Michigan / Manistique Lake /

Portage Creek

Portage Creek is a public boat ramp on Manistique Lake near Curtis, Michigan.

Aerial view of the roadside pull-off and grassy creek bank beside the bridge, August 2022
Aerial view of the roadside pull-off and grassy creek bank beside the bridge, August 2022 Photo: USDA Farm Service Agency, NAIP · Public domain · via USGS The National Map
Zebra mussels

Zebra mussels (latest report 2018) reported in this water (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database). Clean, drain and dry your boat, trailer and gear before you leave, and do not move water, plants or live bait to another water.

USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database · checked October 20, 2026

Status not reported No closure has been posted for this launch, but its agency does not publish open or closed status. Check with the managing agency before you tow.

At the launch

Type
Boat ramp
Coordinates
46.21648, -85.72642

Directions (Google) Apple Maps

Depth contours in feet from Michigan DNR. Not for navigation.

Conditions

On Manistique Lake

Manistique Lake, locally called Big Manistique Lake, is a natural lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It sits on the border of Luce and Mackinac counties. The Michigan DNR gives its area as 10,346 acres and calls it the largest of the Manistique Lakes and the seventh-largest inland lake in Michigan. It averages 10 feet deep, with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Curtis lies to the south-southeast, on the strip of land between this lake and South Manistique Lake, and Helmer is on the northeast shore. Helmer Creek flows in from North Manistique Lake and Portage Creek flows in from South Manistique Lake. The lake's only outflow is the Manistique River on the west side, which drains to Lake Michigan. The Manistique Pulp and Paper Company built the first outlet dam in 1918 or 1919. In 1948 a court order set the lake's normal level at 686.0 feet above sea level. Today the Manistique Lake Dam stands about 4 miles downstream of the lake. More about Manistique Lake.

Community

Where people who use Manistique Lake talk about it.

Nearby launches

Sources

Why it is listed as public: listed by Michigan DNR Boat Launches (DNR inventory layer). Something wrong, or is this launch private? Send a correction; it goes to a person.