Bear Lake is an 1800 acre, sandy bottom, all sports lake in the heart of

Northern Michigan.  Only 4 hours from Detroit, 4.5 hours from Chicago, 6

hours from Indianapolis, and 2 hours from Grand Rapids, Bear Lake has

become a favorite vacation destination for thousands in the Midwest.  

Whether you are looking for golf, beaches, fishing, boating, swimming,

gambling, shopping, or just to relax and enjoy Northern Michigan, the Bear

Lake area has what you're looking for.  Bart's Bear Lake Lodge is located on Bear Lake's Southwest shore and provide quick access to all of the area's attractions.

About Bear Lake

Bear Lake pictured from the South shore

Golf

Bear Lake features many world-class golf courses

within 10 minutes of Bart's Bear Lake Lodge, including Arcadia Bluffs (ranked the #2 course in the Midwest and #10 public course in the U.S.), The Heathlands (featuring beautiful views of Portage Lake), Pinecroft (four star Golf Digest Places to Play overlooking Crystal Lake), Champion Hill (great views of Lake Michigan and Crystal Lake), Manistee National (featuring 36 holes by Jerry Matthews

within the Manistee National Forest), Crystal Mountain (36 hole golf and ski resort) and, conveniently located blocks from downtown, Bear Lake County Highlands.

For those who want to drive a bit further, there are dozens more courses available.  Within 45 minutes of Bear Lake are The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort (Jack Nicklaus designed), A-Ga-Ming, Cedar

River/Shanty Creek, High Pointe, The Wolverine, and Spruce Run, to name a few.  For more information on Northern Michigan golf, visit

www.golfnorthernmichigan.com.

The Heathlands

#12 at Arcadia Bluffs on the edge of Lake Michigan

#2 at Pinecroft overlooking Crystal Lake

#15 at Champion Hill

A-Ga-Ming

Manistee National

The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort

Beaches

Bear Lake is a sandy bottom all-sports lake, perfect for

wasting the day away on your private cottage dock or

floating in the lake.  Situated only five miles from Lake

Michigan, Bear Lake offers easy access to Pierport

Beach, one of the most secluded and unspoiled of all

Great Lakes beaches.  Only 30 minutes north you will

find the world-famous Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, featuring dunes hundreds of

feet high, miles of sandy beachfront,

hiking, swimming, and camping.  Fifteen minutes north

in Frankfort you will find the Pointe Betsie

Lighthouse and Pointe Betsie Beach.  Ten minutes to the south you will find the Portage Point Pier and beach along Lake Michigan in Onekema.

Pierport Beach

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Fishing

In Bear Lake you can catch Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Catfish, Bluegill, Sunfish, Rockbass, Crappie, and Perch.  In the Spring, Bear Lake is one of the best Walleye lakes in Michigan.  Check out Bart's Bear Lake Lodge Rates & Availability page for information on boat and motor rental.  Fishing licenses, supplies and bait are available in town at Hubbell's Bait on US-31 and at Bear Lake ACE

Hardware.  Click here to read the Michigan DNR Report about Bear Lake.

Lake Michigan fishing charters are available 8 miles away in Onekema.  We recommend spending a half day with Captain Kevin Hughes aboard the Sandpiper III.  You're likely to reel in enough Salmon and Lake Trout to feed the family for a month!   In Frankfort, try Northwest Michigan Charters.  And for the fly-fisherman, try a guided trip with certified guide Larry Raney at Schmidt

Outfitters.

Charter fishing on Lake Michigan

Gambling

The Little River Casino is just ten minutes south of Bear Lake.  You will find table

games like Blackjack, Craps, Caribbean Stud Poker, Crazy Stud Poker, Roullette,

Let It Ride, and 3-Card Poker, and hundreds of slots and video gaming.

The Little River Casino also has great live entertainment and has hosted acts like

Leann Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Tony Orlando, and Foreigner.

The casino also features a full service restaurant, night club, and 24-hour cafe.

Dining

In Bear Lake try the Bear Lake Bar for a great burger, The

Sunshine Cafe for coffee and breakfast, and Papa Bear's for

pizza and ice cream.  On Sunday mornings, try the Lions Club

pancake breakfast downtown.

For fine dining, visit The Sunset Grill at Arcadia Bluffs just five

minutes away or The Blue Slipper Bistro in Onekama.

Try The Cherry Hut in Beulah for the best cherry pie and cherry

products in the country.  For pizza, head to The Hungry Tummy in Beulah, The Blue Slipper Pizzeria and Bakery in Onekama or A. Papano's in Beulah.  For gourmet Mexican fare

and live music, try The Roadhouse in Benzonia.

Outdoor patio at The Roadhouse

The Cherry Hut

For Reservations Contact Crystal Vacation Rentals at (231) 864-4020 or email bartsbearlakelodge@yahoo.com

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For Reservations Contact Crystal Vacation Rentals at (231) 864-4020

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