Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The biggest trail networks: Pere Marquette State Forest - Traverse City Unit (138.1 mi). 5% of Bear Lake Township’s land is conserved, about 2,402 acres. 2,096 acres are parks and preserves, 2,848 per 1,000 residents.
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
The longest trail network is Pere Marquette State Forest - Traverse City Unit, with 138.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
5% of Bear Lake Township’s land. Who manages Bear Lake Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 136 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirtland Warbler Unit Manistee State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 1,595 | Open |
| Camp Gan Israel Private Recreation or Education | Private owners | 417 | Open |
| Camp Grayling Military Reservation State Other or Unknown | Other or Unknown Federal Land | 195 | Open |
| Dog Lake Flooding State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 60 | Open |
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Plus 1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°F) | 26 | 30 | 40 | 53 | 67 | 76 | 80 | 78 | 70 | 57 | 43 | 32 |
| Rain (in) | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 2.3 |
February is the driest month (1.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 80 °F). 3.9 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Bear Lake Township →
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Lake Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Frederic Township | 14% | 3.2 | 4,372 | 46% | A |
| Grayling Township | 21% | 2.9 | 2,255 | 25% | A |
| Oliver Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Blue Lake Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Excelsior Township | 14% | 1.2 | 1,198 | 11% | A− |
| Garfield Township | 3% | 2.9 | 130 | 13% | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
The longest trail networks: Pere Marquette State Forest - Traverse City Unit, 138.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Pere Marquette State Forest - Traverse City Unit and Cub Lake Public Access don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
43,733 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Bear Lake Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 2,282 of them inside the town line.
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Bear Lake Township neighbors.
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →