US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID {394AFB10-39A1-488C-8638-A0EEC17BEB97}).
The red circle marks Portage Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official Michigan DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Fish species stocked here by the Michigan DNR since 2010: Brown trout, Coho salmon, Walleye.
Stocked: 2010–2026, 14 years; 869,691 fish in all, fry included
Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Fish Stocking Database (records for Portage Lake, Manistee County, since 2010) and the DNR Institute for Fisheries Research inland lake deepest-point data. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID {394AFB10-39A1-488C-8638-A0EEC17BEB97}), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Michigan DNR boating access sites. Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 0.4 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Portage Lake shoreline, mostly along the east shore.
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 23 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Portage Lake, 4 of them within 5 miles. 2 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
RVs welcome
RVs welcome
RVs welcome
RVs welcome · Tent sites
RVs welcome
All campgrounds & RV parks in Michigan
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.3638, -86.2338). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Portage Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/Detroit), and accurate to within a few minutes.
1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage boating access site | Onekama | Michigan DNR | Boat launch · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 44.3695, -86.2476 |
Michigan DNR boating access sites
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
On OpenStreetMap: 2 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Portage Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.
| Beach | Type | Access | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) | Beach area | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) | Beach area | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.
Reported on or near Portage Lake
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database
USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.
Portage Lake covers about 2,116 acres in Onekama, Michigan (Manistee County).
The maximum recorded depth is 60 feet, according to the Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records.
Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records lists Walleye, Coho salmon and Brown trout.
No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.
OpenStreetMap shows 2 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.
Yes. We list 23 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 4 of them within 5 miles.
Portage Lake touches Onekama in Manistee County, Michigan.
Know Portage Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Michigan lakes & ponds · All waters in Onekama