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Torch Lake

Milton · Helena · Torch Lake · Forest Home · Central Lake, Michigan — Antrim County.

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18,728Surface acres
4Public access sites
0.2 miShoreline trails

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 155417478).

Location & fast facts

Where Torch Lake is in Michigan

The red circle marks Torch Lake.

Fast facts

About Torch Lake

  • County: Antrim
  • Shore towns: Milton, Helena, Torch Lake, Forest Home, Central Lake
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 215 mi from Detroit and 140 mi from Grand Rapids and 148 mi from Marquette, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Michigan

Official Michigan DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 3 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Atlantic salmon
  • Swimming. 4 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)
  • Walking. 0.2 mi of trail near the shore (trails)
  • Camping. 30 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Zebra mussel, Eurasian watermilfoil and Curly-leaf pondweed recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

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.

Official lake data (Michigan DNR)

Fish species stocked here by the Michigan DNR since 2010: Atlantic salmon.

Stocked: 2011–2026, 13 years; 596,639 fish in all, fry included

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Fish Stocking Database (records for Torch Lake, Antrim County, since 2010). These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Torch Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Torch Grove Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Torch River Bridge boating access site (Boat launch)4Torch Lake Sand Bar Public Access Point (Beach)5Archie Valleau Landing (Beach)6Public Access (Beach)7Public Access (Beach)81 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeachShoreline trail Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Torch Lake
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Milton
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Milton
  4. 4Torch River Bridge boating access site
    Boat launch · Milton
  5. 5Torch Lake Sand Bar Public Access Point
    Beach
  6. 6Archie Valleau Landing
    Beach
  7. 7Public Access
    Beach
  8. 8Public Access
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 155417478), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Michigan DNR boating access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Shoreline trails

0.2 miTrail within 100 m of shore
Under 5%Of the shoreline
NoLoops the whole lake
North and south shoresWhere

OpenStreetMap shows about 0.2 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Torch Lake shoreline, mostly along the north and south shores.

Trails along the 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.

Campgrounds near Torch Lake

We found 30 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Torch Lake, 7 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

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: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.9784, -85.3045). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Torch Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Torch Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    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.

    Boat launches & access sites

    4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampTorch Lake—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating45.0745, -85.3547
    Boat rampMilton—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.9462, -85.3219
    Boat rampMilton—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.8492, -85.3284
    Torch River Bridge boating access siteMiltonMichigan DNRBoat launch · Yes ramp——Boating44.8507, -85.3282

    Michigan DNR boating access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 4 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Torch Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Torch Lake Sand Bar Public Access PointBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Archie Valleau LandingBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Public AccessBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Public AccessBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet 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.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Torch Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    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.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Torch Lake

    How big is Torch Lake?

    Torch Lake covers about 18,728 acres in Milton, Helena, Torch Lake and Forest Home, Michigan (Antrim County).

    What fish are in Torch Lake?

    Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records lists Atlantic salmon.

    Is there a public boat launch on Torch Lake?

    Yes. 3 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Torch Lake?

    OpenStreetMap shows 4 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.

    Are there campgrounds near Torch Lake?

    Yes. We list 30 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 7 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Torch Lake?

    Torch Lake touches Milton, Helena, Torch Lake, Forest Home and Central Lake in Antrim County, Michigan.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Torch 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).

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