2023 Map of Big Star Lake

About this map

Big Star Lake and its surrounding glacial lake clusters anchor this study of Lake and Newaygo counties. Located within the Manistee National Forest, the landscape is defined by the transition from densely wooded timberlands to aquatic ecosystems, including the protected Pere Marquette Wild and Scenic River in the north. The seasonal community of Pine Grove Beach serves as a primary point of human settlement on the western shore of the main lake, connected by a network of forest roads and trails such as the North Country National Scenic Trl. To the south, the terrain becomes increasingly marshy, with Frog Marsh and the Triple Lakes Creek drainage system illustrating the complex hydrology of the region. This 2023 update by the U.S. Geological Survey tracks the enduring relationship between recreational development and federal conservation lands, documenting numerous named water bodies like Honeymoon Lake and Orchard Lake that have long drawn visitors to the Michigan interior.