Every Boat Ramp on Crystal Lake

About Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake lives up to its name with remarkably clear water and a deep basin reaching 165 feet, making it one of the deepest inland lakes in Michigan. Located in Benzie County just minutes from Lake Michigan, this nearly 10,000-acre lake is a favorite of boaters who appreciate its clean, uncrowded waters and scenic surroundings of rolling hills and hardwood forests.

The lake's deep, cold-water habitat supports a healthy lake trout population managed through stocking by the Michigan DNR. Smallmouth bass provide exciting action along the lake's gravel and rock shorelines, while yellow perch and rock bass are reliably caught in the shallower areas. The lake's history includes a famous 19th-century engineering disaster when an attempt to connect it to the Betsie River permanently lowered its water level by 20 feet.

Boat access is available through the public launch on the lake's north shore near Beulah, and additional access points along the shoreline. The charming village of Beulah sits at the east end of the lake and offers dining, shopping, and supplies. Crystal Lake's proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Lake Michigan port town of Frankfort makes it part of one of Michigan's most popular vacation regions.

Nearest towns: Beulah, Frankfort, Benzonia