Lake houses in Torch Lake
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Top-rated places to stay in Torch Lake
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Torch Lake places to stay
Guesthouse in Suttons Bay
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 253 reviewsRed Twig Studio
Tiny home in Traverse City
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 154 reviewsPine Cove is a Delightful tiny house
Cabin in Mancelona
4.95 out of 5 average rating, 123 reviewsHistoric one-room log cabin
Guest suite in Gaylord
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 327 reviewsLake Front Suite
Apartment in Traverse City
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 223 reviewsPrivate sandy beachfront on the West Bay in TC
Tiny home in Frankfort
4.93 out of 5 average rating, 128 reviewsCabin Unwind, tucked into the woods
Apartment in Traverse City
4.95 out of 5 average rating, 356 reviewsStylish Condo, Walkable to Downtown & Munson
Cabin in Alden
4.78 out of 5 average rating, 343 reviewsPrivate Log Cabin, 4 min walk to Torch Lake
Torch Lake fishing places to stay
Guest suite in Suttons Bay
5.0 out of 5 average rating, 143 reviewsSuttons Bay, Stoney Point Retreat
Home in Bellaire
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 126 reviews3rd Night Free:Clam Lake Cottage-Torch Lake Access
Apartment in Petoskey
5.0 out of 5 average rating, 166 reviewsUpNorth Getaway almost in the Heart of the City
Apartment in Charlevoix
4.95 out of 5 average rating, 145 reviewsBoho Loft Apartment
Cottage in East Jordan
4.93 out of 5 average rating, 261 reviewsAntrim/Charlevoix County-The Guest House $125
Guest suite in Interlochen
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 313 reviewsHarmony House, Interlochen
Cabin in Gaylord
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 355 reviewsHephzibah’s Haven: Up North cabin with Lake Access
Tiny home in Lake Ann
4.91 out of 5 average rating, 130 reviewsSweetheart Beach Cottage
Torch Lake houses
Home in Mancelona
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 202 reviewsThe Guest House
Home in Petoskey
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 233 reviewsGorgeous Getaway! 2 Queens/2 Fold-up twins.
Home in Central Lake
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 174 reviewsThe Maple View House and Suana: Tranquility Awaits
Home in Interlochen
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 375 reviewsCabin in the woods close to TC/Sleeping Bear Dunes
Home in Traverse City
4.95 out of 5 average rating, 457 reviewsTraverse City, MI East Bay
Home in Cedar
4.93 out of 5 average rating, 211 reviewsLeelanau County Modern Farm Cottage
Home in Bellaire
4.9 out of 5 average rating, 110 reviewsEclectic Cottage 0.4 mile from downtown Bellaire!
Home in Charlevoix
4.88 out of 5 average rating, 321 reviewsCharlevoix the Beautiful
Your guide to Torch Lake
All About Torch Lake
One of the most picturesque lakes in Michigan — which is saying something, considering it’s next to Lake Michigan — Torch Lake is beloved for turquoise water so clear you can see the bottom. Some even compare it to the Caribbean. The shoreline of this 19-mile-long body of water, the biggest of 14 in the Elk River chain of lakes, is ringed by evergreen trees and pricey lakefront homes. Most visitors come here to spend their days in and on the water, whether in a fishing boat or on jet skis, innertubes, or paddleboards.
During the summer months, boats and rafts cluster along the shallow two-mile sandbar at the lake’s south end, resembling a floating party. But it’s easy to drift away from the festivities to a spot where you can relax and soak in the beauty of Northern Michigan, or placidly fish for trout and wide-mouth bass. Off the water, small resort towns such as Elk Rapids, Alden, and Bellaire promise distraction in the form of restaurants and shops, and the cultural draws of Traverse City are just 30 miles away.
The best time to stay in a vacation rental in Torch Lake
Given Torch Lake’s location in northern Lower Michigan, it may not be a surprise that peak season here is June through August, when the temperatures hang between the 60s and 80s Fahrenheit. While sunny days are frequent in summer, so are rainy ones, especially in August and September, so bring waterproof jackets along with your swimsuits and sunblock. Both spring (April-May) and fall (October-November) are gorgeous in Michigan, with cool temperatures and plenty of color in the wildflowers and trees. Although the lake does not freeze in winter, below-freezing temperatures and snowfall are common. Bundle up!
Top things to do in Torch Lake
Boating
A number of companies rent out pontoons or small boats for an afternoon or a few days. You can stay on the lake — after all, there’s quite a bit of it to peruse — or, if you have a smaller boat, travel along the river to the connected Elk Lake and Clam Lake.
Charlevoix
Located just 20 miles from the northern tip of Torch Lake, picturesque Charlevoix is worth a day trip to browse through the craft shops and wander around the century-old Castle Farms. Charlevoix’s most eye-opening feature: 26 stone-and-thatch cottages known as “mushroom houses.”
Grass River Natural Area
With Grand Traverse Bay to the west and Torch Lake to the east, your options for shoreline walks are many, and there are bike trails aplenty as well. Dedicated hikers will enjoy exploring the forests and meadows of the 1,500-acre Grass River Nature Preserve in Bellaire, as well as a 1.5-mile-long boardwalk that leads through the wetlands.
Torch Lake Tour
Northeastern Michigan’s wineries, cideries, and breweries have flourished over the past decade, and the Torch Lake Tour directs you to 10 of them, a loop that circles the lake. You can find your own way around the tour or hire a driver to guide you.
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