| Glen Lake | |
| Location: | Empire, Glen Arbor, and Kasson townships, Leelanau County, Michigan, U.S. |
| Coords: | 44.8667°N -142°W |
| Inflow: | Brooks Lake Outlet, Hatlem Creek |
| Outflow: | Crystal River |
| Basin Countries: | United States |
| Area: | 4871acres Big 1415acres Little 6286acres Combined |
| Max-Depth: | 1300NaN0 Big 130NaN0 Little |
| Cities: | Burdickville, Glen Arbor |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of the lake in Michigan. |
Glen Lake is a lake located in Northern Michigan. Located in the southwestern Leelanau Peninsula, the lake is directly adjacent to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and is, at its closest, about from Lake Michigan. The lake consists of two large bodies of water connected by a narrow channel, which is traversed by a causeway carrying the famous highway M-22. The body of water on the west of this causeway, which is far shallower and more elongated, is known as Little Glen Lake, and the body of water east of the causeway, which is nearly perfectly round and deeper, is known as Big Glen Lake.
The total area of Glen Lake is 6286acres, with a maximum depth 130feet. The lake empties into Lake Michigan via the shallow Crystal River which winds through Glen Arbor.
The area around Glen Lake was first settled by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi peoples, all members of the Council of Three Fires.[1] Since the foundation of nearby Glen Arbor in 1847, Glen Lake and the surrounding area had become very popular with tourists. In 1971, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was created adjacent to the lake to protect the natural beauty of the area.[2]
The lake is situated within the rolling hills and glens of Leelanau County, terrain that is relatively rare for Northwestern Michigan. However, this terrain is natural to the wooded sand hills of the neighboring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. From this terrain is where the lake derives its name.
The lake is divided east–west by a north–south causeway carrying the highway M-22.
Glen Lake is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the Great Lakes region. Its waters, filtered by the underlying and surrounding sands, are remarkably clear and pure, and glow with an iridescent indigo blue.[3] Its beauty, purity, and lack of large waves make it a popular lake for vacationers, with opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing. Sportfish include yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike, brown trout, and lake trout.[4]