Notable lake · Crawford, Michigan
Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a lake in Crawford, 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: 44.79254, -84.62056. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Bear Lake
- Hartwick Pines State Park · sanctuary · Crawford · ~9 km · Must-see
- Heart Lake · lake · Otsego · ~16 km · Must-see
- Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge · sanctuary · Otsego · ~19 km · Must-see
- Otsego Lake State Park · lake · Otsego · ~21 km · Must-see
- Otsego Lake · lake · Otsego · ~22 km · Must-see
- Lake Margrethe · lake · Crawford · ~26 km · Must-see
- Bear Lake · lake · Kalkaska · ~33 km · Must-see
- Starvation Lake · lake · Kalkaska · ~33 km · Must-see
- Tea Lake · lake · Oscoda · ~33 km · Must-see
- Saint Mary Cathedral · church · Otsego · ~34 km · Must-see
- North Higgins Lake State Park · lake · Crawford · ~41 km · Must-see
- Lake Five · lake · Kalkaska · ~44 km · Must-see
- Higgins Lake · lake · Roscommon · ~46 km · Must-see
- South Higgins Lake State Park · lake · Roscommon · ~51 km · Must-see
- Marl Lake · lake · Roscommon · ~51 km · Must-see
- Mio Dam · lake · Oscoda · ~52 km · Must-see
- Thumb Lake · lake · Charlevoix · ~57 km · Must-see
- Houghton Lake Flats Flooding State Wildlife Management Area · lake · Roscommon · ~61 km · Must-see
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bear Lake
- Heart Lake · lake · Otsego · ~16 km · Must-see
- Otsego Lake State Park · lake · Otsego · ~21 km · Must-see
- Otsego Lake · lake · Otsego · ~22 km · Must-see
- Lake Margrethe · lake · Crawford · ~26 km · Must-see
- Bear Lake · lake · Kalkaska · ~33 km · Must-see
- Starvation Lake · lake · Kalkaska · ~33 km · Must-see
- Tea Lake · lake · Oscoda · ~33 km · Must-see
- North Higgins Lake State Park · lake · Crawford · ~41 km · Must-see
- Lake Five · lake · Kalkaska · ~44 km · Must-see
- Higgins Lake · lake · Roscommon · ~46 km · Must-see
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · © GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) · Overture Maps Foundation (CDLA-Permissive-2.0)
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: Hartwick Pines State Park (sanctuary, 9 km), Heart Lake (lake, 16 km), Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (sanctuary, 19 km), Otsego Lake State Park (lake, 21 km), Otsego Lake (lake, 22 km), Lake Margrethe (lake, 26 km).
Is Bear Lake worth visiting?
Bear Lake is listed as a notable lake in Michigan on Spotwander.