
Vacation rentals in Torch Lake
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Popular amenities for Torch Lake places to stay
Lake houses in Torch Lake

North Blue Lake Escape - A Waterfront Oasis

Beautiful Log Cabin on The Bay

Hygge Sunrise Lane

Private Dock! Easy Access to Famous Sand Bar!

Boona Vista | Lake Michigan Beach Front Cottage.

Beautiful Traverse City Lakehouse - pets allowed

Bayshore Waves | On Lake Michigan | Pet Friendly

Updated Cottage, walking distance to Torch Lake
Torch Lake houses

Howard's House, Central Lake, Michigan, 49622

New build - quiet cedar home nestled on river

Beach Front Home

Spacious Retreat near Torch Lake Sandbar

Seeblick Haus- Modern cabin with water views

Sun Bear Lakehouse - Lake Leelanau

The A-Frame at Finch Creek - Secluded w/ Hot Tub

Secluded Hide-A-Way Retreat
Torch Lake fishing houses

All Season Cottage on Manistee Lake -Pet Friendly!

Hot Tub & West Bay Waterfront - All Decked Out

Torch Lake House Central Lake

Lakeside Love: Beach & Hot Tub

Modern Courtyard Home Featuring Art + Light

Clam Cottage -Sleeps 8 - Close to Torch Lake

Moondance Shores

Hot Tub/Game Room/Pool Table/Lake Views!
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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