Higgins Lake, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Higgins Lake is a small unincorporated community along the southern and western shores of Higgins Lake
, a recreational and fishing
lake
in Roscommon County
, in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. Higgins Lake is the name of the post office for the area, with ZIP code
48627. This ZIP code includes several other small communities and locales along the shores of the lake, including (moving counter-clockwise around the lake) Hillcrest, Lyon Manor, Detroit Park, Cook Corner, Sharps Corner, Almeda Beach, Oak Grove, Ritz Corner, Pine Bluffs, and Cottage Grove. Since all have Higgins Lake as a postal address, they are often all considered as part of the Higgins Lake community. The lake is situated on the boundary between Lyon Township
on the west and Gerrish Township
on the east. US 127
passes on the west side of the lake while I-75
and M-18
both pass a few miles to the east. Houghton Lake
is just a few miles to the south.
The area has two state parks, South Higgins Lake State Park
and North Higgins Lake State Park
, located, as might be expected from the names, on opposite ends of the lake. Both provide public boat launches and camping
, and are very popular in the summer months. The south park is older, larger, and more developed. The north park is located on what was once the world's largest seedling nursery. The 9900 acre (40 km²) lake is known for its deep, clear waters and is named after Sylvester Higgins, Michigan's first chief of the topographical department of the Michigan Geological Survey.
Beginning in the early 1990s, Higgins Lake has been at the center of a state-wide debate in Michigan regarding the use of public road ends for the sunbathing, picnicking, lounging, and the placement of boat hoists. Riparian property organizations want to curtail the use of road ends by the general public. They are being challenged by public access advocates and state legislators.
There is also a Higgins Township
in Roscommon County adjacent to Gerrish Township on the east.
Higgins Lake is one of the deepest inland lakes in the United States outside of the Great Lakes
.
Higgins Lake
Higgins Lake is a large recreational and fishing lake in Roscommon County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 9,900 acre lake is known for its deep, clear waters and is the 10th largest in Michigan with a shoreline of . It is named after Sylvester Higgins, Michigan's first chief of the...
, a recreational and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Roscommon County
Roscommon County, Michigan
-Local attractions and activities:The community is centered in the area of two very large lakes, in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's Warblers, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include:...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Higgins Lake is the name of the post office for the area, with ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
48627. This ZIP code includes several other small communities and locales along the shores of the lake, including (moving counter-clockwise around the lake) Hillcrest, Lyon Manor, Detroit Park, Cook Corner, Sharps Corner, Almeda Beach, Oak Grove, Ritz Corner, Pine Bluffs, and Cottage Grove. Since all have Higgins Lake as a postal address, they are often all considered as part of the Higgins Lake community. The lake is situated on the boundary between Lyon Township
Lyon Township, Roscommon County, Michigan
Lyon Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,462 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
on the west and Gerrish Township
Gerrish Township, Michigan
Gerrish Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,072 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
on the east. US 127
U.S. Route 127
U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
passes on the west side of the lake while I-75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
and M-18
M-18 (Michigan highway)
M-18 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs for through the central region of the state connecting US Highway 10 near North Bradley with M-72 in rural Crawford County near the community of Luzerne...
both pass a few miles to the east. Houghton Lake
Houghton Lake (Michigan)
Houghton Lake is a large lake in Roscommon County. The unincorporated community of Prudenville is at the southeastern end of the lake, while the unincorporated communities of Houghton Lake and Houghton Lake Heights are on the southwest and west shores...
is just a few miles to the south.
The area has two state parks, South Higgins Lake State Park
South Higgins Lake State Park
South Higgins Lake State Park is a state park in Roscommon County, Michigan. It is situated between Higgins Lake and Marl Lake.-Facilities:* Beach House* Boat Launch* Boat Rental* Campground - 400 Sites* Picnic Area...
and North Higgins Lake State Park
North Higgins Lake State Park
North Higgins Lake State Park is a state park located in Beaver Creek Township, Crawford County, just northwest of Roscommon, Michigan. It is located on the north shore of Higgins Lake and on what was once the world's largest seedling nursery....
, located, as might be expected from the names, on opposite ends of the lake. Both provide public boat launches and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, and are very popular in the summer months. The south park is older, larger, and more developed. The north park is located on what was once the world's largest seedling nursery. The 9900 acre (40 km²) lake is known for its deep, clear waters and is named after Sylvester Higgins, Michigan's first chief of the topographical department of the Michigan Geological Survey.
Beginning in the early 1990s, Higgins Lake has been at the center of a state-wide debate in Michigan regarding the use of public road ends for the sunbathing, picnicking, lounging, and the placement of boat hoists. Riparian property organizations want to curtail the use of road ends by the general public. They are being challenged by public access advocates and state legislators.
There is also a Higgins Township
Higgins Township, Michigan
Higgins Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,061 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
in Roscommon County adjacent to Gerrish Township on the east.
Higgins Lake is one of the deepest inland lakes in the United States outside of the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
.