So blue, so true
Sail, swim, and wade in Michigan’s third largest lake.
Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County is the great connector, offering lakeside living in Boyne City, Charlevoix and East Jordan, with each community enjoying their own identities on separate location along the lake. The inland lake is lined with natural space, beaches, homes and condominiums and is large enough to welcome an array of recreational activities, with the main basin stretching for more than 13 miles.
In the early days, the lake was a source of transportation for travelers and lumber that helped build communities. Now it’s the place where people gather for fun, recreation, an array of ever-improving sunsets and some of the finest fishing in the area.
The lake’s largest tributary, the Jordan River, is a state-designated natural river with the second largest tributary being the Boyne River. Round Lake in Charlevoix connects Lake Michigan to Lake Charlevoix via the Pine River Channel. With several shipwrecks convening with the sandy bottom, Lake Charlevoix boasts an active diving community.
Vital Stats
Surface area: 26.5 square miles
Shoreline: 56 miles
Length: 13.2 miles (main basin)
Width: 2.7 miles (main basin)
Depth: 122 feet (main basin)
Depth: 58 feet (South Arm)
Average depth: 50 feet
Campgrounds and Parks
Access to Lake Charlevoix is plentiful.
Harbors, boat launches and marinas dot the lake strategically along with boat shops, gas pumps and public docking. Public access sites also surround the lake as do parks, campgrounds and beaches.
Tannery Beach in Boyne City offers easy access for kayakers, canoeist and small sailboats. It’s also a popular spot for people who take their pets for a swim during the hot summer months.
Peninsula Beach is a short walk from downtown Boyne City, including restrooms, drinking fountain, vending machines, playground and picnic area.
Young State Park, just one mile north of Boyne City opened in 1921, the park has 580 acres, 4.9 miles of hiking trails, public beach, more than 200 camp sites with community showers, private cabins, convenience store, picnic area, basketball court, playground and boat launch.
Glenwood Beach is adjacent to Young State Park and offers a public boat launch, a wide sandy beach and shallow water making it a popular spot for families with young children.
Horton Bay Located on the north shore of Lake Charlevoix about midway between Boyne City and Charlevoix, this historic little community was a place of fondness for Ernest Hemingway and is still bustling with activities. It provides an excellent sand beach and safe harbor for boaters. History Map
- Whiting Park is six miles west of Boyne City and three miles east of the Ironton Ferry. It has 160 acres, 58 campsites (14 universally accessible) and community showers, playground, picnic area, pump out station, public boat launch and rental facilities to seat 300 with a kitchen, and a log cabin to seat 60 and two pavilions.
- Map
- Whiting Park History
-
Tourist Park in East Jordan is a family-friendly 86-site RV park with easy access to the downtown, Jordan River, Lake Charlevoix, a boat launch, marina, 11 tent sites, wi-fi access, cable TV hook ups, nearby baseball diamond and tennis courts, playground, picnic area and restrooms.
Depot Beach in Charlevoix is near the old train depot, which is now a historical museum. It has lifeguards on duty, playground, restrooms and picnic areas.
Ferry Beach, also in Charlevoix, offers a gently sloping, sandy swimming area, with lifeguards on duty, playground, restrooms, picnic areas and concession stand.
Don’t Miss
- An important part of Lake Charlevoix’s allure is the famous Ironton Ferry. Opened in 1876 to help people cross the South Arm narrows (and shave almost 20 minutes off driving around the lake) the hand-and-pulley system was replaced by the modern Ironton Ferry in 1926. The ferry is highlighted by “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.”
- The Pine River Channel is located in Charlevoix and the bascule bridge opens every half hour in the summer to allow all boats to access Lake Michigan. The Coast Guard, Emerald Isle and Beaver Islander (ferries that take passengers and vehicles to Beaver Island) call Lake Charlevoix home base.
Social Clubs
You can enjoy all Lake Charlevoix has to offer by joining one of several social clubs.
- Boyne City Yacht Club (BCYC) was founded in 1987 and has grown to more than 600 members and hosts several regattas throughout the season including Mark Madness, a charity race held to benefit Challenge Mountain Adaptive Sailing Program and the Charlevoix Cup—a bitter race for bragging rights between the BCYC and the Charlevoix Yacht Club (CYC).
- The Charlevoix Yacht Club CYC was established in the 1970s and has more than 200 members and maintains a clubhouse on Ferry Avenue in Charlevoix. The Red Fox Regatta is one of CYC’s big draws. Each Labor Day Weekend hundreds of sailors take part in two days of racing fun, competition and tradition. Neither yacht club requires members to own boats.
- The Lake Charlevoix Association is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and quality of the lake for everyone, including sustainable practices and development. If there is something you need to know about Lake Charlevoix they will have the answer.
