The Guide to Northwest Michigan
Provided by the Petoskey News-Review
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From boating the Inland Waterway that connects Crooked Lake to points beyond and cruising the basin of Little Traverse Bay from Harbor Point along the shoreline to Bay Harbor, boaters get their motors running on the many lakes and rivers throughout the North. The Pine River Channel in Charlevoix (pictured) takes hundreds of boaters from Round Lake to Lake Michigan for more adventures, while inland lakes like Walloon, Lake Charlevoix and Burt Lake offer the perfect conditions for families, watersking and simply sightseeing on a gorgeous summer day.
Boat Ramps:
Cheboygan County Marina, Cheboygan River, 1080 North Huron St.
Cheboygan Dam, Cheboygan River, East Lincoln Avenue.
Aloha State Park, Mullett Lake, seven miles south of Cheboygan off M-33.
Mullett Lake Village, Mullett Lake, one mile northeast of Mullett Lake.
Jewell Road, Mullett Lake, two miles southwest of Aloha.
Burt Lake State Park, Burt Lake, one mile southwest of Indian River.
Maple Bay State Forest, Burt Lake, four miles east of Brutus.
Little Traverse Township, Crooked Lake, Conway on U.S. 31.
Waterway ports:
Alanson • Mullett Lake • Cheboygan River
Burt Lake • Cheboygan
Indian River • Lake Huron
Note: Previous boating experience suggested.
Dockmasters:
Bay Harbor 439-2544
Boyne City 582-7361
Charlevoix 547-3272
East Jordan 536-2166
Harbor Springs 526-5355
Mackinaw City 436-5269
Mackinac Island (906) 847-3561
Petoskey 347-6691
Boat Rentals and Repairs:
Bear Cove Marina, Petoskey 347-1994
Beaver Island Marine, Beaver Island 448-2300
Bergmann Marine, Charlevoix 547-3957
The Boat Doctor, Inc., Indian River 238-6700
Boat Works of Charlevoix, 547-2287
Boyne Recreational Rentals, Boyne Falls 549-3077
Burt Lake Marina, Indian River 238-8265
C&E Marine Service, Boyne City 582-2187
Crooked River Marina and Performance Boats, Alanson 548-2215
Dee Z’s Recreational Rentals, Petoskey 487-9579
Eagle Marine Service, Boyne City 582-5230
Four Seasons Marina, East Jordan 536-7321
Grand Bay Marine, Charlevoix 237-5000
Indian River Marina & Sales, Indian River 238-9373
Indian River Collision, Indian River 238-9355
Irish Boat Shop, Charlevoix 547-9967, Harbor Springs 526-6225
Kantola Marine Service, Charlevoix 547-1986
KLH Marine & Machine, Alanson 548-5802
The Marine Shoppe, Indian River 238-4300
Lake & Sea Marine, Indian River 238-9942
Lake Michigan Yacht Sales, Bay Harbor 439-2675
Mobile Marine Service, East Jordan 536-2872
Northern Lakes Marine, Indian River 238-9818
Ryde Marine, Ponshewaing 347-8273
Spanky’s Jet Ski & Pontoon Rental, Alanson 548-4800
Summertime Rentals, 231-590-1471
Sunburst Marine, Boyne City 582-5239
Swan Valley Marina, East Jordan 536-2672
Traverse Bay Marine, Petoskey 348-1100
Triton Marine, Walloon Lake 535-2106
Two Loons Lagoon, Alanson 548-5802
Walstrom Marine, Inc., Harbor Springs 526-2141
Ward Bros. Boats, Inc., Charlevoix 547-2371
Windjammer Marina, Oden 347-6103
The Inland Waterway:
Picturesque riverfront homes and glimpses of native wildlife and scenic beauty line much of the Inland Waterway, which stretches from Crooked Lake across the tip of Michigan’s mitt to Lake Huron.
The chain of lakes and rivers starts in Pickerel and Crooked lakes and winds more than 45 miles to Lake Huron through two locks, four large lakes — Pickerel Lake, Crooked Lake, Burt Lake and Mullett Lake — and along the Crooked River, Indian River and Cheboygan River.
Navigational Note: Water flows from Crooked Lake to the Cheboygan River and into Lake Huron. Keep the red channel markers to your close right when going “upstream,” and the green channel markers to your close right when going “downstream.”
Crooked, Cheboygan rivers' lock schedules
Crooked River:
• Memorial Day weekend, starting May 24, through June 30, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• July 1-Aug. 17, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Aug. 18-Sept.1, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Sept. 2-14, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Sept. 15-30, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Oct. 4-5 and Oct.11-12, 9-11 a.m. and 3-5 p.m.
The locks will close for the season at 5 p.m. Oct.15.
Fees for the lock are $6 for recreation craft, $8 for commercial craft and $45 for a season pass.
For more info call the Petoskey State Park, 347-2311.
Cheboygan River:
• May 1-22, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and/or 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays
• Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
• May 27-June 14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• June 15-July 31, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Aug. 1-Sept. 1, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Sept. 2-14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Sept. 15-Oct. 20, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and/or 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
The locks will close for the season 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20.
Fees for the lock are $6 for recreation craft, $12 for commercial craft, and $45 for a season pass.
Boaters may call the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Cheboygan field office at (231) 627-9011 for more info.
Canoe/Kayak Rental:
Bahnhof Sport, Petoskey 800-253-7078
Bear River Canoe Livery, Petoskey 347-9038
Big Bear Adventures, Indian River 238-8181
Canoe Hut at Ryde Marine, Oden 348-7040
Jordan Valley Outfitters, East Jordan 536-0006
The Outfitter, Harbor Springs 526-2621
Outside Edge, Boyne City 582-4648
Swiss Hideaway Inc., East Jordan 536-2341
