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Devils Lake, Michigan, USA

Devils Lake is a 1,330-acre recreational lake in southeastern Michigan near the Ohio border. Devils Lake lies in a region that was once inhabited by a Native American tribe known as the Potawatomi. According to legend, the lake was named by a Potawatomi leader who believed that the waters were inhabited by evil spirits when his daughter drowned in the lake and her body was never recovered….
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    • All About Devils Lake, MI

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Michigan - Southeast Michigan -

    Devils Lake is a 1,330-acre recreational lake in southeastern Michigan near the Ohio border. Devils Lake lies in a region that was once inhabited by a Native American tribe known as the Potawatomi. According to legend, the lake was named by a Potawatomi leader who believed that the waters were inhabited by evil spirits when his daughter drowned in the lake and her body was never recovered. Pioneer settlers later developed Devils Lake into a resort area in the early 1830s. A resort remains in operation on the shoreline, and the lake is still popular with summer vacationers. The community of Devils Lake lies at the northern end of the lake, and the community of Manitou Beach lies at the southwest end. This area of Lenawee County is well known in Michigan for its “Irish Hills.”

    A short distance north of Devils Lake, the Irish Hills are named for the lush green hills that roll across the landscape in this area of Michigan. Summer in the Irish Hills is a great time for recreation on the water. Boating is a favorite activity because of the many clear blue lakes. Devils Lake is a popular destination for water skiing and sailing. Autumn in Southern Michigan is alive with fiery orange trees. In winter, the snow-covered Irish Hills are welcoming to cross-country skiing and other cold weather activities such as ice fishing.

    Devils Lake is used as both a warm and cold-water fishery by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Bluegills and yellow perch are commonly caught during the winter. Largemouth bass are a popular summer catch, as well as Bluegill, Crappie, Northern Pike, and Perch. It is worth noting, however, that the lake is heavily used for recreation during the summer months. Fishing is best during the very early morning hours, although anglers have reported good fishing despite the boats and water sports.

    The primary inlet to Devils Lake is Horton Creek at the northwest end, and Bean Creek is the outlet at the southwest end. A small concrete dam keeps the Devils Lake water level about a foot above Bean Creek. Devils Lake is the initial source for the Bean Creek/Upper Tiffin Watershed that runs through several towns in northern Ohio. The lake lies beside a smaller body of water, Round Lake. Though Round Lake is connected to Devils Lake by a channel, the small channel is too shallow for boating between the two lakes.

    The Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides a public boat launch with 60 parking spaces. This public access is located off Devils Lake Highway on the southwestern end of the lake. Because Devils Lake is so popular, and in order to avoid overcrowding, the number of boats allowed on the lake during the weekend is limited by the number of available parking spaces and an entry fee.

    The shoreline of Devils Lake is highly developed with residential properties. There are private lakefront homes and cottages available for purchase or rent. The homes along the lakeshore are used for summer vacations and permanent residences. Several communities beyond Devils Lake also have residential properties available. The Village of Onsted and the town of Adrian are to the east of Devils Lake. Toledo, Ohio is less than one hour southeast of Devils Lake and is the nearest metropolitan area.

    Things to Do at Devils Lake

    These are some activities in the Devils Lake, MI area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Water Skiing
    • Cross-Country Skiing

    What Kind of Fish Are in Devils Lake?

    Devils Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Sunfish
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Devils Lake

    If you’re considering a Devils Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Devils Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Devils Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Devils Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: State of Michigan

    Surface Area: 1,330 acres

    Shoreline Length: 10 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,050 feet

    Maximum Depth: 63 feet

    Lake Area-Population: 2,100

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

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