Otter Lake

My dad’s family has called Otter Lake home since the early 1900s. Homesteading on the west side of the lake, midway between the Sturgeon and Otter rivers, they ran a small farm, raised eight children, and later opened Manninen’s Cabins in the 1930s.

Fed by the Otter River on the south end and draining into the Sturgeon River to the north, Otter Lake is a beauty. Close to 900 acres, the clear waters run three miles north to south and 1.5 miles east to west. The lake is about 32 feet at its deepest point with a sandy bottom and wooded shoreline.

Otter Lake is a popular fishing destination. Frequent catches include Northern pike, walleye, crappie, rainbow trout (steelhead), small- and largemouth bass, perch, sunfish, catfish, and muskie.

There are actually 11 Otter lakes in the State of Michigan but ours in Houghton County, at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula, is the largest. Six of the 11 are in the Upper Peninsula, including one on the north side of Isle Royale.

Otter Lake has steep shores in many areas, especially on its east side, a portion of which remains without power. About a third of residents are four-season with the remaining cottages primarily occupied during the summer months.

What I love most about the lake is the peaceful surroundings, and all the birds and wildlife that inhabit its shores and the adjacent lands. A sandbar jutting out where the Otter River enters the lake is a popular swimming and fishing spot. The gentle purr of a boat motor can be heard on most summer days but, given its size, the lake never really seems busy. It is the perfect spot to relax on the shore, breathe in the fresh air, throw a line in, or go for a dip.

Nothing fancy here. Perfect, as is.

Photo credits: Terhi Tuominen, Visit Keweenaw.

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