Silver Lake - Traverse City

Short Drive From Grand Rapids and Midland

Silver Lake is located in northwestern Michigan near Traverse City. The lake is also conveniently situated within two hours of Grand Rapids and Midland.

The Cherry Capital Airport is under 15 miles away, and the Munson Medical Center is under 10 miles away for easy travel and medical care.

The Second-Largest Lake in the County

Formed by glaciers, Silver Lake reaches a maximum depth of nearly 100 feet. The natural water body covers 600 acres and has 9.4 miles of shoreline.

Silver Lake is known for being the second-largest lake in Grand Traverse County and for its near-perfect water quality.

Beautiful Water, Great Fishing, and Sandy Beaches

With its deep, cool waters surrounded by pine trees and dotted with several islands, Silver Lake is a place of breathtaking views.

Fishing on Silver Lake is a local favorite. It is especially known for its great sport fishing, populated with hearty schools of largemouth bass and northern pike.

Each year for the Fourth of July, the Silver Lake Improvement Association hosts a lake-wide boat regatta, during which decorated boats compete for a variety of prizes.

The Association also launches a giant beach ball onto the lake the last week of June. The ball is anchored across various points on Silver Lake through July 4th.

Around the Water

Off the water, lake-loving locals and visitors alike enjoy soaking up the sun along Silver Lake's warm, sandy beaches.

The lake is also home to the Silver Lake Recreation area. This 84-acre park welcomes patrons to its tennis courts, ball fields, nature trails, and open picnic spaces.

Explore Traverse City

Nearby Traverse City has plenty of activities and sights to keep the whole family entertained.

Wine enthusiasts will love being in Traverse Wine Coast, featuring about 40 different wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms. If breweries are more your style, CNN Money listed the city among America’s Best Beer Towns.

Depending on the season, there are exciting outdoor activities to partake in. When it's warm, visitors and residents enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, golfing, swimming, and sailing. In the colder months, try fat biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, snow tubing, ice skating, and ice fishing!

Besides the beautiful water and plentiful activities, community members and tourists from across the county flock to the region for its annual National Cherry Festival. This festival typically draws around 500,000 people from all around the country to attend airshows, a classic car cruise, tournaments, and a live concert.

Lake Life at its Best

If you are looking for the perfect weekend getaway, a retirement home, or waterfront property, Silver Lake is one of the best lakes Michigan has to offer.