A beautiful all sports lake, Cedar Lake is located just a short distance northwest of downtown Traverse City in Leelanau County.
Cedar Lake is just over 250 acres as compared to larger Lake Leelanau which is 8,600 acres. When West Grand Traverse Bay or the larger inland lakes in the area are rough, Cedar Lake often provides calmer waters that are favored by paddlers and fishermen. Cedar Lake is also popular among water skiers and has a designated slalom course.
One third of the shoreline is preserved from future development as part of the Leelanau Conservancy agreements with the landowners. One of these protected properties, the DeYoung Nature Area allows for public access to an historic farm and wooded trails leading to a shoreline fishing platform on Cedar Lake. Additionally, the DeYoung Nature Area serves as a trailhead for the paved, non-motorized Leelanau Trail connecting Traverse City and Suttons Bay.
Weekly vacation rentals are permitted on Cedar Lake as of the date of this article’s publication.