About Lake St Clair

The Lake Between the Great Lakes

Lake St. Clair is the smallest of the Great Lakes, covering a total surface area of approximately 430 square miles. It is located between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario with Lake Erie to its south and Lake Huron to its north.

Lake St. Clair connects Lake Erie to Lake Huron, from the Detroit River on the south end and the St. Clair River on the north end of the lake.

 

Not Only a Lake, an Important Shipping Channel

Lake St. Clair is very shallow for its size, averaging only 11 feet deep in most locations. The lake had a maximum natural depth of 21.3 feet, however it now has been dredged to have a 27 foot deep navigation channel for lake freighter passage.

Government agencies on both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the lake have maintained this deep shipping channel for more than a century. Lake St. Clair has served as an invaluable waterway for generations and continues to do so today.

Known for Incredible Biodiversity

For people that love hunting, Lake Saint Clair provides plenty of opportunities with impressive deer and duck seasons. Due to the unique geography of the lake, the environment allows for wildlife to flourish.

The best ways to experience this vast biodiversity is by visiting the St. Clair Flats area of the lake.The Flats are bird watcher's paradise and also is home to 39 species of amphibians and reptiles and 15 species of mammals.

Michigan's Department of Natural Resources manages the Wildlife area in the flats which includes: St. Johns Marsh Wildlife Area, Harsens Island Wildlife Area, and Algonac State Park.

The Western Shore

Lake St. Clair's western shore is lined with industry and affluent suburban communities right outside of downtown Detroit. Public access to the lake is restricted in these private residential areas.

Located 16 miles north of Detroit, is Metro Beach,a popular 770-acre public beach that is part of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks system. Metro Beach includes a sandy beach along the lake's shore, a swimming pool with two water slides, a "Squirt Zone" for children, fitness trails, a nature study area, and an 18-hole golf course.

Lake St. Clair Has It All

Lake St. Clair sits in a geographical region which has four seasons, so it is in operation year-round with fun for all 24/7. The lake is warm in the summer and normally has 100% ice-cover in the winter.

Species of fish in Lake St. Clair are as diverse as the other elements of the area. Michigan's Department of Natural Resources reports the lake has more than 70 species of fish currently including: muskellunge, walleye, yellow perch, northern pike and smallmouth bass, black bass, and perch.Throughout the year there are numerous fishing tournaments held as well as fishing festivals, including ice fishing.

In 2011, the Lake St. Clair Tourism Initiative launched the Circle the Lake Tour campaign which that highlights the top 50 lake area destinations. Some of these include the Detroit River's Ambassador Bridge and the St. Clair River's Blue Water Bridge. The self-guided tour's destinations are reachable by boat or car.

Lake St. Clair also offers numerous golf courses, beaches, historical lighthouses, antique boat shows, and kite board rentals. Popular activities in the winter are ice fishing and ice skating.

Lake St. Clair has a wide range in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Fahrenheit in the coldest month of February to near 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the hottest month of July. With such a wide range of seasons and activities, Lake St. Clair truly has it all and is the perfect place to call home!

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