Lake Ann, MI

Lake Ann State Forest Campground and boat launch are on Reynolds Rd about three and one half miles north from US 31/Honor Highway. The campground consists of a higher loop and a lower run of sites right on the lakeshore. The lakeside sites are frequently taken during weekends in summer, but there aren’t any bad sites since the nearby roads are not very busy and only an occasional car can be heard around the lake.

The best part of the Lake Ann area is the lake itself. Lake Ann has a few nice harbored areas that are frequently guarded from the wind and surrounded by nice forests and some cabins. The lake waters are incredibly clear and you can’t help but love seeing the underwater landscapes. The plants and seaweed grow nicely in the extremely clear water and you can almost lose your bearings if you get too caught up in looking down into the water; it’s like looking into another world.

I have kayaked and camped on the lake a few times since my family discovered the campground last year. Our best trip was in early May when we experienced some unusually warm weather and stayed for three days. The nights were still cold, but we came prepared with extra blankets and long underwear. The best part about camping in the cooler weather is the lack of mosquitoes. Plus, percolated coffee always tastes better when there is a chill in the air, so we had a great trip and were the only people camping there.

One of the nights was completely cloudless. There is no light pollution. Only a slight dull glow in the sky can be seen in the direction of Traverse City. We took advantage of the lack of people on the lake and the starry sky by bringing the kayaks out in front of the campground. The sky was unbelievable! I do not think that night-kayaking is the safest activity, but we put flashlights on the boats and stayed close to the shore until we were content and needed to go back to our campfire.

There are a few hiking trails that are right across the campground on Reynolds Rd. I didn’t get a chance to see how strenuous the trails get, but we did walk a few of the shorter trails and were pleasantly surprised but multiple small lakes or ponds that are tucked into the forest.

All of these things make Lake Ann a great place to stay. If you don’t have time to stay at the campground you can see the lake from a small beach at the end of the drive through the grounds. There is also a trail that goes in front of camp sites and leads to the boat launch, but I have not seen how far around the lake the trail goes. The boat launch is good for kayaks and canoes but can also accommodate somewhat larger boats. There is not a dock, so you have to be able to jump in after you shove off, which may involve some wading. I don’t know much about the fishing in the lake except that I have only seen small fish there.

Lake Ann is wonderful. Stop and see for yourself!