The 12 Best Islands in the Great Lakes for Boating, Camping, and More! – Tale Of Travels

The five Great Lakes are very popular tourist and vacation destinations. Not only can visitors enjoy the many coastal activities, but they can also visit the best islands in the Great Lakes. There are at least 35,000 islands in these five lakes. Although the Great Lakes are freshwater lakes, they share many characteristics with inland seas. They are massive, interlocked, and have a diverse ecology with unique wildlife and plants.

It’s hard to decide which of these 35,000 Great Lakes islands is best to visit. Lucky for you, we’ve broken it down by picking the best islands in the Great Lakes for boating, camping, and more!

1. Beaver Island

Beaver Island is the largest island in Lake Michigan, covering 55.8 square miles. This island has a rich history. Immigrants first settled in the 19th century, creating a refuge for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The island even crowned a king. Despite this interesting start, Beaver Island has a massive fishing, camping, and lodging tourism industry. To get to the island, visitors must take the Beaver Island Ferry. Not everyone is interested in fishing, but you can also enjoy the natural beauty of the island’s hiking trails. Due to the lack of pollution and lighting, you can clearly see the starry sky at night. You’ll easily see why this is one of the best islands in the Great Lakes.

2. South Bass Island

South Bass Island is a stunning island with lots of family activities. A huge state park sits atop high white cliffs. Visitors can enjoy the 3.7-mile island in Lake Erie, Ohio. Although small, it is the third largest island in Lake Erie. This unique island is nicknamed “Key West” of Lake Erie. You can shop, walk, hike, camp, fish, and kayak on the island. Put-in-Bay is the only community on South Bass Island and the lake’s party capital. Walleye and perch are common in the shallow waters near the island. You can also stop and see beautiful sights like Marblehead Lighthouse.

3. Summer Island

Summer Island is not the most popular island, but it is a hidden gem in Lake Michigan. This island sits at an elevation of 689 feet with its highest peak reaching 710 feet above sea level. Most of the island is part of the Lake Superior State Forest. Not only is it a beautiful sight with plenty to do, but it is also home to an archaeological wonder that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Summer Island Site. The clear and cool water invites you to swim. You can also enjoy Summer Island’s rocky shores and limestone cliffs.

4. Middle Bass Island

Middle Bass Island is one of the most visited islands in Lake Erie, Ohio. It’s part of a cluster of bass islands, with this one right in the middle. It has a remarkable shape like the big dipper, and many tourists like to visit it for its calm and serene nature. When Middle Bass Island was first discovered by the French, it was nicknamed the Island of Flowers due to the large and colorful wildflowers that grew throughout the island. However, German immigrants acquired the island for wine growing and founded the Golden Eagle Winery. Today the island belongs to the state of Ohio. They have declared large parts of the island to be a natural paradise, Middle Bass Island State Park.

5. Pig Island

Hog Island is one of the smaller islands in Lake Michigan, but it is the fourth largest island in the Beaver Island archipelago. It is 4 miles long and right next to Garden Island, another popular Lake Michigan vacation destination. You can enjoy the low and swampy terrain for a few nights camping. There are many yellow bass and smallmouth bass in the water. If you don’t feel like fishing, you can also bird watch and see if you can spot the endangered Common Tern.

6. Fish Island

Fish Island is a fisherman’s paradise. It got its name because of the large trout population near the island. It’s a thin island that looks like a line from the air. The terrain is rocky with sandy beaches. Just a short trip away is a fishing sandbar with an abundance of wildlife. In addition to fishing, Fish Island offers hiking, bird watching, stargazing, and more. It’s often overlooked by other nearby islands, making it one of the best islands in the Great Lakes if you’re looking for peace and quiet time to yourself.

7. Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island is an interesting island in Lake Huron on the border with Ontario, Canada. Fun fact, it’s the largest sea island in the world! Within this 1,068 square mile lake are at least 100 smaller inland lakes. It is an ancient island with a rich history. Archaeologists have found evidence of cultures that lived on the island between 10,000 and 2,000 BC. lived. In fact, the island is so massive that it has 108 freshwater lakes perfect for swimming, fishing, and kayaking. The many hiking trails allow you to see the stunning deep blue water and the rocky white cliffs. Thousands of visitors travel to Manitoulin Island annually for the Haweater Festival in August.

8. Turtle Island

Turtle Island is located on Lake Erie between Ohio and Michigan. It’s a delightful island with a large population of seagulls. Before the European settlers, the Miami tribe lived on the island and hunted for gull eggs. Turtle Island is now privately owned, with the remains of several historic buildings. Visitors can view the remains from a boat, including the abandoned Turtle Island lighthouse. Though it’s restricted, locals recommend at least viewing the odd private island from afar. Some people were lucky and got permission from the owner to explore the “lost” island.

9. Isle Royale

It would be impossible to make a list of the best islands in the Great Lakes without mentioning Isle Royale. This island is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Lakes due to its natural beauty and size. It’s for the more adventurous and includes zip-lining courses, fishing piers and stunning locations on a trail. There are huge and vibrant pine trees that line the island, providing shade for backpacking and camping. Isle Royale is also part of Michigan’s only national park, Isle Royale National Park.

10. Devil’s Island

Devils Island is a very popular and crowded island in Lake Superior. It is known for its tall lighthouse and interesting rock cave formations on its north shore. Kayakers and swimmers frequently visit these caves. The rocks are sandy red in color, perfect for clear photos. When the weather is rough it can be dangerous to go into the caves as the thick waves break inside. When visitors tire of kayaking and swimming in the refreshing waters, they can also hike the many trails on the island. Some of these paths lead to an old limestone engine house and the lighthouse.

11. Kelleys Island

Boredom is almost impossible on Kelleys Island. There is much to discover on the island with its many parks, gardens and hiking trails. Kelleys Island on Lake Erie is a 4.41 square mile lake and village. Most of the island consists of limestone and dolomite from the Pleistocene. While the island receives many guests, most of the island is forested. Diving is allowed and you might even be lucky enough to see one of the 50 shipwrecks that surround the island. Many species of fish and freshwater eels have made their home among the shipwrecks.

12. In front of the island

Last but not least we have Pelee Island. This turquoise and bright forest green island is located in Lake Erie in Ontario, Canada. It is an agricultural island with dozens of different products such as wheat, soy, grapes and corn. This island has been occupied for at least 10,000 years, first by the indigenous people, but in the late 17th century European settlers established communities on the island. Now in the 21st century, thousands of tourists visit Pelee Island annually to enjoy the endless opportunities for swimming, bird watching, camping, hiking and annual festivals like the Annual Springsong Weekend.

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