MLive says: “The waters of Torch Lake are so beautiful and blue-green, it's almost unbelievable. Often compared to the Caribbean because of the incredibly clear water you'll find here, the lake is a popular summer party spot. If you are looking for a new Michigan vacation setting this year, we highly recommend a lakefront rental property here. Just be warned that the water is not warm, by any means. Bring a flotation device and/or courage to jump right in.”
October 19, 2019
Torch Lake has a reputation as one of America’s most beautiful lakes, and is super popular in the summer. We decided to add it to our fall adventure itinerary though, and made our way there on Saturday October 19…but not without a few other stops throughout Antrim County as well!
Before heading to Torch Lake, we stopped at a lovely spot called Grass River Natural Area. We had driven by it a few times on Friday, and were curious to check it out. Saturday was a stupendously sunny day, making it perfect for some outdoor adventures on the water. We explored the Natural Area after a few recommendations from the staff at the Nature Center, starting on the Sedge Meadow Boardwalk Loop, which borders the river front.
We then made our way to the south side of the Natural Area, and hiked the Algonquin Loop with Bela. I was impressed with the rich biodiversity within the Natural Area, and the well-kept hiking trails.
After spending the early afternoon at Grass River, we headed to Torch Lake. The really complicated part of visiting Torch Lake is finding public access - it’s basically a private lake at this point. Unless you’re launching a boat, there really aren’t places to hangout and experience the lake from the shore. I had hoped to kayak, but we didn’t bring a kayak with us and there was no where to rent one this late in the season - not to mention, Torch Lake had mini whitecaps on this particularly windy day. We located a boat launch and pulled the car aside, and walked around on shore so I could take photos.
I’m happy to report that Torch Lake is indeed as clear and as blue as everyone says, even on a chilly fall afternoon! The main downsides of the lake are that it’s hard to access, there aren’t public beaches, and you need a boat to really enjoy it - I guess those are all accessibility issues, now that I read the list back. I would love to visit in the summer with some kayaks and get out onto the sandbars, though.
From Torch Lake, we drove out to the real lakeshore - the big lake! It had been a while since I visited the big lake (Lake Michigan) and I enjoyed the company, as always. We went to Antrim Creek Natural Area and spent some time on the beach skipping rocks, rock hunting, and taking in the sunshine.
Antrim Creek Natural Area had a trail system, but instead of hiking we opted to head back toward “town” (in quotes because is Alden really a town?) and find a snack before dinner. On our way back, we stopped at King Orchards and picked up some Michigan fruit preserves and apples - we stumbled upon it while driving around Torch Lake and were happy we did!
Back in Alden, we went to a local bar for a beer and a plate of very disappointing chips and guacamole - I don’t know what we were expecting, honestly, but it wasn’t that green mush that someone called guacamole. At sunset, we walked from the bar to the little marina across the street to catch some more views on Torch Lake. It was a little bit cloudy for a sunset, but it was pretty nonetheless.
After a quick and blue sunset, we stopped by the BnB to change and then headed into Bellaire for dinner and beers. We had dinner at a spot called Terrain, which I highly recommend. I would literally drive back to Bellaire just to dine there again - the food is locally sourced, super seasonal, and unique as can be. Bill and I made a lot of weird noises while eating to express our satisfaction, and could not stop raving about it the entire night. We only tried four items on the menu, but I wish I had time to sample every dish - there were multiple vegan options. If you find yourself in the northern LP, you definitely need to stop there.
After Terrain, we walked down the street and found ourselves back at Short’s Brewing for beer and Miss Tess, a Nashville-based performer who was playing a set at the pub that night. She was sultry and fun, and we enjoyed her music and played pool and sipped brews (by the way, I beat Bill in pool fair and square - that is a thing I never thought would happen, as I’ve never beaten anyone at pool, ever).
The night ended there, and we made our way back to the BnB to snuggle up with the big dog. Antrim County definitely delivered an adventure packed day outdoors.