Lake Michigan

Overview

Lake Michigan, the second largest Great Lake by volume with 1,180 cubic miles of water, is the only Great Lake entirely within the United States. Approximately 118 miles wide and 307 miles long, Lake Michigan has more than 1,600 miles of shoreline. Averaging 279 feet in depth, the lake reaches 925 feet at its deepest point. The lake’s northern tier is in the colder, less developed upper Great Lakes region, while its more temperate southern basin contains the Milwaukee and Chicago metropolitan areas. The drainage basin, approximately twice as large as the 22,300 square miles of surface water, includes portions of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Lake Michigan is hydrologically inseparable from Lake Huron, joined by the wide Straits of Mackinac. 

Lake Michigan begins on the west side of the Mackinac Bridge (Straits of Mackinac)….The shoreline changes drastically along this coastal shore with areas of rock, some wetlands and some great sand areas.  The most popular swimming areas in the Mackinac Region are the Sand Dunes (10 miles west of the bridge on U.S.#2) this area extends for miles and is popular for locals and tourists.   There is a small sand swim area down by Sand Bay, approx. 1.5 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge in St. Ignace.  There are no public restroom facilities at either of these areas.   There are several great areas along U.S. #2 that you can pull off and swim.  Lake Michigan Campground in Brevort does have facilities.  There is also a great public beach west of Mackinaw City called Wilderness Beach.   This Great Lake tends to be warmer to swim in that Lakes Huron and Superior.

Circle Tour Map