General Tips & Information
This area was carved by glaciers — staying in deep water is generally easy. You'll typically cruise in 50–500 feet. When you're in less than 50 feet, pay close attention. On sunny days, water color is your friend: dark blue means deep, light blue/green means shallow. There's no excuse for running aground here.
Slip Reservations & Transient Dockage
Reserve state marina slips up to 6 months in advance at midnrreservations.com. Some marinas aren't on the state system — call ahead.
State-funded marinas typically hold about 20% of slips for transient traffic. To qualify as transient you generally need to be within sight of the marina. They rarely hold slips in advance.
- Call when you're ready to leave and ask about the odds of getting a slip
- Ask about day docks if you're only staying a few hours
- Offer to arrive after the fuel dock closes and pump/fuel first thing in the morning
Mooring Balls
GLSC maintains a few mooring balls in Omena Bay. Beyond those, never pick up a mooring ball unless you have explicit permission and know what's holding it.
Most mooring balls in this area are privately owned and may only be rated for a small dinghy with a cinderblock anchor. Hooking up will aggravate the owner — and your boat may drag away along with the ball.
Anchoring — General Principles
The ideal anchorage has a predictable, gradual sandy bottom at 10–20 feet with enough scope for the boat to swing a full circle at consistent depth.
Due to prevailing westerly winds, the west side of an anchorage is often better than the east — gradual sandy drop vs. a steep underwater dune. This doesn't apply everywhere, but it's a useful rule of thumb.
- Always check overnight wind forecasts before anchoring
- Use VHF Channel 2–6 for updated NOAA weather
- Factor in wrap-around winds when near a shoreline
- If exposed to winds over 15 knots from any direction — move
Leaving the Bay — Weather Warning
Always check the open lake forecast before leaving Grand Traverse Bay. A 20-knot SW wind produces 2–3 foot waves inside the bay and 5–6 foot waves outside. What takes 2–3 hours in moderate conditions can take 3–5 hours in headwinds — and there's no pulling over once you're out there.
Call the GLSC office anytime if you're debating conditions — we're always happy to help.
Grand Traverse Bay
The red buoys inside the basin mark a shallow area between the buoys and the breakwall. Leave these red buoys to port when departing (opposite of "red right returning" since you're leaving). There's plenty of depth around the green buoys and throughout the harbor — just don't go between the red buoys and the breakwall.
Generally deep and easy to navigate. Watch for sandbars extending from the southeast and southwest corners of West Bay — good anchor spots but not sailing spots.
A nature preserve with hiking trails, beaches, and camping. Approach only from the east, southeast, or south — the water gets very shallow fast (from 80 feet to 10–12 feet in a short distance).
The Green 7 buoy sits well off the southwest side of the island marking a shoal. Do not go between the Green 7 buoy and the island.
Bowers Harbor Marina is private but will accept transients — not consistently. Public access is available at the DNR launch ramp on the east side. You can beach a dinghy at the marina if dining at their restaurant. Restaurants, micro-brew, and wine tasting are all within easy reach.
Full-service marina, great restaurants, historic movie theater, boutique shopping, and good anchorage. Wine Festival and Blues Fest are popular annual events here.
Very scenic, quiet anchorage with a great beach and nearby hiking trails. No shore-side amenities. The Old Mission Light sits well off the land due to large rocks and shoals extending from the tip.
A welcoming, friendly marina — great beach, restaurants, and a library on an island. Use the range marker for approach — the channel is well marked with red and green buoys. Line yourself up from the north-northwest well before entering the dredged channel. Approaching at 90 degrees from east or west will result in running aground.
Full-service marina with haul-out facility and boatyard. Bellows Island is to the southeast — there's adequate depth between the island and the mainland, but this is also a gill net area.
When approaching from the north side of Bellows Island: Red Right Returning. Red buoys run east-west — do not go north of these buoys.
A hidden gem at the south end of Northport Bay. Sandy bottom, small public beach, and virtually no crowds. No shore-side amenities.
When approaching from the east, give a wide berth to the long shoal extending from the north end of the Omena peninsula.
Great restaurant and wine tasting room right on the waterfront — dinghy in only. Sandy bottom but drops off fast. South exposure.
Go West — Manitou Islands & Leelanau Coastline
This is the home of Sleeping Bear Dunes. It's a beautiful coastline but offers very little protection and few anchorage options. Always have a Plan B before committing to this zone. Double check the open lake forecast before departing Grand Traverse Bay.
No marinas. Anchorage only. Good when a south wind prevails overnight — but a bad place to be when wind shifts to the north. Exposed to north and west. Do not anchor here if winds exceed 15 knots from any direction other than east or southeast. South winds are questionable due to possible wrap-around swell.
A storybook harbor town with Carlson's Fisheries, wine festivals, a waterfall, and great dining. This is a harbor of refuge — they'll do everything possible to accommodate you in bad weather, even if it means rafting up to another boat.
The marina entrance opens to the south — entering in a strong south or southwest wind means the boat will roll and surf into the entrance. No good anchorage outside Leland unless conditions are calm overnight.
The only natural harbor in the Manitou Islands. Deep water anchorage — may require two anchors. Hiking trails, National Park ferry service, and shipwreck snorkeling on the south side. A great spot 7 out of 10 days.
Anchoring is not permitted. Reaching these islands consumes a good part of your sailing day and there's very little protection for overnight anchoring. Your time is better spent elsewhere. Some nice dunes and beaches on the west sides of both islands if conditions allow a day visit.
Go East — Charlevoix & Little Traverse Bay
On your way north you'll see a green buoy to the west of Fisherman's Island. Do not go between the green buoy and the island. Do not shave the coastline any closer than that buoy. The water may appear deep enough but large unpredictable boulders dot the area around the island. Day anchor only — Fisherman's State Park is on the mainland nearby.
The drawbridge opens on the hour and half hour, 6 AM to midnight. Current in the channel flows inland. The Charlevoix ferry operates through this channel — watch for it.
The custom is to let boats coming from Lake Michigan enter first. A better strategy than waiting in the channel: circle outside in Lake Michigan until a few minutes before opening, then head in and get in line.
Charlevoix Marina monitors VHF Channel 9 — not Channel 16. If told the marina is full, ask about a shoppers dock in the evening with an early morning departure.
14 miles from Charlevoix to Boyne City with 8–9 marinas and anchorages — your best option to get off Lake Michigan if weather is rough. Deep, clear water and easy navigation. Call the GLSC office for local suggestions anytime.
Stops include: Boyne City, East Jordan, Oyster Bay, Horton Bay, Somerset Pointe Marina, and The Landing. Northwest Marine and Irish Boat Shop on the lake are a 10-minute walk to Charlevoix village.
A high-end community with restaurants, shops, galleries, and golf right from the marina. Open to the public. Do not confuse the Bay Harbor Yacht Club (first marina you'll see) with the Bay Harbor Lake Marina — keep going to find the transient slips.
Excellent town with restaurants, parks, shops, galleries, and the historic Bay View district of Victorian homes. Great waterfront park and river hike from the marina. Use the city marina.
A perfect natural harbor and storybook town. Public and private marina options — Walstom's Marine, Irish Boat Shop, and the Harbor Springs Municipal Marina are all within walking distance of town. Great beach.
Go North — Beaver Island & the Straits
There's a lot of distance to cover in this zone and limited bail-out options if weather deteriorates. Ensure you have plenty of time and a solid weather window before heading north. Review the Island Clause in your charter procedures — service calls to remote islands take time.
Best staging points are Northport, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, or Bay Harbor — Charlevoix is closest. Check the extended weather forecast: you can get stuck on the island if conditions don't cooperate with your departure window.
"America's Emerald Isle" — rich history, quiet beaches, nature preserves, and seasonal events in the small town of St. James.
A quiet cove on the northeast side with sandy bottom and 15–20 feet of consistent depth. Nice beach with hiking trails leading to dunes on the west side. Best approach is from the south through the deep waters between High and Beaver Islands. Caution approaching from the north — numerous shoals. If approaching from the east (from St. James), follow the buoys.
Excellent overnight anchorage with a great cove. Hiking trails and a Native American burial ground. Shallow entrance — hazardous shoals and large rocks line the channel. Use caution when entering and leaving.
An often-overlooked stopover on the way to Mackinaw — just 11 miles west of the bridge. Historic lighthouse on the island. Natural harbor with good protection. Check your charts carefully on the approach and be mindful of overnight wind shifts.
Winds in the straits funnel and strengthen significantly. A strong southwest wind coming up Lake Michigan will hug the shoreline in the straits and intensify, shifting to a strong west wind. This makes for a great downwind run toward Mackinac Island — but if you're heading west out of the straits, expect on-the-nose winds and steep waves.
Marina reservations open 6 months in advance — book early. Fender up well in the slip; the ferries throw a significant wake throughout the day. Note: it's spelled "Mackinac" but pronounced "Mackinaw."
Mackinaw City Marina and Mackinaw State Marina — both good options with no significant navigational hazards. Anchorage along the beach on the south side of the straits, but only in very light winds — Straits weather can change rapidly. Stay well clear of Mackinac Island ferries.
A good alternative if Mackinac Island is booked — large marina, often has space. Do not anchor out due to ferry traffic.
Private club about a mile east of Cheboygan, tucked into Duncan Bay. Very welcoming to transient visitors — great A-frame clubhouse, pool, and excellent staff. Mind the buoys marking the entrance into Duncan Bay from the straits and the entrance into the club itself — both approaches can be shallow.
An archipelago of 36 islands with two small marina towns — Hessel and Cedarville. Recently dredged. Most islands are privately owned, but Government Island is a public nature preserve. The area keeps going and going — a world of its own beyond the Straits.