Higgins Lake, Michigan: The Complete Lake Guide

Higgins Lake is a natural, spring-fed lake in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, near the village of Roscommon and about 15 minutes from downtown Grayling. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) counts about 10,000 acres of water that can reach roughly 135 feet deep, and it calls the lake known for its clarity. It is known for that clear water, for two state parks on its shores, for lake trout and perch, and for a water level set by a court order in 1926.

In this guide

• Where Is Higgins Lake?
• What Is Higgins Lake Known For?
• Higgins Lake at a Glance
• History of Higgins Lake
• Higgins Lake Boating Guide
• Higgins Lake Fishing Guide
• Best Things to Do at Higgins Lake
• Best Places to Visit Around Higgins Lake
• Higgins Lake Towns and Communities
• Higgins Lake Vacation Guide
• Higgins Lake Family Activities
• What Should You Bring to Higgins Lake?
• Local Knowledge: Court-Ordered Water, a Tree Nursery and Lake Nonprofits
• Questions People Ask About Higgins Lake
• Higgins Lake Gifts & Apparel

Where Is Higgins Lake?

Higgins Lake is a natural lake in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, between Grayling to the north and Houghton Lake to the south and west. The Michigan Court of Appeals describes the lake as lying in both Roscommon County and Crawford County, and most mailing addresses on the lake say Roscommon, Michigan 48653. The DNR says the village of Roscommon and downtown Grayling are each within a 15-minute drive of its two state parks.

The DNR says the lake lies mostly in Lyon Township and Gerrish Township. North Higgins Lake State Park sits on the north shore, and South Higgins Lake State Park sits on the south shore. The lake is about 7 miles long, according to the DNR.

These are approximate driving distances from North Higgins Lake State Park, measured with OpenStreetMap routing without traffic. Summer weekends and construction add time, so check a map app before you go.

To	About how far	Notes
Grayling	13 miles	The DNR says downtown Grayling is within a 15-minute drive of the parks
Roscommon	8 miles	The DNR says the village is within a 15-minute drive
Houghton Lake	17 miles	The next lake downstream
Gaylord	40 miles	About 45 minutes
Traverse City	63 miles	About an hour and a half
Mackinaw City	97 miles	About an hour and 40 minutes
Saginaw	99 miles	About an hour and 45 minutes
Lansing	136 miles	About two and a half hours
Grand Rapids	143 miles	About two hours and 40 minutes
Detroit	198 miles	About three and a half hours

Distances are approximate, from North Higgins Lake State Park, and were calculated in October 2026.

What Is Higgins Lake Known For?

Higgins Lake is known for clear water, two large state parks, trout fishing, and a legally fixed water level. The DNR describes it as a large, spring-fed body of water known for its clarity.

• Clear water. The Michigan Clean Water Corps, which tracks water clarity on Michigan lakes, records Secchi disk readings (a way to measure how deep you can see) on the south basin that averaged about 39 feet in 2023 and about 32 feet over 1974 to 2017. The program classes the lake as oligotrophic, which means low in nutrients and algae.
• Two state parks. North Higgins Lake State Park and South Higgins Lake State Park have swim beaches, boat launches and campgrounds. The DNR says the South park's modern campground has 404 sites and is the second-largest in the state park system.
• Lake trout and perch. The DNR says the lake is best known for perch and lake trout, and it is classed as a Type E trout lake with its own trout rules. See the fishing section.
• A court-ordered water level. A 1926 court order set the summer level, and a dam on the Cut River holds it. See the local knowledge section.
• A tree nursery and a CCC museum. The north shore was home to Michigan's first state tree nursery, and the Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum tells that story. See the history section.
• A lake with its own nonprofits. The Higgins Lake Property Owners Association, the Higgins Lake Foundation and other groups run lake-level, boat wash, weed control and swimmer's itch programs.

Higgins Lake at a Glance

Fact	Detail
Type	Natural lake of glacial origin, not a reservoir
Location	Roscommon and Crawford counties, Michigan; mailing address usually Roscommon, MI 48653
Surface area	About 10,000 acres. The DNR Fisheries Division counts 10,186 acres, and DNR park pages say about 9,900 acres
Length	About 7 miles (DNR park pages)
Shoreline	About 22 miles, including the island (DNR Fisheries Division)
Maximum depth	About 135 feet (DNR Fisheries Division)
Average depth	30.4 feet (DNR Fisheries Division)
Legal lake level	Summer 1,154.11 feet above sea level, which is 5.37 feet on the lake gauge. Winter 1,153.61 feet, which is 4.87 feet on the gauge (court orders, HLPOA and DNR)
Outlet	A south shore outlet into Marl Lake, then the Cut River to Houghton Lake and the Muskegon River watershed (DNR)
Lake-level control	A dam on the Cut River, run by the Roscommon County Board of Commissioners under court orders (DNR, HLPOA)
Water clarity	Oligotrophic; Secchi readings in the south basin averaged about 39 feet in 2023 (Michigan Clean Water Corps)
Parks	North Higgins Lake State Park and South Higgins Lake State Park (DNR)
Main activities	Swimming, boating, fishing for trout and perch, camping, ice fishing, cross-country skiing

Figures come from the DNR Fisheries Division's 2021 status of the fishery report, the DNR's South and North park pages, the Higgins Lake Property Owners Association's court orders page and the Michigan Clean Water Corps. The acreage differs between DNR sources, so this guide gives the fishery figure and the park figure. A 1940 state survey gave about 9,600 acres and a maximum depth of 141 feet; this guide uses the current DNR figures.

History of Higgins Lake

How the lake formed

A 1940 Michigan Department of Conservation survey of the lake says the basin was formed by the melting of buried blocks of ice after the last glaciation. It describes moraines on the northeast and southwest shores and sandy outwash on the northwest and southeast shores. The DNR Fisheries Division describes the lake as glacial in origin, with a bottom of sand and marl.

Logging and the first lake-level dams

Settlers reached nearby Prudenville in 1870, and a state historical marker there says the Roscommon Lumber Company harvested about 175 million board feet of pine. The same survey says a dam built in the lumbering era raised the water about 40 inches, and that a 1911 dam was removed the following year after it damaged property. A court fixed the level in 1926, and the DNR says the first control dam on the Cut River was also built that year.

The nursery that started state reforestation

The Michigan History Center says State Forest Warden Filibert Roth began work on the sandy north shore of the lake in 1903, on what became Michigan's first state tree nursery. A state historical marker at North Higgins Lake State Park marks "Beginning of State Reforestation" and says the 1903 effort took place on cutover land in Roscommon and Crawford counties. The nursery closed in the early 1960s. The DNR describes the park today as the former site of the world's largest seedling nursery.

The Civilian Conservation Corps

A Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp began work at the nursery in 1933, according to the Michigan History Center. The DNR says Michigan's CCC workers had planted 484 million trees by 1942, more than twice as many as any other state. The Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum opened in 1986 in the style of a CCC barracks.

Lake associations and the parks

The Higgins Lake Property Owners Association (HLPOA) filed its articles in July 1935 and was incorporated in January 1940, according to its history page. South Higgins Lake State Park's store building dates to 1935, according to the store's own site, which also says the campground opened in 1927 with 15 sites on 100 acres.

Higgins Lake Boating Guide

Higgins Lake is a deep, clear lake with three DNR launches, state park boat basins, township docks and a few rental operators. Boaters here need to know where to launch, how the lake's court-ordered water level works, how to keep invasive species out, and which Michigan rules apply. This section covers each one.

Boat ramps and public access

The DNR Fisheries Division names three DNR boating access sites on the lake:

• West Higgins Lake boating access site. On the west shore in Lyon Township, with parking for vehicles with trailers. The DNR replaced its ramp and dredged its channel in 2017.
• North Higgins Lake State Park. The DNR says the boating access site in the day-use area has two skid piers and red and green channel markers.
• South Higgins Lake State Park. The DNR says the park has a protected boat basin with nine launches, day mooring, a large parking area, a two-lane boat wash and a boat-cleaning station.

The township adds more. Gerrish Township Community Park Marina at 103 Mill Road, Roscommon, says it provides docking, a boat launch, a picnic area and a playground. Its site posts its season, hours and slip rules, so check it before you plan around a date. The DNR Fisheries Division also counts 86 road-end access points. Lyon Township says no mooring overnight is allowed in the township and that anchors must come out when a boat is taken off the road end, so read the township's lake and dock page before you tie up at a road end.

A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry at DNR sites, according to the DNR park pages. Check the DNR Recreation Passport page for current prices.

Marinas and rentals

Several businesses rent boats, kayaks and paddle craft. Each sets its own age, deposit and license rules, so call or read the operator's page before you plan around a rental.

Place	Where	What it offers	Links
B & B Sports Center & Marina	431 Forest Avenue, Roscommon	Its site lists pontoon, tritoon and fishing boat rentals, plus repair, winterization and indoor winter storage. As of October 2026 it says renters must be 21 with a valid driver's license and that rental boats must stay on Higgins Lake. Phone (989) 821-6549	Directions
Higgins Lake Marine	4629 W. Higgins Lake Drive, Roscommon	The Higgins Lake Roscommon Chamber of Commerce lists engine service and repair, pontoon and fishing boat rentals, boat sales, docks, hoists and storage. Phone (989) 821-5692	Directions
South Higgins Lake State Park Store	114 State Park Drive, Roscommon	The DNR says the store rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and floats in the summer season. Its rentals page lists canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, pedal boats and water mats. Phone 989-821-1049	Directions
Gerrish Township Community Park Marina	103 Mill Road, Roscommon	Docking and a boat launch run by the township. Phone (989) 821-1616	Directions

Rental prices and hours are on each operator's site and change by season, so this guide does not copy them. We did not find a Higgins Lake marina with a fuel dock confirmed on its own site, so call ahead if you need fuel.

Popular areas and navigation

Higgins Lake is deep in the middle and shallow near shore, so boaters see two different lakes. A 1940 state survey says about one-third of the lake is under 20 feet deep, that a long spit extends from the southwest side and that patches of marl lie over what it calls "sunken islands." The DNR Trout Trails sheet says summer fishing is mostly from boats because the shoreline has extensive shallows. The North park launch has red and green channel markers. The DNR publishes an inland lake map of Higgins Lake, and a current chart or navigation app is the better guide to shoals than any description.

Marl Lake, a smaller lake connected to Higgins by the Cut River, is part of South Higgins Lake State Park. The DNR says it is a quieter setting for nonmotorized boats and electric motorboats.

Invasive species and boat washes

Higgins Lake has several invasive species, and cleaning your boat is part of boating here. The DNR Fisheries Division reports that Eurasian watermilfoil was found in 1994, zebra mussels in 2000, starry stonewort in 2018 and quagga mussels in 2020. The Higgins Lake Foundation funded boat washes at North Higgins Lake State Park and South Higgins Lake State Park, and the DNR lists a two-lane boat wash and a boat-cleaning station at the South park. The foundation also runs a weed-removal boat, and WCMU reported in June 2026 that the lake has fought milfoil for about 30 years. Check each park for wash season and hours, and clean, drain and dry your boat before you move it to another lake.

Water level and how to check it

Higgins Lake does not rise and fall like a reservoir. A court order sets its level, and a dam at the Cut River holds it. The Higgins Lake Property Owners Association says a 1926 order set the summer level at 5.37 feet on the lake gauge, or 1,154.11 feet above sea level. A later order sets the winter level six inches lower, at 4.87 feet on the gauge, with lowering starting November 1 and the summer level restored by April 15 or at ice-out, whichever comes first.

Boating rules

Michigan state boating law applies on Higgins Lake. The DNR's list of special local watercraft controls for Roscommon County, read in October 2026, covers Houghton Lake and Lake St. Helen canals, the Muskegon River and other waters, but does not list Higgins Lake, and we found no Higgins-specific speed, hours or horsepower rule. Check the posted signs and buoys, and read your township's dock and mooring rules.
These are the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Division and state law rules most visitors need, as published on the DNR boating pages and read in October 2026:

• Boater education (MCL 324.80141): Anyone born on or after July 1, 1996 must have a boating safety certificate to operate a motorboat powered by more than 6 horsepower, and must show it (or, if they choose, an electronic copy in a format the DNR approves) when a peace officer asks. A child under 12 may run a motorboat of more than 6 horsepower only if the motor is no more than 35 horsepower and a person at least 16 years old is on board directly supervising. A certificate comes from completing a boating safety course and passing an exam, and it is valid for the life of the holder. Courses are classroom, online or interactive online.
• Personal watercraft (MCL 324.80215, 324.80205 and 324.80209): No one under 14 may operate a personal watercraft (PWC). A 14 or 15 year old may operate one only while riding with a parent, guardian or a person at least 21 designated by the parent or guardian, or while within 100 feet of that person. Anyone born after December 31, 1978 must hold a boating safety certificate to operate a PWC, and anyone born on or before that date has no certificate requirement. A PWC may not be operated from sunset until 8 a.m. Everyone riding on or being towed behind a PWC must wear a Type I, II or III life jacket that is not inflatable, and the operator must attach the engine cut-off lanyard to a person, clothing or life jacket. A child under 7 may be aboard only with a parent, guardian or their designee. Unless going at slow-no wake speed, a PWC must stay at least 100 feet from docks, rafts, buoyed or occupied swimming areas, people in the water and moored, anchored or drifting vessels, must not cross within 150 feet behind another vessel that is not a PWC, and must not run in water less than 2 feet deep.
• Life jackets (DNR life jacket rules): Every vessel must carry a Coast Guard approved life jacket in good, serviceable and readily accessible condition for each person on board or being towed. Michigan's DNR says a boat under 16 feet, a canoe or a kayak may carry either a wearable (Type I, II or III) or a throwable (Type IV) for each person, and also says the Coast Guard requires a wearable of the proper size for each person, so carry a wearable for everyone. A boat 16 feet or longer must also have one Coast Guard approved throwable device on board and readily accessible. Every child under 6 must wear a Type I or II life jacket in an open deck area of any vessel that is under way, and the parent or guardian must make sure of it. On a PWC or when being towed, everyone must wear a Type I, II or III, and inflatable life jackets are not allowed.
• Boating under the influence (MCL 324.80176 and 324.80177): No one may operate a motorboat on Michigan waters while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more, or with any amount of a Schedule 1 controlled substance in the body. Operators under 21 may not have any bodily alcohol content, which the law sets at 0.02 or more. A first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail, up to 45 days of community service, a fine of $100 to $500, or a combination. A second offense within 7 years carries a fine of $200 to $1,000 plus jail or community service, and a third offense is a felony. Operating while visibly impaired is also prohibited, an owner may not let an impaired person run the boat, and a court can bar a convicted operator from boating for up to 2 years. Causing a death while operating under the influence is a felony punishable by up to 15 years.
• Wake and no wake zones (MCL 324.80149 and 324.80146): In areas not marked by defined channels, canals, rivers or streams, a vessel, and anyone it is towing, must stay 100 feet from any dock, raft, buoyed or occupied swimming area, and any vessel moored or at anchor, unless the boat is going at slow-no wake speed. A vessel must also stay at slow-no wake speed (or the minimum speed needed to hold forward movement) within 100 feet of a shoreline where the water is less than 3 feet deep, except in navigable channels not otherwise posted. Passengers may not be in the bow of a motorboat that is going faster than slow-no wake speed unless it has bow seating, and no part of anyone's body may extend beyond the sides of the hull at that speed. Boats should circle counterclockwise where it is reasonably possible. An owner is personally responsible for damage to life or property from a wake or swell caused by negligent operation of the boat. Many lakes also have their own local rules, so check the posted signs and buoys.
• Towing skiers and tubes (MCL 324.80152 and 324.80151): A vessel towing a person on water skis, a tube, a surfboard or a similar device must have a person on board, in addition to the operator, who can communicate the towed person's condition to the operator and is positioned to watch the towed person. The towed person must wear a Type I, II or III life jacket, and an inflatable does not count. Towing is not allowed from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise (behind a PWC, only between 8 a.m. and sunset). Towed people must also stay 100 feet from docks, rafts, swimming areas and moored or anchored boats unless the boat is at slow-no wake speed. There is a narrow exception for a ski school or sanctioned tournament boat with a 170 degree rear view mirror.
• Registration (MCL 324.80122 and Secretary of State watercraft page): A boat on Michigan waters must be registered with the Michigan Secretary of State and numbered, except a rowboat or other vessel 16 feet or less that is propelled by hand and not rented or used commercially, a nonmotorized canoe or kayak not rented or used commercially, a raft, sailboard, surfboard or swim float, and a few federal and foreign vessels. The certificate of number must be on board, and the number and decal must be displayed on each side of the forward half of the boat. A boat numbered in another state under a federally approved system is covered while it is used only temporarily in Michigan; if it is brought here as its new state of principal use, a Michigan number is required within 60 days. As of October 2026, a three year registration costs $14 for a motorboat under 12 feet, $17 for 12 to under 16 feet, $42 for 16 to under 21 feet, $115 for 21 to under 28 feet, and $23 for a pontoon boat of any length. Registrations expire March 31 of the third year, and a boat 20 feet or longer, or with a permanently affixed engine, must also be titled.
• Renting (MCL 324.44516): A boat livery (a business that rents boats to the public) must hold a livery permit from the county sheriff's department or the DNR, and may not rent a motorized boat unless it has a current annual inspection decal. Rental boats must be seaworthy, carry a maximum capacity tag, and be equipped with oars or paddles, an anchor and line (not required for canoes) and one Coast Guard approved life-saving device per person. A boat under 26 feet rented for noncommercial use for 24 hours or less may keep its certificate of number at the livery as long as a signed rental agreement showing the vessel number and rental period is on the boat. Ask the livery about its own age, deposit and ID rules.

Marl Lake has its own motor limit. The DNR says it allows only paddling and electric motors, and it has a separate launch across County Road 100.

Rules specific to this lake:

• Michigan law applies lake-wide. The DNR's Roscommon County list of local controls does not include Higgins Lake as of October 2026, so the 100 foot rules above are the working distances.
• Township dock and mooring rules. Lyon Township says no mooring overnight is allowed in the township and requires anchors to come out when a boat is taken off the road end. Gerrish Township posts its own park and marina rules. Read the township page for your shore.
• Marine patrol. The Higgins Lake Foundation says it supports the Sheriff Marine Patrol's weekday coverage on the lake.
• Rentals and short-term rental rules. If you are renting a cottage, the Higgins Lake Property Owners Association keeps a page on township short-term rental ordinances that change.

Seasons and kinds of boating

Pontoons, fishing boats, paddle craft and personal watercraft all use the lake. Marinas, parks and rental operators set their own seasons, so check the operator's page. The South park store rents paddle craft in the summer season, according to the DNR, and Gerrish Township posts its marina season on its own site.

Higgins Lake Fishing Guide

Higgins Lake is best known for perch and lake trout, according to the DNR, and its fishery is managed as a Type E trout lake. The DNR Fisheries Division's most recent survey report on the lake lists 13 species, and the DNR publishes stocking data and the Michigan Fishing Guide for current rules.

Fish species and seasons

Here is what the DNR says about what lives in the lake:

• Lake trout. The DNR stocks lake trout, and its stocking prescription for the lake calls for 40,000 lake trout yearlings a year. Trout are one of the lake's best known fisheries, with the Type E rules shown below.
• Rainbow and brown trout. The same prescription calls for 25,000 rainbow trout and 25,000 brown trout yearlings. The stocking numbers change each year, so check the DNR stocking database.
• Yellow perch. The DNR says perch are among the lake's best known fish.
• Smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. All three appear in the DNR's survey species list. The DNR report recommends against stocking walleye. Marl Lake is described by the DNR as holding perch, smallmouth bass and northern pike.
• Lake whitefish, cisco and rainbow smelt. The DNR report describes smelt and lake whitefish being taken through the ice.

The 13 species in the DNR's 2020 survey were brown trout, cisco, lake trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, rock bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow smelt, walleye, white sucker and yellow perch.

Where and how people fish

The DNR Trout Trails sheet says summer fishing is limited mostly to boat fishing because the shoreline has extensive shallows. The Cut River connects Marl Lake and Higgins Lake, and the DNR says South Higgins Lake State Park offers ample opportunity for fishing. Bait and tackle: the Chamber lists Sports Barn for licenses and live bait. We did not find a Higgins Lake fishing guide, charter or tournament with its own website, so we do not recommend one. Ask a marina or the park for current local advice.

Regulations and licenses

Check the current Michigan Fishing Regulations guide from the DNR (also called the Michigan Fishing Guide) before you fish, because limits differ by species and water. As of the 2026 edition (rules apply April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027; the DNR notes that fisheries order changes effective September 10, 2026 are not in the printed guide):

• License (Michigan fishing license fees): Anglers 17 and older need a Michigan fishing license, and you must carry your license and the ID used to buy it. As of October 2026, the DNR lists an annual all species license at $26 for residents and $76 for nonresidents, and a daily all species license at $10 per day for residents or nonresidents (valid for 24 hours). An annual license is valid from March 1 of a given year through March 31 of the following year. Anglers under 17 do not need a license but must follow all fishing rules, and any adult actively assisting a minor must have one. Licenses are sold online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, on the DNR Hunt Fish app and at license agents.
• Black bass (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations): Largemouth and smallmouth bass: 5 per day in any combination, 14 inch minimum, on most inland waters. The possession (keeping) season runs from the Saturday before Memorial Day through December 31. Outside that season, bass fishing is catch-and-immediate-release only, and fishing for bass is allowed all year on all waters unless a water is closed. On Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River the possession season starts the third Saturday in June.
• Smallmouth bass (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations): Smallmouth bass count in the same black bass limit as largemouth: 14 inch minimum and 5 per day in any combination, kept only from the Saturday before Memorial Day through December 31. From January 1 until that Saturday, a smallmouth caught must be released immediately, and catch-and-release fishing is allowed all year.
• Walleye (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations): Walleye: 15 inch minimum and 5 per day on inland waters. On Lower Peninsula inland waters the possession season runs from the last Saturday in April through March 15, and a few waters have their own walleye rules.
• Northern pike (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations): Northern pike: 24 inch minimum and 2 per day on inland waters. On Lower Peninsula inland waters the possession season runs from the last Saturday in April through March 15, and a number of lakes and rivers have special pike rules.
• Panfish (bluegill, sunfish and crappie) (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations): Sunfishes, which the guide defines to include black and white crappie, bluegill, green and hybrid sunfish, longear, pumpkinseed, redear, rock bass and warmouth: no size limit and 25 per day in any combination of the listed species, open all year.
• Yellow perch (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations): Yellow perch: no size limit and 25 per day, open all year, on most waters. Lake Erie has a 50 per day limit and a few lakes have their own limits.
• Lake trout (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (inland trout lakes)): On Type E inland trout lakes, which the guide lists as including Higgins Lake in Roscommon County, lake trout have a 15 inch minimum size and are open to fishing all year with all types of tackle. The daily limit is 3 trout, combined for all trout species (the DNR added Atlantic salmon to that same limit on September 10, 2026).
• Brown and rainbow trout (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (inland trout lakes)): On Type E inland trout lakes, including Higgins Lake: brown trout and rainbow trout have a 15 inch minimum size, open all year with all types of tackle. Coho, Chinook and pink salmon have a 10 inch minimum and Atlantic salmon a 15 inch minimum. The daily limit is 3 fish (trout, with Atlantic salmon now included as of September 10, 2026).
• Brook trout and splake (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (inland trout lakes)): On Type E inland trout lakes, including Higgins Lake: brook trout have a 15 inch minimum and splake have a 15 inch minimum, open all year with all types of tackle, within the same 3 fish daily limit that covers all trout.
• Cisco and whitefish (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations): Cisco (also called lake herring), lake whitefish and round whitefish: no size limit and 5 per day in any combination on most inland waters (10 in any combination on the Great Lakes, connecting waters and Type F lakes), open all year.
• Default rules and exceptions (2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations): The default Michigan inland limits in this section apply unless the water has its own rule. The guide's statewide table notes that many waters have regulations that differ, and trout and salmon waters are listed by lake or stream Type in the county lists. An inland lake that is not classified by Type is open all year for trout with an 8 inch minimum and 5 per day, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater. Check the Exceptions to General Regulations by County and the inland trout and salmon listings in the guide for the specific lake before you fish.

Higgins Lake rules. The DNR lists Higgins Lake (Roscommon County) as a Type E inland trout lake. Under Type E rules in the 2026 guide it is open all year, you may keep 3 trout in total, and brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, splake and lake trout must be at least 15 inches. Salmon were added to that combined limit on September 10, 2026 (the DNR's example is Atlantic salmon), according to a DNR announcement. Higgins Lake has its own listing in the DNR's Fisheries Order, which is linked from the Fisheries Order 254.22, and the DNR Trout Trails sheet says to refer to the inland trout and salmon lake regulations in the current Michigan Fishing Guide. Check the DNR stocking page for what the DNR stocked.

Fishing in winter

The DNR report describes rainbow smelt and lake whitefish being taken through the ice, and a DNR biologist reported catching many small perch while ice fishing in 2005. HLPOA keeps unofficial records of when the lake has frozen and thawed in past years on its ice in and ice out page. Ice conditions change daily and no ice is safe by default, so check local conditions, and check the DNR for current shanty rules before you leave one on the lake.

Best Things to Do at Higgins Lake

• Swim at a state park beach. South Higgins Lake State Park has about a mile of sandy shoreline with two buoyed swim areas in the day-use area and two in the campground, according to the DNR. North Higgins Lake State Park has a buoyed swim area, an accessible walkway and a pet beach.
• Rent a pontoon or a paddle craft. See the marinas and rentals table.
• Camp or rent a mini cabin. The DNR lists a modern campground at each park, two mini cabins at North and one accessible mini cabin at South. Reserve at MiDNRReservations.
• Fish for lake trout and perch. See the fishing section.
• Visit the Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum. It sits inside North Higgins Lake State Park.
• Hike or bike. The Iron Belle Trail runs through North Higgins Lake State Park, and the Forest Heritage Trail is a 19-mile route from the park to Hartwick Pines State Park with interpretive panels, according to the Michigan History Center.
• See old-growth pine. Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling has 49 acres of old-growth pine and a 1.25-mile paved trail, according to the DNR.
• Ski, snowshoe or ice fish. The DNR lists cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at North Higgins Lake State Park.
• Go to a local event. Events change by year. The Chamber's WinterFest is typically held in February, its Fourth of July parade takes place in the morning on the Fourth, and South Higgins Lake State Park holds a Harvest Fest in the early fall. Check the Chamber events page and the park for dates.

Best Places to Visit Around Higgins Lake

• North Higgins Lake State Park at 11747 N. Higgins Lake Drive, Roscommon (Directions). A 449 acre park on the north shore with a swim area, boating access, a modern campground, mini cabins and the CCC museum. Phone 989-821-6125.
• South Higgins Lake State Park at 106 State Park Drive, Roscommon (Directions). A 1,386 acre park with about a mile of sandy shoreline, a 404 site campground, a boat basin and the Marl Lake side. Phone 989-821-6374.
• Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum. Inside North Higgins Lake State Park, run by the Michigan History Center. See the history section. Check the museum's page for its schedule.
• Gerrish Township Park at 109 Carlos Avenue (Directions). A township park with a public beach, restrooms with a bath house and an accessible boardwalk. The township site says no dogs are allowed.
• Hartwick Pines State Park at 3612 State Park Drive, Grayling. A 9,335 acre park with 49 acres of old-growth pine, 21 miles of trails and a logging museum. A Recreation Passport is required.

Higgins Lake Towns and Communities

Higgins Lake has no incorporated town on its shore, and its communities are where the parks, marinas and roads sit.

• Roscommon. The village nearest both parks, with a village hall at 702 Lake Street and the Higgins Lake Roscommon Chamber of Commerce at 709 Lake Street. Most lake addresses use its ZIP code. It hosts community events through the year; see the Chamber's events page.
• Higgins Lake (Lyon Township). The unincorporated community in Lyon Township. Its post office is at 6311 West Higgins Lake Drive.
• Gerrish Township. A township with a municipal park on East Higgins Lake Drive, a township park with a public beach and a community park marina.
• Grayling. In Crawford County, about 15 minutes north. The DNR says downtown is within a 15 minute drive of both parks. It is the nearest town for Hartwick Pines State Park and for Camp Grayling, which the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs calls the largest National Guard training facility in the country.
• Houghton Lake and Prudenville. The next lake downstream, about 17 miles from North Higgins Lake State Park. A state historical marker in Prudenville tells the area's logging history.

Higgins Lake Vacation Guide

When to visit

Parks, rentals and marinas set their own seasons, so use these as planning notes and check each operator:

• Summer: Swim beaches, boat rentals, marinas and the park stores run in the warm season. The Chamber holds a Fourth of July parade each year, typically in the morning on the Fourth. Check the Chamber and the parks for the current year.
• Early fall: South Higgins Lake State Park holds a Harvest Fest, typically in late September or early October. Check the park for the year's dates.
• Winter: The DNR lists cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at North Higgins Lake State Park. The Chamber's WinterFest is typically held in February. Ice fishing depends on ice conditions.

Where to stay

• State park campgrounds and mini cabins. North Higgins Lake State Park has a modern campground and two mini cabins, and South Higgins Lake State Park has a 404 site modern campground and an accessible mini cabin. Reserve at MiDNRReservations or 800-447-2757, and check the DNR rates and dates page for current rates.
• Private campgrounds, motels and lodges. The Chamber lists Higgins Lake KOA and Northern Nights Family Campground among others on its lodging page.
• Cottage rentals. We do not recommend a specific listing. Rentals are regulated by township, so read the township's short-term rental page before you book.

Where to eat

The Chamber's restaurant list includes Cut River Grille on East Higgins Lake Drive, The Bird and Bear Bakery in Roscommon and Little Cottage Ice Cream. We did not confirm that any lake restaurant lets boats dock, so call ahead if you plan to arrive by boat.

What first-timers should know

• Check the lake level box and your launch before you tow a boat.
• Clean, drain and dry your boat. Higgins Lake has zebra and quagga mussels, milfoil and starry stonewort.
• Carry your boating safety certificate if you were born on or after July 1, 1996 and will run a motorboat of more than 6 horsepower.
• Carry a Michigan fishing license if you are 17 or older, and read the Type E trout rules.
• A Recreation Passport is required at the state parks.
• Slow to no wake speed within 100 feet of docks, swimmers and other boats.

Higgins Lake Family Activities

• Swim at the state parks. Both have buoyed swim areas, and the DNR lists accessible walkways and beach wheelchairs to borrow.
• Play at the parks. South Higgins Lake State Park has playgrounds, pavilions and seasonal naturalist programs, according to the DNR.
• Rent a kayak, pedal boat or paddle board. The South park store lists them.
• Visit the CCC museum. Plan about an hour for the museum and outdoor exhibits; admission is free, and the vehicle needs a Recreation Passport.
• Walk or bike the Forest Heritage Trail. The 19 mile route has interpretive panels.
• See Hartwick Pines. The Logging Museum and the paved Old Growth Forest Trail suit kids.
• Watch for swimmer's itch. It is a known issue on the lake; see the local knowledge section.
• Life jackets. Michigan requires every child under 6 to wear a Type I or II life jacket on the open deck of a boat that is under way.

What Should You Bring to Higgins Lake?

• Life jackets for everyone. Michigan requires a Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person on board or being towed, and every child under 6 must wear a Type I or II on the open deck of a boat that is under way.
• Your boating safety certificate if you were born on or after July 1, 1996 and will run a motorboat of more than 6 horsepower. A personal watercraft operator born after December 31, 1978 also needs one.
• A fishing license if you are 17 or older and plan to fish, plus the ID you used to buy it. The Michigan license year runs March 1 to March 31 of the following year.

• Registration and safety gear for your own boat: the certificate of number on board, the number and decal on each side of the forward half of the boat, a life jacket for each person and, on a boat 16 feet or longer, a throwable cushion or ring. See the Michigan DNR boating pages.

• A way to check the water level. The live box in the boating section links to the USGS gauge.

• A Recreation Passport for vehicle entry at the state parks, and a card for park and camping fees.
• A clean boat. Higgins Lake has invasive plants and mussels, so arrive with a clean, drained and dry boat and use the park boat wash.
• A chart or navigation app for the shoals and the long spit on the southwest side.
• Sun protection, water and a layer.

Local Knowledge: Court-Ordered Water, a Tree Nursery and Lake Nonprofits

The legal lake level and the Cut River dam

Higgins Lake has a legal lake level that a court set in 1926, which is rare enough to be worth knowing. The Higgins Lake Property Owners Association lists court orders from 1926 and 1982 and a temporary 2009 order that lowered the winter level a further three inches for a five year trial that ended in spring 2014. The Roscommon County Board of Commissioners runs the lake-level control structure at the Cut River under those orders. The DNR says the first dam was built in 1926 and the current structure dates to 1950, and HLPOA says a 2007 reconstruction added two flop gates. HLPOA says at least 7 percent of the dam's width stays open year round because of an unregulated opening. The live box in the boating section shows today's reading. For the legal and technical background, read the HLPOA lake level page and the lake level FAQs.

The tree nursery, the CCC and the park store

The north shore was the site of Michigan's first state tree nursery. The Michigan History Center says workers planted 43 pounds of seed representing 12 pine species in the first year, and that by 1926 the nursery was shipping 22 million seedlings across the state and nation. A CCC camp began working at the nursery in 1933. Across the lake, the South Higgins Lake State Park store building dates to 1935, according to the store's own site.

Swimmer's itch and the lake's nonprofits

Swimmer's itch is a rash caused by parasites that waterfowl carry, and HLPOA says common merganser ducklings are the primary carriers. The Great Lakes Echo reported in 2024 that ducklings can carry 50 times more parasites than adults. Higgins Lake is one of five Michigan lakes where associations tested trapping and relocating the birds. HLPOA runs a page on the issue, and Bridge Michigan reported in 2025 that federal action had stopped relocation on Higgins and three other lakes. The status can change, so check the HLPOA swimmer's itch page before you plan around it.

Other lake nonprofits do other work. The Higgins Lake Foundation funds boat washes, a weed-removal boat and water testing, and says the lake has joined a cooperative monitoring program since 1974. HLPOA says its mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the beauty of the lake and its watershed. The Higgins Lake Swimmers Itch Organization and the Higgins Lake Land Conservancy are separate groups.

Questions People Ask About Higgins Lake

How big and how deep is Higgins Lake?

Higgins Lake covers about 10,000 acres. The DNR Fisheries Division counts 10,186 acres, and DNR park pages say about 9,900. The lake is about 7 miles long, has about 22 miles of shoreline including its island, reaches about 135 feet at its deepest and averages 30.4 feet, according to the DNR Fisheries Division.

What county is Higgins Lake in?

Higgins Lake is in Roscommon County and Crawford County. The Michigan Court of Appeals described the lake as lying in both counties in a December 2025 opinion, and a 1940 state survey is titled "Report on the Survey of Higgins Lake, Roscommon and Crawford Counties." Most mailing addresses say Roscommon, Michigan 48653.

Why is Higgins Lake so clear?

It is an oligotrophic lake, which means it has few nutrients and little algae, and its bottom is mostly sand and marl, according to the DNR Fisheries Division. The Michigan Clean Water Corps measured south basin Secchi disk readings that averaged 39.1 feet in 2023, with readings from 30 to 51 feet. The DNR describes the lake as spring-fed and known for its clarity.

What is the legal lake level and who controls it?

A 1926 court order set the summer level at 5.37 feet on the lake gauge, or 1,154.11 feet above sea level, and a later order set the winter level six inches lower. The Roscommon County Board of Commissioners operates the dam at the Cut River under those orders. The live box in the boating section shows today's level.

Can you swim at Higgins Lake, and what about swimmer's itch?

Yes. South Higgins Lake State Park has buoyed swim areas in its day-use area and campground, North Higgins Lake State Park has a buoyed swim area, and Gerrish Township Park has a public beach. Swimmer's itch is caused by parasites from waterfowl, and the lake has an association program whose status changes, so check the HLPOA page before you go.

Does Higgins Lake have invasive species, and are there boat washes?

Yes. The DNR Fisheries Division reports Eurasian watermilfoil in 1994, zebra mussels in 2000, starry stonewort in 2018 and quagga mussels in 2020. The Higgins Lake Foundation funded boat washes at both state parks, and the DNR lists a two-lane boat wash and boat-cleaning station at South Higgins Lake State Park.

What fish are in Higgins Lake, and what are the trout rules?

The DNR says the lake is best known for perch and lake trout, and its survey also lists brown and rainbow trout, lake whitefish, cisco, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, rock bass and smelt. Higgins Lake is a Type E trout lake, open all year with a 3 trout combined limit and a 15 inch minimum for the trout species in the 2026 Michigan Fishing Guide. Check the current guide before you keep a fish.

Are there special boating rules on Higgins Lake?

The DNR's list of local watercraft controls for Roscommon County does not include Higgins Lake as of October 2026, so Michigan's statewide boating law applies, including slow-no-wake speed within 100 feet of docks, swimmers and other boats. Marl Lake allows only nonmotorized boats and electric motors, according to the DNR.

Where can I launch a boat or rent one?

The DNR lists three launches: the West Higgins Lake boating access site, North Higgins Lake State Park and South Higgins Lake State Park. A Recreation Passport is required. B & B Sports Center & Marina, Higgins Lake Marine, the South park store and Gerrish Township Community Park Marina serve boaters, as shown in the marinas section.

Why is there a tree nursery and a CCC museum at the lake?

North Higgins Lake State Park sits where the state began its first tree nursery in 1903 under State Forest Warden Filibert Roth, according to the Michigan History Center. A CCC camp worked at the nursery from 1933, and the Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum opened in 1986 to tell the story.

Higgins Lake Gifts & Apparel

Lake Life Designs makes lake-specific products for people who love this lake. Our Higgins Lake collection has tees, hoodies, a racerback tank, long sleeve shirts, a Dri-Fit shirt, a trucker hat, a canvas print, a ceramic ornament, a lake flag, and youth, toddler and infant styles. Our back-printed tees, hoodies and long sleeves carry the lake on the back and a small Lake Life Designs logo on the front. Looking for a gift for someone who loves the lake? See our guide to Higgins Lake gifts.

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Details last verified October 2026. Parks, ramps, rentals, rules and the lake itself change with the season, so check the linked official pages before you go.

Sources: Michigan DNR Fisheries Division, Status of the Fishery Resource Report, Higgins Lake (2021), Michigan DNR, South Higgins Lake State Park, Michigan DNR, North Higgins Lake State Park, Michigan Department of Conservation, Report on the Survey of Higgins Lake (1940), Michigan DNR, Higgins Lake Trout Trails sheet, Michigan DNR, Roscommon County local watercraft controls, Michigan DNR, Fisheries Order 254.22, Michigan DNR, 2026 trout and salmon regulation changes, Michigan History Center, Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum, Higgins Lake Property Owners Association, court orders and lake level, HLPOA, history, Michigan Clean Water Corps, Higgins Lake south basin report, Michigan Court of Appeals, In re Higgins Lake (2025), Higgins Lake Foundation, Gerrish Township, Lyon Township, lake and dock information, Higgins Lake Roscommon Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Legislature, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act