MLive says: “The name of Clear Lake State Park tells you one thing you'll find here -- a clear lake. You'll also find tranquility in this park, nestled in one of the least-populated areas of the state. You'll also encounter more trail than you'll be able to tackle. If wandering on the trails isn't your thing, enjoy disc golf, horseshoes or playgrounds. There is plenty of space to camp in the park, which is part of the Mackinaw State Forest.”
September 27, 2020
The temperatures had dropped overnight, from our camp at Hoeft State Park, leaving us with a chillier hike than we expected at Clear Lake State Park. The sun had disappeared, as well, but that didn’t keep us from noticing why the park had its name: the small inland lake is named for its picture-perfect clarity. We had planned to paddle at the park, but kayak rental proved to be difficult and the cold weather deterred us from seeking out other options. Instead, we hiked around the lake instead.
As we hiked, we continued to admire the first signs of fall populating the forest - some shrubs and younger trees had already started turning color for the year. While we were enjoying views of the lake, we couldn’t help but notice, as we do on nearly all inland lakes, how developed most of the lakefront was. While it isn’t the most picturesque or ideal scenario, it didn’t keep us from spotting some wildlife, appreciating bird calls, and enjoying the reflections on the water.
Our hike led us to the campground and a small beach, where we paused to share a Juicy IPA by Petoskey Brewing. We speculated about camping here and getting to paddle the lake in the future, without sacrificing our contentment with the day we were having. We were feeling hungry and decided to hike back the same way we came. When we got back to the trailhead, we hiked beyond just a bit to see the other side of the lake and found a beautiful clearing to relax in for just a bit, before heading out to find something resembling lunch.