

  The waterfront district of Port Huron with the Blue Water Bridge. The bridge connects the USA and Canada.

  

This lake connects Lake Erie to Lake Huron and the Detroit River. It’s so popular that 150,000 pleasure boats registered in the immediate area, and those mingle with the 3,000 freighters that pass through the shipping canal. Lake St. Clair is home to the infamous “Nautical Mile”, one of the highest concentrations of boating and boaters in the world. The Nautical Mile is known for its dining and nightlife.

• Spring Lake and Lake Michigan

On calm, comfortable days, the Grand Haven area is a boater’s paradise. View or participate in the parade of watercraft traveling the channel that cuts through downtown, drift in quaint, quiet bayous, or launch your own powerboat, personal watercraft or daysailer inland at Spring Lake and enjoy the views of waterfront living. Both Lake Michigan and nearby Spring Lake offer miles of shorelines, dunes, a boardwalk and particularly clear waters.

• Gull Lake

This deep, clear lake is located just outside of Kalamazoo. Its clear waters have made Gull Lake a local scuba diving hot spot. Many artifacts have been placed in the lake for divers to swim through and look at. Among those are a phone booth, motorcycle, swing set, railroad tracks and two boats. The yacht club offers sailboat racing weekends, and there’s a notable sport fishery for trout, salmon, smallmouth bass, smelt and yellow perch.

Sunset at the Grand Haven South Pierhead at the Grand Haven State Park.

• Higgins Lake

Located about 15 miles north of Houghton Lake, this crystal clear lake has been noted as one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. The Cut River connect Marl Lake to Higgins Lake, giving ample opportunity to fish for perch, trout and pike.

• Lake Leelanau

Popular for boating, this lake is divided into two sections, connected by Narrows and have a combined nearly 9,000 acres. The slower-traveled Narrows are popular for wildlife spotting and paddling.