Hubbard Lake

Hubbard Lake is one of the larger inland lakes in northeastern Michigan, a clear, roughly 8,850-acre lake set among the forests of Alcona County a short distance inland from the Lake Huron shore. Long a quiet summer destination, its clean water and wooded, cottage-lined shores make it a cherished retreat on the Sunrise Coast.

Deep enough in places for cool water yet with productive shallows, Hubbard Lake offers excellent fishing for walleye, bass, pike and panfish, along with boating, sailing, swimming and paddling. Ringed by small resort communities and surrounded by state forest, the lake has a relaxed, north-woods character, with Lake Huron, the Au Sable River country and the lighthouses of the Sunrise Coast all close by. Hubbard Lake is a peaceful basecamp for fishing and water recreation in northeastern Michigan.

Summer is peak, when the water warms for swimming and the lake fills with boats and anglers. Late spring and fall offer excellent fishing with fewer crowds, and fall adds color to the surrounding forest. Winter draws ice anglers to the lake. The clean water and wooded setting make Hubbard Lake pleasant across the seasons, with summer the prime time for the full range of water recreation.

Loons, bald eagles, ospreys, herons and waterfowl frequent the lake and its forested shoreline, while the surrounding state forest holds white-tailed deer, black bear and a varied bird community. The clean, productive water supports a strong fishery and food web. The wooded, lake-and-forest setting of Alcona County, near the Lake Huron shore, makes the area good for wildlife watching from the water or shore.

Hubbard Lake is a productive fishery, holding walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and panfish among its weed edges, drop-offs and structure. Walleye and bass are particular draws, and the lake fishes well in open water and through the ice in winter. Its size and varied structure reward anglers who work the bars and weed lines. Follow current Michigan DNR seasons, limits and regulations before fishing.

Hubbard Lake is large and can build dangerous waves quickly in wind across its open expanse — boaters should watch the weather, wear life jackets and carry safety gear. The water is cold below the surface; supervise swimmers in the shallows. In winter, check ice conditions carefully before venturing out, as quality varies across the big lake. Watch for boat traffic in busy summer months.

Hubbard Lake’s large, clear waters are made for boating, sailing, swimming, paddling and especially fishing, with public access and small resort communities serving visitors. Its size supports everything from quiet paddling in the bays to sailing across the open lake. The surrounding Alcona County state forest, the Au Sable River, and the nearby Lake Huron shore add hiking, paddling and the lighthouses and beaches of the Sunrise Coast to a visit.

Hubbard Lake’s shores were logged during the lumber era and later grew into quiet resort and cottage communities, drawing summer visitors to its clean water and good fishing. Set in the forested Alcona County country near the Lake Huron shore, the lake has remained primarily a fishing and outdoor destination, its character shaped by the surrounding state forest and the Sunrise Coast rather than dense development.

Hubbard Lake fills a basin shaped by the glaciers of the last Ice Age, set among the sandy, forested terrain of northeastern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Its clean water reflects the wooded, well-drained watershed, and the surrounding limestone-influenced country and nearby Lake Huron shore share the glacial and sedimentary geology of the Sunrise Coast region.

Hubbard Lake is a large, relatively clean northern lake whose mix of deeper water and productive shallows supports a diverse fishery. Surrounded by state forest, its watershed is largely wooded, helping protect water quality. As with all northern lakes, nutrient runoff and aquatic invasive species are the chief threats, making clean-drain-dry practices and shoreline protection important to the lake’s health.

As one of the larger and most beloved inland lakes of northeastern Michigan, Hubbard Lake holds a cherished place in Sunrise Coast summer life. Generations of families have fished, boated and vacationed along its wooded shores, and the lake anchors the small resort communities and the outdoor recreation of Alcona County, a quiet retreat near the Lake Huron shore and its lighthouses.

Hubbard Lake is reached via county roads off US-23 and M-72 in Alcona County, a short distance inland from the Lake Huron shore between Alpena and Harrisville. Public access comes through DNR launches and the small resort communities around the lake; much of the shoreline is private cottage frontage. The surrounding state forest and the Lake Huron shore provide additional recreation. Check the DNR for launch locations.

Hubbard Lake benefits from its largely forested, state-forest watershed, which helps protect water quality. Lake associations and the DNR work to limit nutrient pollution and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Boaters help by cleaning, draining and drying their craft, and shoreline owners by protecting natural shoreline and limiting runoff. Sustaining the lake’s clean water and fishery depends on careful stewardship.

Follow Michigan DNR fishing regulations, seasons and limits for walleye, bass, pike and panfish. Boaters must follow state boating and invasive-species laws — clean, drain and dry — and observe no-wake zones near shore. Respect private shoreline and use public launches and access points. Check the DNR and local sources for current access and conditions on the lake.

The Lake Huron shore, with the towns of Alpena and Harrisville, the Sunrise Coast’s lighthouses (including Sturgeon Point) and beaches, and the Thunder Bay shipwreck country off Alpena, all lie close. The Au Sable River corridor, the Huron National Forest, and the forests and lakes of Alcona County surround Hubbard Lake, making the area a hub of northeastern-Michigan water, forest and Lake Huron recreation.

Fish the bars, weed lines and drop-offs for walleye and bass, in open water or through the ice. Use the lake and its small resort communities as a quiet base for exploring the Sunrise Coast. Always clean, drain and dry your boat to protect the lake. Pair a visit with the Lake Huron shore, Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, the Au Sable River and the Thunder Bay shipwreck country off Alpena.