Michigan /

Lake Superior

Lake in Michigan · 22,520,025 acres · near Au Train, Baraga, Bay Mills, Brimley

Lake Superior is the northernmost, westernmost and highest of the Great Lakes. It is also the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, covering about 31,700 square miles. It lies on the Canada–United States border, with Ontario to the north and east, Minnesota to the west, and Michigan and Wisconsin to the south. The lake was formed by glaciers. Its average depth is 483 feet and its maximum depth is 1,333 feet. It drains into Lake Huron through the St. Marys River. Michigan settlements on the lake include Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie, and its islands include Isle Royale and Grand Island.

On the Michigan shore, public ramps are run by villages, cities, townships, a county, the Michigan DNR and the National Park Service. They include Marquette City, Cinder Pond Marina, Copper Harbor, Eagle Harbor, Baraga Village Ramp, L'anse Village Dock, Brimley State Park and Whitefish Point Harbor. Near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the City of Munising has a ramp a mile west of the town harbor on M-28, and Burt Township keeps a ramp in Grand Marais harbor. In the lakeshore, boats and motors of any size are allowed on Lake Superior. Boats must keep to slow/no-wake speed within 100 feet of the shoreline, other boats, piers and swimmers. Personal watercraft are allowed only between Sand Point and the east end of Miners Beach. Isle Royale National Park reaches 4.5 miles into the lake. There, overnight boaters need a permit, personal watercraft, water skiing and pets are banned, and quiet/no-wake zones apply. Michigan law requires boaters to pull drain plugs and remove aquatic plants before moving a boat over land.

The Whitefish Point area is known as the "Graveyard of the Great Lakes." Its shipwrecks are protected by the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.

Boating rules

Rules change; check with the agency or town before you go.

Launches

Community

Where people who fish, boat and paddle Lake Superior talk about it. Lake associations, clubs and local groups will be added as we find them.

Sources

  1. Lake Superior - Wikipedia
  2. Kayaking & Boating - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)
  3. Boating Guide - Isle Royale National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
  4. Boating Laws - stop aquatic hitchhikers! - Michigan.gov

Researched October 13, 2026 from the sources above. Written content CC BY 4.0. Something wrong? Corrections are welcome.

Wikidata: Q1066