Another Great Lake? Michigan’s Torch Lake Adventures

Nestled next to names like “Michigan,” “Huron” and “Superior,” Michigan’s Torch Lake is in some seriously stellar company.

While this area gem may not be a true “Great Lake,” however, it still holds that honorary title in our book. Its alluring turquoise hue and sheer size alone make Torch Lake a formidable contender for aquatic acclaim… so the culture and water sports opportunities that abound here are just icing on the cake.

Read on to see why we love Torch Lake—and why it might be worth a visit this summer!

A vivid escape…

If there’s one thing to say about Torch Lake, it’s that it is blue—very blue.

The water’s hue has been compared to the pristine waters of the Caribbean, while its sandbar is reminiscent of those white, sandy atolls of the tropics. The lake owes that coloring to its glacial roots, having been carved out by the ice many years ago. The result? A lake of differing depths, each marked by its own unique hue, fading from the powdery turquoise shallows to true blue deep center.

… and a water skier’s dream

You could spend a day or two just admiring the view, soaking in the sunlight that reflects brilliantly against the green-blue H2O. But when you want to get in and enjoy the water from a new perspective, hop onto your Vortex—and bring your skis, boards, whatever you may need, because this is a bona fide water sport haven. At nearly 20 miles, Torch Lake is the longest inland lake in the state, providing an uninterrupted surface for you to practice your endurance and see just how far you can ride the wake. (Incidentally, the lake is long enough to actually look like a torch in shape, but its name actually stems from the local Ojibwa word for “Place of Torches,” a nod to its old use as torch-lit, nighttime fishing grounds.)

Unparalleled room for towed sports is just the beginning. Other sports to enjoy on the water include fishing (for pike, crappie, rainbow trout and many more), or heading below the surface for a snorkeling session. The sandbar makes for a popular raft-up spot, a good place to relax and lounge around with friends, while the shallow water that surrounds it is perfect for paddle boarding. You might find that Torch Lake is the perfect medley of socializing and getting back-to-nature since you can always head off the beaten path and find room to enjoy the water. When you really want a smooth, glassy surface for your skiing adventures, just get to the lake a little earlier and find your spot!

Start a chain reaction

From Torch Lake, you have the power to start a “chain reaction”—because it’s not the only lake worth visiting in the area! Torch Lake sits just to the east of Grand Traverse Bay and the great expanse of Lake Michigan, so you have access to other water hotspots from there. Of course, you don’t need to go big or go home—smaller but equally charming excursions await on the chain of lakes. Torch Lake flows through small channels to Clam Lake on the east and Lake Skegemog on the south (which itself flows into Elk Lake, another beautifully blue boating destination). So Torch Lake can be the start of a boating adventure, or the satisfying end to one… but it never has to be the only stop on your trip.

Great Lakes vacation coming up? Tack Torch Lake onto your itinerary. This lake is perfect for water sports, cruising the coast or simply indulging in the kind of endless, on-the-water get-togethers summer was made for.