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A Guide to the Rivers and Lakes
of Grand Traverse and
Leelanau Counties, Michigan

All publicly accessible rivers and inland
lakes and their access points for these two
favorite northwestern lower Michigan counties.

Jim Stamm • 231-882-5673

Send Email • Beulah, MI, 49617

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The Book

The northwestern lower Michigan counties of Grand Traverse and Leelanau have an abundance of inland lakes: 146 named lakes, and many, smaller unnamed lakes. (And over 214 lakes when you include neighboring Benzie County.) The size of the lakes range from 2 to nearly 8,000 acres. Seven of them are in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (all in Leelanau County). There are also five rivers: the Betsie and Boardman Rivers in Grand Traverse County, and the Cedar, Crystal, and Leland Rivers in Leelanau County.

This handy book provides the essential details for all 65 (with the second edition) of the publicly and easily accessible inland lakes in Grand Traverse (41) and Leelanau (24) Counties, the in-county pieces of the five rivers in these two counties, and ALL of their access points. This guide is for anyone accessing these rivers and lakes, especially boaters — anglers, canoeists, kayakers, other paddlers, and any recreational watercraft users.

Some of the details offered include:

  • For each river – location, description, length, paddle time, depth, width, difficulty, link to Google Maps, and more.

  • For each river section – length, paddle time, other details about that section, depth, link to Google Maps, and and shuttle roads.

  • For each lake – general location, general description, lake area, shoreline length, depth, inlets and outlets, link to DNR map (for some), link to Google Maps for the lake area, peninsulas, islands, and general surroundings.

  • Complete access details for ALL boat launches and access sites, including: type of access site and what 's offered at each, GPS coordinates, a link to Google Maps, and detailed road directions.

Also included are maps of the two counties showing the general location of all covered lakes and rivers, and the major roads around them. (For a more detailed map, see the Universal Map Michigan Northwest Regional Fold Map at Wayfair or do a Google search for "Universal Map Michigan Northwest Regional Fold Map".)

This book covers Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties. It’s intended as a complement to the A Guide to Benzie County Michigan Rivers, Lakes, and Creeks book, which covers 34 of that county's 58 inland lakes, 2 of its 4 rivers, and 5 of its many creeks — all the navigable and publicly accessible inland water in Benzie County.

Whatever kind of boating you do, you'll find this guide invaluable. Keep a copy in your boat, vehicle, or cottage for easy reference!



Availability...

This book is available at these fine establishments throughout the Benzie County area, as well as Glen Arbor, Leland, Northport, and Suttons Bay (Leelanau County) and Traverse City (Grand Traverse County)...

Benzonia
• Backcast Fly Shop

Beulah
• Benzie Conservation District
• Crystal Lake Adventure Sports

Frankfort

• Crystal Lake Adventure Sports
• Elizabeth Oliver Art Center
• Point Betsie Lighthouse Gift Shop
• The Book Store

Glen Arbor
• The Cottage Book Shop

Honor
• Riverside Canoe Trips
Lake Ann
• Lake Ann Grocery


Leland
• Leelanau Books


Northport
• Dog Ears Books

Suttons Bay
• Bay Books

Traverse City
• Horizon Books

You can also ask for it at your favorite bookstore — they can order it. Although you are very much encouraged to shop locally, should it be needed, this book is also available online at Amazon.

This book is also available at the following libraries:

  • Benzie County
    • Benzonia – Benzonia Public Library (A)
    • Beulah – Darcy Library (A)
    • Frankfort – Benzie Shores District Library (A)
    • Thompsonville – Betsie Valley District Library (A)

  • Grand Traverse County
    • Fife Lake – Fife Lake Public Library (A)
    • Kingsley – Kingsley Public Library (A)
    • Interlochen – Interlochen Public Library (A)
    • Old Mission Peninsula – Peninsula Community Library (A)
    • Traverse City
      • East Bay Branch Library (A)
      • Traverse Area District Library (A)

  • Leelanau County
    • Empire – Glen Lake Community Library (A)
    • Leland – Leland Township Library (A)
    • Northport – Leelanau Township Library (A)
    • Suttons Bay – Suttons Bay Bingham District Library (A)



Retailers...

If you're in the Benzie, Grand Traverse and/or Leelanau County area, please contact me for wholesale arrangements. If you're outside that area, the book is availabe via book distributors such as Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and NACSCORP. The details for the book are: "A Guide to the Rivers and Lakes of Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties, Michigan" by Jim Stamm — ISBN-13: 978-1512109115, ISBN-10: 1512109118.


Benzie County Rivers, Lakes, and Creeks

This book is intended as a complement to A Guide to Benzie County Michigan Rivers, Lakes, and Creeks book which covers 33 of that county's 58 inland lakes, 2 of its 4 rivers, and 5 of its many creeks — all the navigable and publicly accessible inland water in Benzie County.

More Rivers and Creeks

See the Northwestern Lower Michigan River Guide page for details about many rivers in northwestern lower Michigan, most within an hour of Traverse City.

More on Leelanau Rivers, Lakes, and its Lake Michigan Shoreline

For more about paddling Leelanau County's inland lakes, rivers, as well as its 100-mile-long Lake Michigan shoreline, see Leelanau by Kayak: Day Trips, Pics, Tips and Stories of a Beautiful Michigan Peninsula by Jon Constant and Larry Burns. It's a seriously excellent book. Jon did an wonderful job in many ways covering a lot of detail. It's very well written and easy to read. If you are going to kayak any of the shoreline of Leelanau County you MUST read this book first. Jon provides a lot of helpful detail for each trip as well as many fun and interesting historical tidbits about the area being paddled. The book is also filled with photographs showing off some of the splendor that is Leelanau County.

More Benzie

You might also appreciate the Benzie County Michigan Trail Guide book which provides the details for 25 trails for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the county.

More Kayaking

Technically-minded paddlers will appreciate The Savvy Paddler – A Guide to the Essentials of Recreational Kayaking book. It's a very practicaly guide covering all aspects of recreational kayaking.




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