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Houghton Lake

Michigan

45Listings$15K-$1.5M$18.1MTotal Value
Houghton Lake, Michigan

Houghton Lake real estate is a top ten market for lake homes and land in Michigan.

There are typically around 40 lake homes for sale on Houghton Lake, and around 20 lots and land listings available.

This lake is one of Michigan's largest lakes and has 32 miles of shoreline. The closest major airport, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, is 200 miles away.

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About Houghton Lake

Located in Roscommon County, Michigan

Houghton Lake is located between US-127 and Interstate 75 in the northern peninsula of Michigan. It is less than three hours from Detroit and is one of the largest natural lakes in the U.S.

Houghton Lake is 4.5 miles wide and 7.5 miles long. The lake has approximately 32 miles of shoreline and a lake-area population of about 11,000 people. Houghton Lake is named for the state's first geologist, Douglass Houghton, who explored the area from 1832 to 1837.

The Cut River brings water from Higgins Lake to the north of Houghton Lake and is the lake's primary inflow. Houghton Lake is Michigan's largest inland lake. Its surface area is 20,044 acres, and it is the source of the Muskegon River, a river that eventually flows into Lake Michigan.

Several hospitals and medical facilities are in the area, including Grayling Hospital (a 28-minute drive) and Michigan Medical Center Clare (a 36-minute drive). The nearest airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, which offers commercial flights all year long.

Houghton Lake

Houghton Lake supports various water sports in all seasons, and the lake is so large it never gets crowded. In the summertime, popular activities include boating, jet skiing, hiking, camping, golfing, and canoeing. Winter activities include snowmobiling, cross country skiing, hunting, and snowshoeing.

Fishing is one of Houghton Lake's most popular pastimes. The lake is considered one of the most popular fisheries in Michigan. It offers black bass, crappie, grayling, largemouth bass, Northern pike, perch, pike, walleye, and yellow perch for anglers to catch. In the winter, ice fishing is a huge sport on the lake.

Houghton Lake hosts the 7th largest winter festival in the U.S. the last two weekends every January. The festival began in 1951 and is called Tip-Up Town USA. The name of the festival comes from the flag-like devices, or the "tip-ups", used for ice fishing contests, which are a major part of the festival.

Besides fishing, the festival hosts several winter sports and games, a parade, mock elections for Mayors, Marshalls, and Queens, fireworks, a hidden medallion to be found with different clues given each day, and grand prize drawings.

What’s Nearby?

Three towns border the lake, Houghton Lake and Houghton Lake Heights to the southwest, and Prudenville to the southeast. A historic village in Prudenville includes a historic schoolroom built in 1876, a 19th-century pioneer village, a museum, a playhouse, and a wooded nature area.

The Houghton Lake Flats lay on the west edge of the lake and are 670 acres of marshy wetlands that were once connected to the lake. It is a prime wildlife area and there is an observation deck located on Old US-27 where nature lovers can view osprey and heron.

Enjoy Your Surroundings

Houghton Lake is a beautiful, popular getaway that you and your family will enjoy for years to come!

Lake Overview

  • 32mi. of Shoreline
  • 8ft. Avg. Depth
  • 22ft. Deepest Depth
  • Shoreline Borders
    State Park (Some)
  • Year Built
    1926
  • Managed By Roscommon County
  • Water Drops
    1 ft
  • Ownership
    Public
  • Acreage
    20,044
  • Public Boat Ramps
    3
  • Water Level
    Seasonal Full Pool
  • Schedule
    April-November

Information

  • Counties: Roscommon County
  • Condos available (Yes)
  • Notable events: Come Catch Us If You Can Fishing Contest, Tip-Up Town USA, Historic Village Days, Hubs & Pubs Pumpkin Run
  • Interesting facts: The deepest spot in Houghton Lake is a small hole in the East Bay that has been found to only be 22 feet deep.
  • Known for: Houghton Lake is the largest inland lake in the state of Michigan and one of the largest natural inland lakes in the United States.
  • History: The community around Houghton Lake began to develop when the lumbering industry in Michigan was booming and was settled in the year 1873.
  • Landmarks: Houghton Lake lies at an elevation approximately 4 feet higher than the lake should be naturally. Because of that, seawalls have been constructed around most of the lake.

Restrictions

  • Permit is not required to use the lake.
  • Jet skis are allowed.
  • Motorized boats are allowed.
  • Houseboats are not allowed.
  • Boating restrictions (No).
  • Dock restrictions (Yes). -- Limits and governs the use of docks at the ends of public streets, leading to lakes in the Township of Roscommon and to regulate parking on streets approaching such docks (See http://www.roscommontownship.com/uploads/2/5/8/4/25845465/dock_ordinance_18.pdf)

Amenities

Marinas
Brian's Lakeside Marine Inc.
(989) 422-6720
8320 W Houghton Lake Drive
Houghton Lake, MI 48629
Lapham's Marina LLC
(989) 366-7763
157 Marina Street
Houghton Lake, MI 48629
Golf Courses
(989) 275-0700
6376 Forest Dunes Drive
Roscommon, MI 48653
Private
(989) 366-7726
4761 West Houghton Lake Drive
Houghton Lake, MI 48629
Private
(989) 422-4516
119 Questview Drive
Houghton Lake, MI 48629
Public
(989) 366-5812
1309 Bright Angel Drive
Prudenville, MI 48651
Public
Campgrounds
(989) 422-3931
370 Cloverleaf Lane
Houghton Lake, MI 48629
Poplars Resort and Camping
(989) 422-5132
10360 West Shore Drive
Houghton Lake, MI 48629
(989) 422-5130
9371 W Houghton Lake Drive
Houghton Lake, MI 48629

Nearby

Hospitals
(989) 348-5461
1100 E Michigan Avenue
Grayling, MI 49738
Airports
Detroit Metropolitan Airport
9000 Middlebelt Road, Detroit, MI 48242
200 miles away
Roscommon County Blodgett Memorial Airport
5218 E Houghton Lake Drive Houghton Lake, MI 48629
1 miles away