Has has anyone ever taken their boat up to torch lake in Michigan? If so, what are your thoughts on the lake?

I’m no help but also interested. Plan to spend a week or so in the general area sometime.

I’ve been once. Beautiful lake. Water is unbelievably clear, but cold. Sand bar at south end of lake is cool hangout place. Think we put in at a ramp on north west side of lake. Try lunch at Dock Side Restaurant.

What do you want to know about it?

Been on my bucket list since I bought my boat...haven't been able to make it up there yet...have had a few buddies go and was informed the sandbar is awesome however not exactly kid friendly at times which doesn't matter to me and was told you can order food like door dash style and they bring it right to your boat which is b!tchin hahaha

AWESOME place
One of the family's first choices.
Late fall for warmer water.
Sandbar is a sight to see and hangout.
Idling down the river towards Elk Rapids is a nice trip too.
A lot of fun.
Enjoy

Marine Patrol can be a hassle, watch your drinking.

Depending on you

r overall length finding a boat ramp with available parking could be a problem.
My wife and wacko friends swim across Torch lake every year, wetsuits mandatory and we have escort boats. Usually done on a late summer Monday morning.

Torch is a bucket list lake, and generally considered in the top few most beautiful lakes in the world depending on which publication you're reading...I sent a shot to a friend in L.A. of us in his old boat on the water there, and when he saw the non-photoshopped pic he asked if we were in the Caribbean. It really is one of those "have to see it to believe it" places.

The sandbar can be entertaining. I haven't witnessed it, but I've heard the local law enforcement can be very hard on loud exhaust & I'm sure others will chime in with better info.

The Dock Side restaurant is cool, but we won't go by boat...we load up and go by land....the river is narrow, with a lot of current, complicated by rental captains on pontoons which may as well all be named "Dock Crasher"...we like our boat way too much to put up with all the drama.

As already mentioned, launching a bigger boat can be a challenge.

Torch is a beautiful lake & everyone should see it once....BUT.... we prefer Lake Charlevoix.

Lk Charlevoix has several marinas to stay on the boat if that's your thing, a party / raft up area at Oyster Bay, and Charlevoix, East Jordan, and Boyne City for shopping and bar / restaurant hopping. Ironton has a cool cable ferry, and right next door is "The Landing" which is similar to The Dockside on Torch. Lake Charlevoix has 2 "arms" and I've never been there when we couldn't find good water somewhere and as a bonus if Lake Mi is "friendly" you can get to the big lake and Bay Harbor (cool history look it up & Knot Just a Bar is also very cool), Petoskey, and Harbor Springs are all scattered around Little Traverse Bay. Just watch the weather and watch for nets in the bay.

Again...we love Torch; we've been there several times, I'm sure we'll go again at some point and I'd never talk anyone out of going...but we like CVX better.

Cheers

d

Cool, saving this thread. Need to make the pull up this summer. What should an out of towner pulling 35’ make for arrangements to stay? House on the lake?