Perch Lake is a lovely, quiet 40-acre lake in Michigan’s Northwest Region. Located in Grand Traverse County, it is only about 20 miles from Traverse City. The lake’s shores are lined with mature trees and dotted with small sandy beaches, perfect for family picnics, swimming, canoeing, or exploring in a kayak. Fishing is popular year-round; there is ice fishing in the winter, and in the summer you can see fishing boats any time of the day, with anglers looking for bluegill, pike, perch, and bass. No motor boats are permitted on the lake, keeping the lake quiet and natural. Perch Lake is completely surrounded by the 330,000-acre Traverse City State Forest, a paradise for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. The forest includes the Seven Bridges Natural Area, created around the Rapid River's charming wooden bridges. The Forest also includes the 3,300-acre Skemog Swamp Wildlife Area.

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