1986 Map of Burt Lake

About this map

Burt Lake dominates this northern Michigan landscape, defined by a shoreline of small summer settlements and recreational landings as they appeared in the 1980s. Along the eastern and southern banks, family-named locales like Wauban Beach, Chippewa Beach, and Springwell Heights sit opposite the dense woodlands of the Mackinaw State Forest. At the southern tip of the lake, Burt Lake Park and Pittsburg Landing mark the confluence of the lake with the Sturgeon River. This era shows a transition from historical industrial activity to a seasonal resort economy, evidenced by a Brick Plant near the south shore and a Gravel Pit further north. Further inland, the boundary between Emmet and Cheboygan counties cuts through the western reaches of the lake near Bullhead Bay, where the Maple River and Crooked River feed into the water.