If you are a new lake home buyer you may be concerned on how busy the local lakes are. I think the bigger lakes up north like Torch Lake, or Houghton Lake, or Higgins are just as busy as Lakes near Metro Dettroit. Of course public lakes are busier than private lakes. It is the same up north or down around SE Michigan. This is a concern for many lake home buyers in Oakland County. Is this Oakland County Lake busy? As a local lake realtor I know how busy many of the lakes are whether they are in Livingston County, Genessee County or Washtenaw County. As a general rule I can say most of the lakes in Oakland County are going to be busy on weekends and holidays. Especially all sports lakes are busy on the weekends around Detroit. Yes, most South East Michigan lakes are going to be busy on the weekends and on holiday. Some are busier than others. During the week you will find most of the local lakes in the metro Detroit area are going to be quieter and have less boat traffic. During the day many Oakland County lakes are deserted. Very few people out.
The busyness of Oakland County lakes are determined by a few different factors.
1.) All sports lakes or non all sports lakes? Of course non all sports lakes are not going to be as busy as an all sports lake. Simply because most of those non all sports lakes only have slow electric motor boats, sail boats, or people powereds boats. No jet skis racing around, or power boats speeding around. An all sports lake will always be busier and noiser than an non all sports lake.
Let’s go jetskiing
2.) The size of the lake is also a determing factor in the sense that biggest all sports lakes in Oakland County are more desirable. The more desirable, the more likely they are being used. The bigger lakes draw water sports people. Boaters that want to waterski, wakeboard, surf, and tube. Add in more jet skis and you have a busy lake.
3.) The next factor is it private or public? A private lake is just that. Usually only lake home owners can put a boat on the lake on a private lake. A public lake allows the general public to launch a boat. However it is not a wide open on the number of boats that can be launched. The number of boats that can be launched is usually limited to the number of parking spaces at the DNR launch. Again there are exceptions to this rule as unmanned Michigan DNR sites give people the ability to launch more boats and then park on a nearby street.
4.) Number of homes versus the size of the lake is a contributing factor to the busyness of a lake. If you have a lot of homes on small lots then you are going to have a higher concentration of boats on the lake. Years ago some lots were only 38′ to 50′. That’s alot more homes than when a lake has 100′ to 120′ lots. Lakes like Heather Lake in Orion or Walnut Lake houses in West Bloomfield will have less boats.
5.) When there are canals on the lake it adds more houses and more boats to a lake. White Lake in Highland Township has 4 canals and that adds to the boat traffic.
6.) Does the lake have a marina? If you look at Elizabeth Lake in Waterford in terms of lakes size and number of homes on the lake it isn’t horrible for boat traffic. But they have a marina that adds to the number of boaters on the lake.
Let’s go skiing
Many metro Detroit area lakes will be busy on the weekends and holidays, but during the week it will be slower. Even on a busy lake you can waterski, tube or surf. You just pick the times that it is slower or the part of the lake that doesn’t get as much traffic. I really would rule out any lake because it is too busy. Buying on a bay or a canal reduces the boat traffic. If you really want a peaceful lake out there……there are many that you can chose from and I can help point out which lakes are quieter. The busyness depends on the different factors above. I can usually give you the low down on the different lakes that we visit. If you have a good lake realtor that is very experienced they should too. Feel free to call, text me at 248-310-6239 to start living the dream. Remember I also buy you a kayak when you buy a lake home with me. I hope you have a great day.
Russ Ravary your metro Detroit lake realtor
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