Fontanacdory
New member
This mike on the ms Jill would like some ideas on cruising upper Michigan, going a little nuts at home . Was thinking maybe chaboygan as a starting point. Thanks everyone stay safe.
Michigan cruising
- Thread starter Fontanacdory
- Start date
colbysmith
Active member
The Apostle Islands on Lake Superior are nice. So is Isle Royale. Door County farther south between the water of Green Bay and Lake Michigan also offers some great boating. A trip to the Door isn't complete without visiting Washington Island. Rock Island as well, but it is closed right now due to Covid-19 and exceptionally high water levels. Between Lake's Michigan and Huron you have Mackinaw City and Mackinaw Island which offers some great boating and cities, however not much in the way of anchorage. I hear Chaboygan is nice also. In fact we are looking at two weeks of boating here this coming week. Originally I wanted to go down to Lake Kentucky to check out a possible location to bring back Meet in the Middle next year. However, with hotter temps, we may head north to the Apostles ourselves (or possibly Cheboygan to check it out), and find time in October to check out some possibly gathering spots on Lake Kentucky. (Might be worth while setting aside next year, the first weekend after Labor Day, 2021, if all goes well.) If you get as far north as Isle Royal, C-Otter is up there somewhere doing some fishing. (Very remote, with only one place on the island where you can climb a hill and maybe get some spotty cell service! Fuel in a 22 may be an issue as well. I don't know if the two places on the Island with fuel are even open.) We're heading out west to Lake Powell later in August. If you haven't been there, and have the time available, it's another place for some great boating. However, without AC, it's probably pretty hot right now. The North Channel, east of Mackinaw is pretty nice as well. However, with the Canadian border shut down, that may be a problem. Colby
colbysmith
Active member
If you chose to go to the Apostle Islands, I've found the little campground at Little Sand Bay works out well for parking the rig long term. https://www.townofrussell.org/little-sand-bay-recreation-area/. It's at the northern tip of the peninsula there. Several marinas available in Bayfield, the Apostle Islands marina right in town. Parking for several days at a time is hard to find, or available at a price. Otherwise, there are several marinas in the area where you can launch and leave your rig. I just like Little Sand Bay as it's fairly inexpensive, and so far been safe and secure. The only negative is that the little marina there is not very protected from north winds, and it can't be rough getting in and out with a northerly blow. Black flies in the area can be bad at times, but that's pretty much true anywhere. For Isle Royal, we've used the marina at Grand Portage. It's then 25-30 miles across to Isle Royal. Be aware a few miles coming up from the south before you get to Grand Portage, you'll lose cell service. So make any calls before you leave the last town to the south. Mackinaw City has a nice newer marina, I think called the Straights Marina. However Michigan likes to charge out of staters a prime additional fee for using their parks. Door County, I've started using the ramps at Fish Creek more, as I like that area, and they have a nice big municipal parking lot within a short mile walking distance where you can leave your rig over time. Sister Bay has a nice marina, but their long term parking is a little farther away. Sturgeon Bay has a nice launch and parking area, but you are farther south on the peninsula. Also, if you are parking long term, you want to let the city know. Colby
colbysmith
Active member
Just checked on the Apostle Island Covid related stuff now for myself. The various island parks are closed from 7p-7a, however self contained boats can still use the docks. (They just don't want you on the grounds during the night.) Most facilities are closed internally. Ie, some nice lighthouses and historic buildings are viewable from outside, but you can not enter them for now. The launch and parking is available at the Little Sand Bay area I mentioned earlier. Again, the water level in the Great Lakes is quite high (record elevations), so some lower docks may be flooded. When we were at Fish Creek in Door County last week, the launch ramps were still flooded. It was possible to launch, but we had to back into the water quite a ways. Up to a foot deep before we hit the actual ramp. Still many nice places to anchor however. And of course, most places require or request a mask and social distancing. Isle Royal was closed earlier, but before leaving, Tom on C-Otter had posted that they were allowing boats to anchor. I don't remember if the various docks opened up, or if the two main harbors for fuel and limited services were going to open. Can't tell you anything about Cheboygan, as I've not been there myself. I think most marinas are open now. Although I found around Door County some were not offering full service, or were not open to transients. Finding fuel in and around cities not a problem.
If you want the most clear clean water, stay out of Green Bay*.
The east coast of Lake Michigan, north of Point Betsie, and north Lake Huron have
the best cruising grounds: majestic sand dunes, beaches, islands, coves, shoreline
facilities and navigable adjacent protected inland lakes. Oh, we have big rocks too.
It may be worth a stop in WI, in Door County (aka the Cape Cod of the midwest) if
you've never had a "fish boil" including boiled potatoes, onions, whitefish followed
by coffee and cherry pie.
Always check, and double check weather before and while on the Great Lakes.
If you do get to northern MI, as a guest, bring and wear your mask, observe
physical distancing, wash hands frequently, stay outside AMAP and, please,
don't cough or sneeze near anyone. I'd do the same if in your area.
Aye.
*It's called Green Bay for a reason.
The east coast of Lake Michigan, north of Point Betsie, and north Lake Huron have
the best cruising grounds: majestic sand dunes, beaches, islands, coves, shoreline
facilities and navigable adjacent protected inland lakes. Oh, we have big rocks too.
It may be worth a stop in WI, in Door County (aka the Cape Cod of the midwest) if
you've never had a "fish boil" including boiled potatoes, onions, whitefish followed
by coffee and cherry pie.
Always check, and double check weather before and while on the Great Lakes.
If you do get to northern MI, as a guest, bring and wear your mask, observe
physical distancing, wash hands frequently, stay outside AMAP and, please,
don't cough or sneeze near anyone. I'd do the same if in your area.
Aye.
*It's called Green Bay for a reason.
colbysmith
Active member
Hey Mike,
We may be heading to the Michigan Inside Waterway ourselves. Kentucky is going to be too damn hot next week! I checked with the Cheboygan County Marina, which is right at the Lake Huron end of the river there. The launch fee is $5, and then parking $5 day. Harbor master says it's a great trip and plenty of room. I've never been past Cheboygan, coming off of the big lake, so all new scenery to me. Not far from Mackinaw at that point either, so worth a side trip to the island and the city. Foggy is right about clear water. But lots to do in Door County, particularly on the Bay side. The lake side is a little quieter. The bay side is more commercialized, many good restaurants and shops. But the pandemic has closed a few places down. However, it is still quite busy on land. And some places on the water as well. Chambers Island, which is in the middle of Green Bay has some nice beach area, and a lighthouse that is still open some days. I forgot to mention, if you do visit Door County by boat, it's worth a trip over to Menominee to stay at least one night in their marina. They have a beautiful boater's lounge with individual bathrooms/showers, just like your home would have, and a great sitting area with access to a computer and internet. It's in an old remodeled water works building. They have Boat US Discounts, and relatively inexpensive. Colby
We may be heading to the Michigan Inside Waterway ourselves. Kentucky is going to be too damn hot next week! I checked with the Cheboygan County Marina, which is right at the Lake Huron end of the river there. The launch fee is $5, and then parking $5 day. Harbor master says it's a great trip and plenty of room. I've never been past Cheboygan, coming off of the big lake, so all new scenery to me. Not far from Mackinaw at that point either, so worth a side trip to the island and the city. Foggy is right about clear water. But lots to do in Door County, particularly on the Bay side. The lake side is a little quieter. The bay side is more commercialized, many good restaurants and shops. But the pandemic has closed a few places down. However, it is still quite busy on land. And some places on the water as well. Chambers Island, which is in the middle of Green Bay has some nice beach area, and a lighthouse that is still open some days. I forgot to mention, if you do visit Door County by boat, it's worth a trip over to Menominee to stay at least one night in their marina. They have a beautiful boater's lounge with individual bathrooms/showers, just like your home would have, and a great sitting area with access to a computer and internet. It's in an old remodeled water works building. They have Boat US Discounts, and relatively inexpensive. Colby
Colby, I grew up, summers, on Michigan's Inland Waterway, specifically Indian
River area/Burt Lake. If you put in in Cheboygan, you'll need to clear the lock
a few miles up river. Going to Mullet Lake, just before is a must stop: Hamatak
Inn, great meals and watering hole.
From Cheboygan to Mullet, then Burt, then Cooked Lakes is all Federal waterway.
When I was a kid, a neighbor had a 50+' powerboat he'd pack and take us to
Mackinac Island. Later I did it w/buddies in my dad's 18' Lyman, then 24' Sea Ray.
Also, I think in August was the famous "Top-O-Michigan Marathon": about 4 size
classes of OB powered speedsters going from Topinabee, Mullet Lake, to Crooked
Lake and back - some 80+ miles - a blast to watch riverside. It was second only
to sailing my Hobie 16 to the north arm of Burt hoping to catch a glimpse of a
well known sun worshiper au naturale.
Few hazards: A few shoal spots in the well marked rivers but in your boat it should
be a cake walk. You will get nailed if caught speeding or excess wake in the rivers.
I'd be interested in your comments if you do the trip. Enjoy.
Aye.
River area/Burt Lake. If you put in in Cheboygan, you'll need to clear the lock
a few miles up river. Going to Mullet Lake, just before is a must stop: Hamatak
Inn, great meals and watering hole.
From Cheboygan to Mullet, then Burt, then Cooked Lakes is all Federal waterway.
When I was a kid, a neighbor had a 50+' powerboat he'd pack and take us to
Mackinac Island. Later I did it w/buddies in my dad's 18' Lyman, then 24' Sea Ray.
Also, I think in August was the famous "Top-O-Michigan Marathon": about 4 size
classes of OB powered speedsters going from Topinabee, Mullet Lake, to Crooked
Lake and back - some 80+ miles - a blast to watch riverside. It was second only
to sailing my Hobie 16 to the north arm of Burt hoping to catch a glimpse of a
well known sun worshiper au naturale.
Few hazards: A few shoal spots in the well marked rivers but in your boat it should
be a cake walk. You will get nailed if caught speeding or excess wake in the rivers.
I'd be interested in your comments if you do the trip. Enjoy.
Aye.
little wing
New member
Foggy; you haven't told them about your home waters. Grand Traverse Bay. Great cruising area with nice marinas and towns and sheltered anchorages. Another favorite.
Fontanacdory
New member
Looks like l will be in chaboygan this Wednesday and will go from there. Thanks everyone.
colbysmith
Active member
Thanks Foggy. Wife and I plan on being in Cheboygan Wednesday as well. See you there Mike. Looking forward to seeing some new scenery. And maybe some old as I hope to take a few days over to Mackinaw Island as well. Colby
little wing
New member
If you go up to the straits, you might consider the Les Cheneaux Islands, northeast of the bridge. Quite nice. Also, the two marinas in Mackinaw City. They were almost empty when we were there, which is common we were told.
colbysmith
Active member
Thanks Little Wing. The newer Straits Marina is very nice, and the last couple of times we were there (a few years ago) it was pretty quiet. Mackinaw Island marina on the other hand....always busy. Especially when the sailboats are in from the annual race. Colby
The annual Chicago to Mackinac Race has been cancelled for 2020. Yup.
COVID.
Despite wide open spaces on the Lake, seems masses of jubilant (perhaps
asymptomatic COVID-19 carrying) post-race sailors elbow to elbow bellying up
to the bar in The Pink Pony, Mackinac Island (a tradition) is an image the race
committee did not wish to accept responsibility for. Just a guess.
Maybe reason and logic will triumph after all... Yea boaters!
Aye.
COVID.
Despite wide open spaces on the Lake, seems masses of jubilant (perhaps
asymptomatic COVID-19 carrying) post-race sailors elbow to elbow bellying up
to the bar in The Pink Pony, Mackinac Island (a tradition) is an image the race
committee did not wish to accept responsibility for. Just a guess.
Maybe reason and logic will triumph after all... Yea boaters!
Aye.
little wing
New member
The Bayview Mac race finished earlier this past week. This link shows where the boats are now. https://www.bycmack.com/main_tracking.cfm
With any luck you will run into some of them as they make their way home. Several years ago we were in the area and got to watch the big boys come in to the finish. Beautiful. I dearly miss my sailing days.
With any luck you will run into some of them as they make their way home. Several years ago we were in the area and got to watch the big boys come in to the finish. Beautiful. I dearly miss my sailing days.
colbysmith
Active member
Back in Cheboygan so thought I'd update this thread a bit. We started out at the Cheboygan County Marina. Nice marina, $30/night. For nights not in the marina, it's $5/day for parking. We decided to go over to Mackinac Island first. I've never seen the marina with so many slips. Usually it's busy and hard to get a slip unless you arrive early. However, due to high water levels, they do not have electricity. That and COVID-19 has probably made it the quieter. Still a lot of folks in town from the ferries however. Returned to Cheboygan and immediately headed up river. Slow no wake the entire length of the Cheboygan River. Cheboygan Lock was $6 each way. Turned and went down the Black River a ways, before turning back around and returning to the Cheboygan channel.First night we anchored in the shallows of Mullett Lake just outside the Cheboygan River channel. Winds came up a bit later at night, so was a little wavy. Would have preferred to been somewhere else, but nothing terrible. While I would have loved to check out the Hackmatac restaurant, none of us really wanted to increase our risk for COVID. The only dining we did was mostly Ice Cream, and all was outside. Michigan is under Mask rules, although there are a few that don't believe in wearing them...
Next day we took our time cruising down the east shore of Mullett, and entered the Indian River. Enjoyed stopping for Ice Cream at the Dairy Mart, docking under one of the fixed bridges. Continued on, to enter into Burt Lake. Worked our way over to Maple Bay to anchor there for the night. Pleasant night with good anchorage.
Following day we went back around the bay's corner to enter the Crooked River. Some beautiful scenery, and one very nice community on the river. Also, just before the Swinging Bridge, stopped for some more ice cream and bakery goods at a local bakery in Alanson. Through the swinging bridge, then on to the Crooked River Lock. $10/day for this one... Took a turn into Pickeral lake, then back to Crooked River and on to Crooked Lake. Cruised around it, then headed back thru the lock so we wouldn't have to pay again on another day. Returned to our anchorage at Maple Bay on Burt Lake. Buzzed too many times by two irresponsible skiiers, the last one getting my ire after dark when they threw their wake right between Ms. Jill and us. Lets just say they didn't appreciate the spot light shun upon them as much as I disliked their disrespectful waking! After that, the rest of the night was again pleasant.
Next day we continued around the rest of Burt Lake, back into the Indian River, and stopped again at the bridge near Dairy Mart. Enjoyed an outside lunch at the Inn Between. Well before that Ms. Jill got clipped a bit by a pontoon boat docking in front of her. Had the entire rest of the dock available, and for whatever reason decided to park right in front of Ms. Jill! Shortly after that another pontoon attempted to come in and almost took out our two boats, the docked pontoon, and another pontoon in front of me. They left in shame rather than attempting to dock again. (Glad they didn't try again...) (I've said it a few times at Hontoon, and other places. Slow and steady works better than gunning the engine between forward and reverse!) There is a pretty good current running there, but it's parallel to the docks, and it's not like the docks were crowded... Enjoyed our burgers, then back up the block to the Dairy Mart for some more ice cream. (You get the feeling the three of us like ice cream?) Continued into Mullett Lake, and found a nice place to anchor just east of where the river enters Mullett, near the Pigeon River Bridge. Mike and I took our Kayaks to explore on the other side of the bridge, finding beaver dams, fast flowing currents, very shallow places and eventually a really nice what looked to be a private camping spot. Back to the boats then for another quiet night.
Today ran the rest of the way back up the Cheboygan River, thru the lock, and back to the Cheboygan County Marina. Tomorrow, depending upon weather, we'll go back to Mackinac Island, or go check out the Les Cheneaux Islands. (We'll do both, just not sure which order.)
Colby
Next day we took our time cruising down the east shore of Mullett, and entered the Indian River. Enjoyed stopping for Ice Cream at the Dairy Mart, docking under one of the fixed bridges. Continued on, to enter into Burt Lake. Worked our way over to Maple Bay to anchor there for the night. Pleasant night with good anchorage.
Following day we went back around the bay's corner to enter the Crooked River. Some beautiful scenery, and one very nice community on the river. Also, just before the Swinging Bridge, stopped for some more ice cream and bakery goods at a local bakery in Alanson. Through the swinging bridge, then on to the Crooked River Lock. $10/day for this one... Took a turn into Pickeral lake, then back to Crooked River and on to Crooked Lake. Cruised around it, then headed back thru the lock so we wouldn't have to pay again on another day. Returned to our anchorage at Maple Bay on Burt Lake. Buzzed too many times by two irresponsible skiiers, the last one getting my ire after dark when they threw their wake right between Ms. Jill and us. Lets just say they didn't appreciate the spot light shun upon them as much as I disliked their disrespectful waking! After that, the rest of the night was again pleasant.
Next day we continued around the rest of Burt Lake, back into the Indian River, and stopped again at the bridge near Dairy Mart. Enjoyed an outside lunch at the Inn Between. Well before that Ms. Jill got clipped a bit by a pontoon boat docking in front of her. Had the entire rest of the dock available, and for whatever reason decided to park right in front of Ms. Jill! Shortly after that another pontoon attempted to come in and almost took out our two boats, the docked pontoon, and another pontoon in front of me. They left in shame rather than attempting to dock again. (Glad they didn't try again...) (I've said it a few times at Hontoon, and other places. Slow and steady works better than gunning the engine between forward and reverse!) There is a pretty good current running there, but it's parallel to the docks, and it's not like the docks were crowded... Enjoyed our burgers, then back up the block to the Dairy Mart for some more ice cream. (You get the feeling the three of us like ice cream?) Continued into Mullett Lake, and found a nice place to anchor just east of where the river enters Mullett, near the Pigeon River Bridge. Mike and I took our Kayaks to explore on the other side of the bridge, finding beaver dams, fast flowing currents, very shallow places and eventually a really nice what looked to be a private camping spot. Back to the boats then for another quiet night.
Today ran the rest of the way back up the Cheboygan River, thru the lock, and back to the Cheboygan County Marina. Tomorrow, depending upon weather, we'll go back to Mackinac Island, or go check out the Les Cheneaux Islands. (We'll do both, just not sure which order.)
Colby
colbysmith
Active member
Back in Cheboygan for our last night in the area. Mackinac Island is always a fun and interesting place to visit. We spent last night there again, and as last week, while this was a weekend and during the day most slips were full, most were day boaters. Over night there were probably only 15-20 boats. Still very unusual compared to my past experience with Mackinac Island. Most likely due to the lack of electric service at the marina due to the high water levels.
The Les Cheneaux Islands were beautiful. Great boating paradise as quite protected within the channels between the islands. Plenty of good anchoring places with scenic sunsets. (Perhaps sunrises too, but those happen before I get up. lol) Several good restaurants at Hessel and Cederville, but due to COVID-19, we really didn't do much else than the ice cream stops. We did eat an early dinner at the Islander in Hessel. Good food and most the staff were following mask rules. In fact, most all business require masks to enter. (Due to COVID-19 and local temporary laws.) Lots of old wooden boats in the Islands! And while canceled this year, they appear to have a large annual boat show in August.
The Les Cheneaux Islands were beautiful. Great boating paradise as quite protected within the channels between the islands. Plenty of good anchoring places with scenic sunsets. (Perhaps sunrises too, but those happen before I get up. lol) Several good restaurants at Hessel and Cederville, but due to COVID-19, we really didn't do much else than the ice cream stops. We did eat an early dinner at the Islander in Hessel. Good food and most the staff were following mask rules. In fact, most all business require masks to enter. (Due to COVID-19 and local temporary laws.) Lots of old wooden boats in the Islands! And while canceled this year, they appear to have a large annual boat show in August.