Connected to Lake Michigan by a channel, Portage Lake was originally settled by workers at the local saw mill. As the business grew, many Midwestern lumber barons built luxury homes along the lake shore, and fancy resorts started cropping up. Many artesian mineral springs in the area were believed to be good for the health, adding to the attraction. Some of those resorts have been renovated and are still around. One resort had a deep-water marina for large Great Lakes steamers. There are a couple of shipwrecks at the bottom of Portage Lake attracting curious divers. The oldest sailing club on the lake was the Onekama Sailing Club, which operated from 1896 to 1910. There are two public boat launches on the lake, one owned and operated by the Michigan Department of Natural and the other owned by the Village of Onekama in town. Annual bass tournaments on the lake are very popular, and so is ice fishing in the winter.

Plan Your Trip

Get Ready to Go!

Need some more help?


Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.