White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

Live It White Lake

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Local Attractions

Welcome! The White Lake Area is truly a unique and beautiful place, rich with history and bursting with small-town charm. Whether you’re here in the spring, summer, fall, or winter, each season brings with it something new and exciting. Explore the cities of Montague and Whitehall where you’re sure to discover one-of-a-kind dining and shopping, thrilling outdoor adventures, diverse arts and culture, and so much more!

Twenty thousand years ago, the glaciers formed the five Great Lakes, but another “great lake” was also created — White Lake. Located along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan, White Lake is a natural harbor lake. It is approximately seven miles long, one mile across, and flows directly into Lake Michigan through a deep water channel. Such an ideal waterfront location initially brought the first Native American tribes to the region. Later, they were followed by fur trappers, traders, and eventually settlers. Archeologists often find projectile points and arrowheads, indicating sites where hunting or camping occurred for extensive periods of time.

White Lake’s first sawmill was built in 1838. Four mills operated on White River tributaries during the next decade. Axmen, swampers, skidders, loaders, and haulers cut and moved pine, hemlock, and cedar logs to the White River. By 1883, there were thirteen mills in White Lake Area. Lumber was rafted down the lake and carried on barges to ships in Lake Michigan. By the end of the nineteenth century, the vast tracks of white pine were gone and White Lakers looked to the coming industrial era and fruit farming to survive. Lumber from the White Lake Area certainly helped to build Chicago after their disastrous fire in 1871.

Plan a vacation around White Lake’s diverse array of outdoor activities. The White Lake Area boasts naturally scenic freshwater lakes and rivers, providing the perfect environment for fishing, kayaking, boating, horse-back riding, tubing, paddle boarding, sailing, snow-shoeing, and more. Additionally, the White Lake Area lays claim to miles and miles of paved trails perfect for biking, rollerblading, snowmobiling, or a leisurely stroll through town, farmland, and tree-lined vistas.

The White Lake Area is also home to a lighthouse, roller-coaster park, two water parks, and an all-season sports complex providing unique experiences. It’s also an ideal place to simply kick back and enjoy a slower pace of living. Spend a relaxing day at the beach, play a quiet round of golf, or shop in the quaint downtowns of Montague and Whitehall.

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Whitehall

Located along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan, White Lake is a natural harbor lake created by glaciers at the same time as the Great Lakes.

Upcoming Events

• White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
• Whitehall, MI
• (231) 893-4585
• White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce