Northern Michigan's Top Swimming Holes and Beach Destinations

Water, Water Everywhere

Northern Michigan is surrounded and permeated by water. Grand Traverse Bay, Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, and hundreds of inland lakes and rivers give the region more quality swimming destinations per square mile than virtually anywhere in the Midwest. The range is extraordinary — from the warm, shallow tidal flats of East Grand Traverse Bay (where the water reaches 75°F in July) to the glacially cold clarity of Higgins Lake (where visibility stretches to 30 feet and the temperature barely hits 65°F even in August).

Traverse City State Park Beach

The Traverse City State Park beach on East Grand Traverse Bay is the most accessible quality beach in the region — 1,200 feet of sandy shoreline adjacent to the city, with warm, calm water and a sandy bottom that grades gently to swimming depth. The bay here is protected enough that even young children can wade safely. The nearby TART trail and Clinch Park add to the recreational ecosystem. See Traverse City events for beach concerts and special events at the state park.

Crystal Lake — Benzie County

Crystal Lake near Beulah is the clarity standard — bottom visible at 20 feet, water a shade of luminous green-blue that photographs as improbably beautiful. The public beach at the northwest corner has a roped swimming area and is excellent for families. The water is cold by early July standards; true cold-water clarity enthusiasts wade in regardless.

Lake Charlevoix — Boyne City

The Boyne City public beach on Lake Charlevoix has warm water (the lake is relatively shallow and heats readily) and a sandy bottom. The marina setting and the walkable downtown add recreational context. Charlevoix's Mt. McSauba beach on the north end of town is less trafficked and has direct Lake Michigan access with the drama of open-water swimming backed by dune and bluff.

Grand Traverse Bay's Sandbar at Bowers Harbor

Bowers Harbor on the Old Mission Peninsula has a shallow sandbar extending into the bay that warms to extraordinarily comfortable temperatures in mid-July — you can stand in waist-deep water 100 meters from shore with the water at 75°F. The surrounding vineyard-and-cherry-orchard landscape makes this a quintessential Northern Michigan summer experience.

Torch Lake Sandbar

The northwest sandbar at Torch Lake is the legendary warm-water gathering spot — in summer, dozens of boats anchor in 3 feet of turquoise water and their occupants swim, socialize, and enjoy the absurd beauty of the setting. Accessible by boat only (no nearby road access to the sandbar directly), which keeps the experience appropriately exclusive without being exclusionary.