The last time I was on Wolf Lake was fifty years ago on a fishing trip. I decided that I was overdue for a revisit. The lake is located west of Kalamazoo on highway M43, between Fish Hatchery Road and County Road 653. The entrance to the MDNR access site is on the north side of the highway.
Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery is across the road, on the south side of the highway. I suggest a trip that combines a tour of the hatchery with kayaking the lake.
The shoreline of Wolf Lake is heavily wooded with a lot of brush.
A small stream enters the lake at the southeast corner.
I paddled up the stream for just a short distance and ran into a fallen tree.
Many years ago, this area was part of the hatchery and the stream flowed through concrete races filled with fish fingerlings. This spot is so overgrown with trees and brush that it’s hard to imagine that it was part of the fish hatchery.
There is a small marsh on the east side of the lake.
Wolf Lake is the source of the Paw Paw River, north branch. I paddled it for a short ways and I was stopped by a low bridge. This short section of the river turned out to be the highlight of the trip.
I returned to Wolf Lake and ended my trip at the landing.
Most people drive right by Wolf Lake without even slowing down. They don’t know what they’re missing!
KAYAKING SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN 