Notable lake · Chippewa, Michigan
Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a lake in Chippewa, Michigan.
Bear Lake: crowds and conditions
Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.
Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.
Best time to visit Bear Lake
Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.
Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.
Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.
Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.
How to reach Bear Lake — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: 45.95860, -83.80657. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Bear Lake
- Fort Drummond Marine & Resort · fort · Chippewa · ~6 km · Must-see
- De Tour Passage Underwater Preserve · sanctuary · Michigan · ~9 km · Must-see
- DeTour Reef Lighthouse · beach · Michigan · ~9 km · Must-see
- Pipe Island Lighthouse · beach · Michigan · ~12 km · Must-see
- Saint Joseph's Island Bird Sanctuary · sanctuary · Michigan · ~20 km · Must-see
- Lime Island State Recreation Area · sanctuary · Chippewa · ~25 km · Must-see
- Round Island (St. Mary's River) Lighthouse · beach · Chippewa · ~29 km · Must-see
- Martin Reef Lighthouse · beach · Michigan · ~34 km · Must-see
- Munuscong Lake Nature Sanctuary · lake · Chippewa · ~47 km · Must-see
- Copper Island · river spot · Northeastern Ontario · ~52 km · Must-see
- Poe Reef Lighthouse · beach · Michigan · ~65 km · Must-see
- Forty Mile Point Light · viewpoint · Presque Isle · ~66 km · Must-see
- P.H. Hoeft State Park · park · Presque Isle · ~69 km · Must-see
- Bois Blanc Island · river spot · Mackinac · ~70 km · Must-see
- Fourteen Foot Shoal Lighthouse · fort · Michigan · ~72 km · Must-see
- Cheboygan State Park · park · Cheboygan · ~73 km · Must-see
- Duncan Bay Boat Club · lake · Cheboygan · ~75 km · Must-see
- Kempaien Lake · lake · Chippewa · ~1 km
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bear Lake
- Munuscong Lake Nature Sanctuary · lake · Chippewa · ~47 km · Must-see
- Duncan Bay Boat Club · lake · Cheboygan · ~75 km · Must-see
- Lake George · lake · Chippewa · ~75 km · Must-see
- Black Lake · lake · Cheboygan · ~82 km · Must-see
- Canoe Lake · lake · Northeastern Ontario · ~87 km · Must-see
- Little Lake George · lake · Northeastern Ontario · ~89 km · Must-see
- Chain Lake · lake · Mackinac · ~92 km · Must-see
- Sault Canal Emergency Swing Dam · lake · Northeastern Ontario · ~94 km · Must-see
- Lake Michigan–Huron · lake · Michigan · ~94 km · Must-see
- Mullett Lake · lake · Cheboygan · ~94 km · Must-see
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · © GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
Frequently asked
Is Bear Lake full? Are the gates open?
No visitor has reported the water level status for Bear Lake yet. Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Busiest: Weekends and long holidays.
What is the best time to visit Bear Lake?
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open. Moderate; weekends busier.
What are the places to visit near Bear Lake?
Nearby: Fort Drummond Marine & Resort (fort, 6 km), De Tour Passage Underwater Preserve (sanctuary, 9 km), DeTour Reef Lighthouse (beach, 9 km), Pipe Island Lighthouse (beach, 12 km), Saint Joseph's Island Bird Sanctuary (sanctuary, 20 km), Lime Island State Recreation Area (sanctuary, 25 km).
Is Bear Lake worth visiting?
Bear Lake is listed as a notable lake in Michigan on Spotwander.