Discover Black Lake, Michigan
Spanning 10,130 acres, Black Lake is the seventh-largest inland lake in Michigan. Home to prehistoric lake sturgeon, historic 1935 CCC stone architecture, crystal cobblestone shorelines, and legendary Northern Michigan fishing traditions.
Black Lake at a Glance
Geographic coordinates: 45°27′30″N 84°16′04″W • Surface elevation 610 ft (190 m)
The Heart of the Black River Watershed
Resting gracefully across the boundary of Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties in Northeast Lower Michigan, Black Lake serves as the crowning reservoir of the expansive Black River watershed. Water flows out from the lake’s northwest end through the Lower Black River, merging into the Cheboygan River before emptying into the deep waters of Lake Huron.
The lake is beloved across generations: Detroit-area families make annual summer pilgrimages, anglers visit in every season, and the neighboring community of Onaway treasures it as the center of local outdoor life. Its combination of broad, sandy shallows for safe swimming and a central 50-foot trench provides the perfect habitat for both warm-water game fish and cold-water species.
Sandy Cobblestones & Ancient Pine Ridges
Carved by glacial movements over 10,000 years ago, Black Lake features a uniquely gradual lakebed gradient along its south and east shores. Waders can walk out hundreds of feet over smooth sand and glacially-deposited cobblestones before reaching deeper drop-offs.
The Black Lake Association
Founded more than a century ago in 1920, the Black Lake Association champions water quality, monitors lake vital statistics, preserves native sturgeon and walleye fisheries, and keeps riparian owners engaged with environmental stewardship.
The 17-Minute Sturgeon Spearing Season
Black Lake hosts one of the most unique and strictly conserved fishing traditions on Earth: the winter lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) ice-spearing season.
The Strict Lottery Quota
To protect this ancient, slow-maturing species, the Michigan DNR caps total harvest at just six fish per winter (minimum 36 inches in length). Each day, registered anglers enter an official lottery for 25 active fishing slots.
The Red Flag Signal
Spearing occurs through large rectangular holes cut into the ice inside dark shanties. When an angler successfully spears an eligible sturgeon, they raise an official red flag over their shanty. Once five flags are raised, the season instantly closes for the year.
Spring Spawning Runs
In May and June, mature sturgeon migrate upstream into the Upper Black River to spawn over shallow rock beds. Volunteers with Sturgeon for Tomorrow patrol the riverbanks day and night to guard the spawning fish.
A Storied Past: Lumber, Limestone & Resilience
Long before summer cottages dotted the perimeter, Black Lake was an industrious hub of timber extraction and limestone quarrying. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, virgin white pines were floated across the lake and down the Black River to regional mills.
Historic Limestone Quarry
On the southern shore of Black Lake, the weathered footings and cut-stone remains of an abandoned early 1900s limestone quarry remain visible, marking the region's mineral heritage.
The October 17, 2007 EF1 Tornado
During the historic October 2007 tornado outbreak across the Great Lakes, an EF1 tornado touched down on Black Lake and stayed on the ground for 10 minutes. While barns and trees sustained damage, remarkably no lives were lost, demonstrating the community’s resilience.
Civilian Conservation Corps Architecture (1935)
During the Great Depression, CCC Camp Black Lake enrollees crafted Onaway State Park's iconic stone pavilion and caretaker quarters from locally sourced fieldstones and timber. The buildings are officially deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Year-Round Recreation on Black Lake
Every season offers a distinctive way to enjoy this 10,130-acre expanse:
Stay Right on Black Lake's Shoreline
Onaway State Park offers modern campsites, electrical hookups, sanitation facilities, and the historic stone pavilion just steps from the water. All reservations are handled directly through the official Michigan DNR reservation system.