Whatta Waterway: Michigan’s Inland Waterway

What’s so special

Carved by glaciers some 25,000 years ago, Burt Lake and Pickerel Lake are the fourth and fifth largest of Michigan’s 11,000-plus inland lakes.

“Burt Lake is almost a mini inland sea,” Blomberg says. Although you’ll find private cottages and homes and rental lodgings all along the waterway, much of the route’s shoreline is lowlands and is hard to develop. “It is still very scenic and has a natural beauty, especially along the Crooked River,” he continues. “About half of the route is natural. It’s not much different than it was a hundred years ago.”

More than a century ago, Jack Woudenberg’s ancestors discovered Mullett Lake and established a family connection with the waterway that thrives today.

“It was in the late 1800s, three or four guys took a train from Ohio to go fishing and camping,” he says. “They set up their canvas tents that first year, and the next year brought their wives, started bringing family. They built cabins.”

Woudenberg grew up spending summers at Mullett Lake and carries fond memories of himself at 8 years old with his 11-foot Boston Whaler visiting the marina at the north end. “I loved looking at the boats in the showroom as a kid,” he says.

Four years ago, Jack, who lives in Arizona, purchased and has made major investments to that marina, now called Jack’s Mullett Lake Marina, including adding slips, a dock fueling station, a service department, rental boats and a food truck. “We supersized the whole deal,” says Woudenberg. “It’s a real passion project, to be able to improve people’s summers.”

The selection of rental watercraft is varied, with jet skis, pontoons, sportboats, kayaks, paddleboards and paddle bikes. “We try to have a boat for everybody’s different lake day,” he says.

For a one-of-a-kind on-the-water experience, charter Mrs. Jones, a 1941 34-foot Chris-Craft that tours the Cheboygan River and Mullett Lake. Owner Sharen Lange says it may be the last of only four made, and it was in nearly original condition when she and her husband Brian, who is a licensed captain, found it. “We’re a fourth-generation wood boat family and have owned many over the years,” she says. “I do all of the restoration work, as taught by my father.”

A taste of the waterway

The Langes also own the boat-themed Nauti Inn Barstro (bar and bistro), a popular spot in Cheboygan, the gateway to the Inland Waterway. A stop at Cheboygan Brewing Company for a Blood Orange Honey or Lighthouse Amber is a must. The Queens Head Wine Pub gets rave reviews for its small plates and adult beverages. It’s one of several businesses, including shops and a cozy theater, under the “Crown on Main” umbrella.

Diners cruising the Cheboygan River can dock at Pier M33 and enjoy a full menu with international flair. Boaters with a taste for escargot, filet mignon, whitefish almondine and roasted duck can tie up at the rustic Hack-Ma-Tack Inn, a 1894 hunting and fishing lodge on the Cheboygan River at Mullett Lake. Breakers in Topinabee serves more casual fare, from wings and a perch sandwich to pizza and house-smoked ribs, with a selection of Michigan beers to wash it all down. Go to River’s Edge in Indian River for a hearty breakfast or lunch with a comfy cabin feel.

Only on the Inland Waterway

Every August, more than 100 racers take to the waters for the two-day Top O’ Michigan Outboard Marathon. Billed as the world’s toughest, it’s based at DeVoe Beach on Burt Lake.

Off the water, Indian River is home to Cross in the Woods, a Catholic National Shrine that is the world’s second-largest crucifix. Dedicated in 1959, the significant work of Michigan sculptor Marshall Fredericks is a 55-foot redwood cross bearing a 28-foot-tall bronze figure of Christ. There are additional shrines on the peaceful grounds, as well as the church, gift shop and Nun Doll Museum, which displays more than 525 dolls dressed in the clothing of different religious orders.

Oden State Fish Hatchery & Visitor Center features free guided tours of the hatchery for brown and rainbow trout, a fishing pond, an underwater viewing chamber, a replica of a 1920 fish transport rail car and more.

Topinabee is the home of Chillermania, where fans of Johnathan Rand’s “Michigan Chillers and American Chillers” thriller book series for young readers can add to their collections and may meet the author in person.

Sweet tooths head to Drost’s Chocolates, an Indian River landmark that still uses original family candy recipes from the 1900s, and scoops ice cream made locally in small batches. A specialty is penuche fudge, an old-fashioned recipe that is brown sugar-based.

Carry an empty jug to fill with cold, clear water from the artesian well in Alanson, and take home a sip of the Inland Waterway.

Michigan’s Inland Waterway delivers the kind of cruising experience that keeps boaters coming back year after year. With its blend of natural beauty, welcoming towns and easy navigation, it’s a journey that strikes the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation.