| Silver Lake | |
|---|---|
 A small island in Silver Lake | |
  Silver LakeShow map of Michigan Silver LakeShow map of the United States | |
| Location | Grand Traverse County, Michigan (Garfield Township & Blair Township) |
| Coordinates | 44°41′44″N 85°41′08″W / 44.695508°N 85.685679°W / 44.695508; -85.685679 |
| Type | Kettle lake |
| Part of | Grand Traverse Bay Watershed |
| Primary inflows | Mud Lake |
| Primary outflows | Beitner Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 3.45 mi (5.55 km) |
| Max. width | 2,607 ft (795 m) |
| Surface area | 600 acres (240 ha) |
| Average depth | 23.4 ft (7.1 m) |
| Max. depth | 96.0 ft (29.3 m) |
| Surface elevation | 863 ft (263 m) |
| Islands | Anderson/Montague Island, Drake Island, Moresby Island, Raspberry Island, Trega Island |
| Settlements | Kratochvil's Plat (Ghost Town) |
Silver Lake is a lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. It is roughly 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the northern to southern ends. The lake is known for its pine coasts, irregular shoreline, and many peninsulas and islands, despite being smaller in size. Its maximum depth is 96 feet (29 m), making it the third deepest lake in Grand Traverse County. It is also the fourth-largest lake entirely within Grand Traverse County, after Long Lake, Green Lake, and Duck Lake.
History
Silver Lake was originally named Lake Kratochvil, after the small nearby town called Kratochvil's Plat (which is now a ghost town), itself named after Frank Kratochvil, a local settler. Frank's daughter, Anna, was the mother of W.D.C. Germaine, mayor of nearby Traverse City. The lake was later named Silver Lake.
Until sometime in the early 1900s, Blair Township was known as "Silver Lake Township".
In 1965, the Silver Lake Improvement Association was established to promote the care and preservation of Silver Lake.
In 1987, the Grand Traverse County Drain Commission installed a high water outflow dam at the southern end of the lake.
Recreation
Silver Lake is a local hotspot for fishing. It is known for its Bass, Bluegill, Perch, Pike, Lake sunfish, and Walleye. There is a public dock used for launching boats on the eastern shore of the lake. The Silver Lake Recreation Area is a park for people of all ages, and is located northeast of the lake. Holiday Park Campground is a large private campground on the southern end of the lake, just off of US 31. It has boat access and has RV camping lots surrounding the lake. Annually, there are regattas and fishing competitions on the lake.
The lake is popular in winter with ice fishers.
See also
References
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Silver Lake (Grand Traverse County, Michigan)
- "Silver Lake, Michigan, USA Vacation Info - Lakelubbers". Lakelubbers. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
- LLC., Historic Map Works. "Acme, Lakeside Resort, Summit City, Williamsburg, Walton, Kratochvil's Plat, Blackwood, Atlas: Grand Traverse County 1908, Michigan Historical Map". www.historicmapworks.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
- "(Map of Grand Traverse County, Michigan) / Walling, H. F. / 1873". www.davidrumsey.com. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
- "Silver Lake Improvement Association". www.silverlakeimprovement.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
- "Silver Lake Recreation Area". www.garfield-twp.com. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
- "Holiday Park Campground – RV and Airstream camping in Traverse City Michigan". Retrieved 2021-06-08.
