Torch Lake

Tucked in the northwest corner of the Lower Peninsula, Michigan’s longest lake is a dramatic 18-mile glacial lake that, at first glance, appears to mimic the waters of the Caribbean. Its blue clay bottom and clear water are known for producing intense color variations, changing from emerald green to fiery gold to a deep turquoise. “Torch Lake is not pastoral, it is dramatic,” says Lynne Delling, a long-time resident of Torch Lake and a local Realtor. “It can kick up in five minutes and have big waves, or be flat as glass.”